Watch: Dave Grohl invites 11 year-old drummer Nandi Bushell to perform on stage with Foo Fighters

Foo Fighters with 11 year-old drummer, Nandi Bushell
(Image credit: Kevin Mazur/Getty Images for FF)

When Nandi Bushell challenged Dave Grohl to a drum-off online in 2020 - ultimately winning, with Grohl recording a theme tune for the young drummer -  she could only have dreamed that it would lead to performing with her heroes, Foo Fighters live on stage. But that’s exactly what happened this past weekend, when the 11 year-old from Ipswich finally got her chance to sit-in with the band.

As the Foos show at The Forum, Inglewood came to its close, Dave Grohl invited Nandi on stage to rapturous applause and chants of her name from the audience, before she sat behind a specially-set-up kit and launched into the band’s 1997 hit, Everlong. 

Released 13 years before Nandi was born, it features some tricky, constant 16th-notes and energetic fills throughout which Bushell blitzed through with seeming ease.

Live Performance Dave Grohl and Nandi Bushell at The Forum LA jamming Everlong with Foo Fighters - YouTube Live Performance Dave Grohl and Nandi Bushell at The Forum LA jamming Everlong with Foo Fighters - YouTube
Watch On

Taking to social media after the performance, Nandi shared a clip of the gig, saying, “It happened!!! It was #EPIC!!! Thank you so much @foofighters!!! I had the best night ever jamming with you at @TheForum! Thank you so much Mr. Grohl and Taylor! #foofighters - Full Video [here:] (My Daddy was screaming a lot in the video it took)”

Foo Fighters - Everlong (Official HD Video) - YouTube Foo Fighters - Everlong (Official HD Video) - YouTube
Watch On

After the song finished, Grohl ushered Nandi to the front of the stage where she took a bow alongside Grohl, Nate Mendell, Chris Shifflett, Pat Smear, Taylor Hawkins and Rami Jaffee. Watch the full performance, complete with Bushell’s father’s approving cheers, above.

Stuart Williams
Drums

I'm a freelance member of the MusicRadar team, specialising in drum news, interviews and reviews. I formerly edited Rhythm and Total Guitar here in the UK and have been playing drums for more than 25 years (my arms are very tired). When I'm not working on the site, I can be found on my electronic kit at home, or gigging and depping in function bands and the odd original project.