Lead
Earlier this week Foo Fighters announced a new album, Your Favorite Toy, and released its title track. Last night the band appeared on The Graham Norton Show to debut that song live and to sit for the show’s panel segment. Dave Grohl joined a couch conversation with Charli XCX alongside guests Benicio del Toro, Jennifer Garner and Gordon Ramsay. During the chat Norton played a 2024 TikTok of Grohl and his daughter Harper doing the viral “Apple” dance, which Charli said she had not seen before.
Key Takeaways
- Foo Fighters announced their new album Your Favorite Toy earlier this week and shared the title track publicly.
- The band performed the title track live on The Graham Norton Show last night, marking its first televised live airing.
- Jason Falkner stood in on guitar after Pat Smear missed the appearance because of a gardening accident; Smear’s face appeared on the kick drum during the set.
- Scissor Sisters members Jake Shears and Babydaddy provided backing vocals for the televised performance.
- Dave Grohl joined the show’s couch segment with Charli XCX and notable guests Benicio del Toro, Jennifer Garner and Gordon Ramsay.
- Graham Norton showed a 2024 TikTok of Grohl and his daughter Harper doing the viral “Apple” dance; Charli called Grohl’s approach to the routine “abstract” and complimentary.
Background
Foo Fighters’ announcement of Your Favorite Toy follows the band’s ongoing period of high public visibility and continued recording activity. The group has, in recent years, balanced studio work with high-profile TV and festival appearances, using broadcast slots to preview new material to broad audiences. Pat Smear has been a long-serving touring and recording guitarist for the band; his temporary absence for last night’s show was attributed to a gardening accident, and the band used a substitute to maintain the performance lineup. Collaborations and guest contributions—whether live or in studio—have been part of the Foo Fighters’ approach to big promotional moments, often featuring other musicians for backing parts or to fill short-notice gaps.
Television variety and talk shows like The Graham Norton Show offer artists both performance and conversational exposure, which can amplify single releases and album campaigns. Grohl’s public presence spans rock audiences and mainstream viewers, helped by viral social-media moments such as the 2024 clip with his daughter Harper. That crossover appeal helps new Foo Fighters material reach listeners who might not follow music press closely. Meanwhile, music-industry peers appearing on the same broadcast—here, Jake Shears and Babydaddy—underscore the cross-pollination between scenes and the promotional value of visible allyship.
Main Event
The televised set opened with the Foo Fighters performing the newly released title track from Your Favorite Toy, giving viewers the first live TV rendering of the song. On guitar, Jason Falkner filled in due to Pat Smear’s absence after a gardening accident; the production still acknowledged Smear visually by placing his face on the kick drum. Backing vocals for the number were provided by Scissor Sisters’ Jake Shears and Babydaddy, adding layered harmonies to the live arrangement.
After the performance, Grohl joined the show’s panel for an on-couch conversation that included Charli XCX, Benicio del Toro, Jennifer Garner and Gordon Ramsay. The segment mixed light banter with moments of personal sharing; it notably shifted tone when Graham Norton cued a short clip. Norton played a 2024 TikTok of Grohl and his daughter Harper performing a short, playful routine known as the “Apple” dance—an excerpt that had circulated widely online earlier in the year.
Charli XCX reacted on camera, telling Grohl she had not seen the clip and offering a concise take on his movement: “You’re taking like an abstract approach, and that’s cool.” The exchange was brief but highlighted how viral social clips now serve as cultural currency in mainstream TV interviews. Clips from the appearance circulated online after broadcast, extending the segment’s reach beyond the show’s live audience.
Analysis & Implications
The Norton appearance is a strategic platform for Foo Fighters’ new-album rollout: performing the title track on a popular talk show places the song before a diverse, international audience and pairs broadcast exposure with immediate online sharing. For artists today, a synchronized TV performance and subsequent social clips can accelerate streaming activity and spur media coverage, helping a title track gain momentum ahead of full-album release. The inclusion of recognizable guest vocalists further polishes the televised performance and signals community support within the industry.
Grohl’s willingness to bring personal viral moments—like the Harper clip—into a mainstream TV setting underscores the blurred line between private life and promotion. That clip’s circulation in 2024 established an informal narrative that Grohl and his family participate in online trends, which can humanize an artist and invite new viewers to the band’s music. Charli XCX’s surprised reaction illustrates how even high-profile musicians may not always track peers’ social-media moments, making such reveals entertaining content for broadcast segments.
From a publicity standpoint, the substitution of Jason Falkner for Pat Smear was handled to minimize disruption: acknowledging Smear visually (kick-drum photo) preserved the band’s continuity while permitting a capable fill-in to perform. That type of ad-hoc adjustment is common in live television and communicates resilience to fans. Looking ahead, how the band sequences further TV appearances, streaming promotions, and tour dates will shape public uptake of Your Favorite Toy.
Comparison & Data
| Role | Usual Member | Last Night (Graham Norton) |
|---|---|---|
| Lead vocalist / rhythm guitar | Dave Grohl | Dave Grohl |
| Guitar | Pat Smear | Jason Falkner (substitute) |
| Backing vocals | Band members / touring guests | Jake Shears & Babydaddy (Scissor Sisters) |
The table above summarizes key personnel differences between the Foo Fighters’ usual lineup and the specific arrangement used on The Graham Norton Show. Substitutions for short-notice absences are common on live television; framing the change visibly helps audiences connect the performance to the band’s identity. The presence of guest vocalists also reflects a broader trend of cross-artist collaboration during televised sets and promotional appearances.
Reactions & Quotes
“You’re taking like an abstract approach, and that’s cool.”
Charli XCX
“Charli XCX meets Dave Grohl, reviews his ‘Apple’ dance.”
Stereogum (music news/online)
Unconfirmed
- Details of Pat Smear’s gardening accident, including timing and medical specifics, have not been publicly disclosed.
- It is not yet confirmed whether Pat Smear will miss additional scheduled appearances or tour dates following the accident.
- Precise release schedule and full tracklist timing for Your Favorite Toy beyond the title-track drop were not provided in the cited report.
Bottom Line
Foo Fighters used a prominent television appearance to deliver the first live TV performance of the title track from their newly announced album, Your Favorite Toy, while also generating a shareable moment through a viral TikTok clip shown on the show. The combination of music, celebrity-panel banter and social-media crossover delivered a compact promotional package likely to boost attention for the single and the forthcoming album.
Substitution on guitar and the inclusion of guest backing vocalists demonstrate practical on-the-ground adjustments that preserved the broadcast’s musical quality. For fans and industry watchers, the episode reinforced Dave Grohl’s mainstream visibility and the continuing role of TV + social media in launching major-label releases.