During a raucous performance in Sydney, the Foo Fighters paused for a solemn moment as frontman Dave Grohl delivered a lengthy on-stage tribute to Todd Russell. According to The Guardian, the US band were performing their 16th tour of Australia when Tuesday night’s concert coincided with the public news of Russell’s death at the age of 54 due to illness.
Todd Russell gained international recognition two decades ago following the Tasmanian mine collapse on Anzac Day. The disaster trapped Russell and co-worker Brant Webb a kilometre below ground inside a vehicle, while a third miner, Larry Knight, was killed. Initially presumed dead, the two survivors endured a grueling 14-day rescue effort that captured global media attention.
The Connection Between Dave Grohl and Todd Russell
During the harrowing rescue operation, when asked what supplies they required, Russell requested an iPod loaded with Foo Fighters music. The music helped keep their spirits alive amidst the loud drilling necessary for their extraction. Learning of the request while the men were still trapped underground, Dave Grohl sent a message promising two concert tickets and two beers waiting for them upon their release.
Grohl fulfilled that promise later in 2006, meeting both survivors backstage at a Sydney Opera House concert. The night before that meeting, Grohl penned a track titled Ballad of the Beaconsfield Miners. Addressing the Accor Stadium crowd on Tuesday, band members stepped back to leave Grohl alone on stage while a photograph of Russell was projected onto screens.
Remembering a Hero
Reflecting on their decades-old friendship, Grohl recalled the night they celebrated together. “Afterwards we all went to the bar and we had the beers I promised, and I got so drunk I promised I’d put [Ballad of the Beaconsfield Miners] on our next record,” Grohl told the audience, as reported by The Guardian.
“And I did. I’m glad I did because I’ve met a few heroes in my life but that was a big one, so I’m doing this one tonight for Todd Russell.” Russell’s passing followed a recent announcement that he was moving home to “see out his days” following an illness.
Source: Foo Fighters interrupt Sydney concert to pay tribute to Beaconsfield miner Todd Russell (source-feed timestamp 2026-11-11T03:03:24+00:00). AI-assisted report based on the cited linked article and its RSS feed; details were not independently verified.
Related coverage
Context matters. Read about our editorial standards and corrections policy.
Join the conversation