During a Foo Fighters concert at The Observatory in Santa Ana, California on September 15, frontman Dave Grohl shared a surprising piece of music history: guitarist Pat Smear almost joined the Red Hot Chili Peppers instead of Nirvana back in 1992.
Grohl joked that Pat told the Chili Peppers he could only join the band if they stopped playing funk, and then laughed about how his own band later played funk-inspired songs.
The revelation drew cheers from the crowd, showing just how different music history might have looked had Smear joined the Chili Peppers instead of becoming part of Nirvana’s live lineup during their In Utero era. Dave Navarro ended up joining RHCP instead as the band’s new guitarist.
The Santa Ana concert also marked another milestone for Foo Fighters: it was drummer Ilan Rubin’s second show with the band. Rubin, known for his work with Nine Inch Nails and Angels & Airwaves, joined Foo Fighters following Josh Freese’s departure earlier this month.
The video showcases their surprise performance on September 13th, 2025, in San Luis Obispo, California. This concert marked their first show of the year and the debut of Ilan Rubin as their new drummer. The energy at the Fremont Theater was electric, with fans camping overnight to secure tickets for what became an intimate performance.
The setlist for their comeback show spanned their entire career. Revolver Magazine confirmed that the band played hits such as “Learn to Fly” and “Everlong.” This demonstrated their commitment to delivering the authentic rock experience they had humorously promoted in their AI-generated video.
