Dave Grohl performs onstage, November 2018 in California. Photo by Matt Winkelmeyer/Getty Images for LACMA
Christmas came early for residents of Asheville in North Carolina when a snowstorm left Dave Grohl stranded following his performance at, ‘Warren Haynes’ 30th Christmas Jam’. Deciding to make lemonade with the whole situation, Grohl and Haynes made a last-minute call to put on another show.
“Tonight happened because of this snowstorm that hit, knowing we probably weren’t going to fly out today,” Grohl said (via Rolling Stone). “Last night at 4 am, we’re at the after-party for Christmas Jam. I said to someone, ‘We got to find somewhere to play.’ And everyone was talking about this place the Orange Peel.”
The show was announced around 4 pm the next day and the iconic rock venue sold out in under an hour, with a sea of people choosing to stay on to listen from outside. For only $10 (!!) the lucky ticket holders got to see Grohl perform his hard-rock opus, Play, with members of Queens of the Stone Age, Them Crooked Vultures and Jane’s Addiction.
“It takes a certain kind of spirit … or a certain kind of confidence or stupidity … where you brazenly walk into [something like] this,” said Grohl. “Before this show, Warren and I were sitting backstage with no idea of what we were going to do. I didn’t know if we were going to do the ‘Play’ thing. I didn’t know if we were going to do covers. [It was], ‘Well, what do you know?’ ‘I know ‘this,’ do you know ‘that’?”
The real surprise of the evening for everyone, including Grohl, came when Haynes, backed by Grohl and the ‘Play’ band, launched into the Nirvana classic, “All Apologies,”. Watching Grohl smash out the well-loved hit from his former band was a rare and captivating moment for the audience, who joined Haynes in unison, singing the outro, “All in all is all we are” as the band faded to silence, bringing Grohl to tears.
“Warren said, ‘Do you want to do "All Apologies"? That used to be thin ice and delicate ground for a long time, for good reason. That’s something that had to be handled gently,” said Grohl. “When he mentioned that song, my initial reaction was, ‘I can’t do that. I shouldn’t do that.’ But then I think about the people that the song means so much to and has been a part of their lives … that joy and love should be shared. And then, as we were playing it, the audience starts to sing along, and I’m crying my eyes out onstage trying to keep it together … what a beautiful moment. And who am I to keep people from that beautiful moment?”
Could there be a more beautiful rock and roll Christmas story??
Another highlight from the show definitely not to be missed is Grohl and Haynes' fiery rendition of "Helter Skelter".
If you're feeling inspired to grunge-up your festive season then check out our I LIKE: THE 90s playlist, featuring all the down and dirty, angst-ridden best the 90s has to offer!
