Mendel Takes Center Stage for ‘Seven’ Rendition on Tour
During their current ‘Take Cover’ tour, the Foo Fighters have been paying tribute to bassist Nate Mendel’s earlier musical roots. Mendel, a long-standing member of the Foo Fighters, has stepped into the spotlight to perform vocals on Sunny Day Real Estate’s seminal track, ‘Seven’. Footage of these performances has begun circulating online.
A Nod to a Storied Past
Mendel’s musical journey began with Sunny Day Real Estate, a prominent Seattle-based band from the 1990s. He joined the Foo Fighters in the mid-’90s, shortly after Sunny Day Real Estate disbanded following their second album. While drummer William Goldsmith departed the Foo Fighters in 1997, Mendel has remained a consistent presence in the band, only briefly reuniting with Sunny Day Real Estate for a tour in 2009.
As the Foo Fighters’ ‘Take Cover’ tour, in support of their latest album ‘Your Favorite Toy’, continues, Mendel’s connection to his former band is being highlighted. Since a June 10th stop in Norway, the Foo Fighters have incorporated a medley into their setlist. This medley includes covers of No Use For A Name’s ‘Invincible’, The Wallflowers’ ‘One Headlight’, their own tracks ‘Manimal’ and ‘Tap Dancing in a Minefield’, and notably, Sunny Day Real Estate’s 1994 song ‘Seven’.
Grohl Introduces Special Vocalist
During a recent performance at Strawberry Arena in Solna, Sweden, frontman Dave Grohl introduced the song to the audience, explaining its significance and passing vocal duties to Mendel. “You know Nate and I met in Seattle, a long long long time ago,” Grohl stated. “Nate was in a band that in America people consider to be really really wonderful and influential. They were called Sunny Day Real Estate.” He then announced, “This is a Sunny Day Real Estate song, as sung by Nate Mendel,” before the spotlight shifted to Mendel for the performance.
Tour Continues with Notable Support Acts
The ‘Take Cover’ tour is set to continue with dates in Liverpool on June 25th and 27th, alongside festival appearances at Mad Cool and NOS Alive. The tour features a diverse range of support acts, including Royel Otis, Inhaler, IDLES, Otoboke Beaver, Fat Dog, and Die Spitz.
Personnel Changes and Band History
The current touring drummer for the Foo Fighters is Ilan Rubin, who previously played with Nine Inch Nails. This change followed the departure of Josh Freese, who joined the band in 2023 after the passing of Taylor Hawkins in March 2022. Freese toured with the Foo Fighters throughout 2024, but the band announced his departure in May of last year, a decision Freese described as “shocked” and “disappointed.” He has since rejoined Nine Inch Nails, effectively swapping positions with Rubin.
William Goldsmith, the original drummer for the Foo Fighters, played with the band between 1995 and 1997. His tenure ended when Grohl re-recorded much of his drum work without his knowledge. Goldsmith later spoke out in 2017, expressing feelings of being “creatively raped” by Grohl’s actions and comparing him to a “mean” high school bully. Taylor Hawkins had previously defended Grohl, reminding fans that Goldsmith had chosen to leave the band.
More recently, guitarist Pat Smear reflected on Goldsmith’s departure, admitting he “didn’t like” how the situation concluded. He commented, “Dave was just learning to be a bandleader; we could have handled the whole thing better. It left a bad taste.”
‘Your Favorite Toy’ Receives Critical Acclaim
The Foo Fighters’ latest album, ‘Your Favorite Toy’, released in April, has garnered positive reviews. Analysis of the album suggests it is nearing the depth required to be considered their most vital work since ‘The Colour and the Shape’ in 1997. The record has been noted for its return to a more direct, high-energy punk sound, which critics suggest suits the band better than a more conventional rock style.
