If you’re attending a Foo Fighters show, expect to hear at least one cover song.

However, with Dave Grohl and the band, it rarely feels like a gimmick; there’s usually a significant reason for including a cover song in their setlist.

Typically, this is because the original artist had a profound influence on Grohl and the other band members. The band leader has always been candid about the artists from his youth who shaped him into the musician he is today.

READ MORE: Foo Fighters + Queens of the Stone Age Launch Summer Tour – See Video + Setlists

Here is a look at the cover songs that the Foo Fighters have performed the most (according to Setlist.fm) and the reasons behind their inclusion during performances.

11. ‘Tie Your Mother Down’

Original artist: Queen

Times played: 36

First played: Oct. 14, 2005, at Continental Airlines Arena in East Rutherford, N.J.

Last played: Sept. 19, 2017, at The O2 Arena in London, England

Multiple members of the Foo Fighters have expressed their admiration for Queen, particularly late drummer Taylor Hawkins, who was notably vocal about his musical heroes. In 2019, Hawkins shared with Mojo that Queen’s 1979 live album, Live Killers, served as his “drum bible” while he was honing his skills.

Hawkins frequently took the lead vocals on Foo Fighters’ covers of Queen during live performances before his passing in 2022.

10. ‘Let There Be Rock’

Original artist: AC/DC

Times played: 47

First played: Jan. 28, 2015, at Mineirao (Esplanada) in Belo Horizonte, Brazil

Last Played: Aug. 25, 2019, at the Reading Festival in Reading, Berkshire, England

Following the death of founding AC/DC member Malcolm Young in 2017, Dave Grohl wrote a tribute to the guitarist and the band that influenced his playing style. Grohl reflected on how the 1980 AC/DC film shaped his perspective on being part of a band.

“The film… is everything that live (rock) and roll should be. Sweaty. Loose. Loud. A relentless performance from the perfect band. It was the first time I lost control to music. The first time I wanted to be in a band. I didn’t want to play my guitar anymore; I wanted to smash it.”

9. ‘Under My Wheels’

Original artist: Alice Cooper

Times played: 56

First played: Nov. 7, 2017, at the Kohl Center in Madison, Wis.

Last played: June 19, 2019, at Arena in Pula, Croatia

Dressing as David Letterman for Halloween in 2017, Grohl guest-hosted Jimmy Kimmel Live, where he interviewed Alice Cooper. He described himself as a “lifelong fan” of Cooper before recounting how he had nightmares about attending his concerts as a child.

“I had this nightmare when I was six years old. I saw footage of your concert and I had a dream that I was there. And there were cyclops, and there was a conveyor belt of unmentionable something covering you. So before I even bought one of your records, you were already freaking me out.”

8. ‘Down in the Park’

Original artist: Tubeway Army

Times played: 67

First played: April 25, 1995, at Black Cat in Washington, DC

Last played: Oct. 20, 1997, at Braden Auditorium in Normal, Ill.

The Foo Fighters contributed songs to the 1996 album Songs in the Key of X: Music From and Inspired by The X-Files. While most bands submitted original tracks for the TV show tribute, the Foo Fighters chose to cover Tubeway Army’s “Down in the Park.”

If that name doesn’t ring a bell, it’s worth noting that this London-based new wave band existed for just two years before frontman Gary Numan pursued a solo career with hits like “Cars.”

7. ‘In The Flesh?’

Original artist: Pink Floyd

Times played: 72

First played: Sept. 22, 2011, at Nationwide Arena in Columbus, Ohio

Last played: Nov. 13, 2015, at Unipol Arena in Casalecchio di Reno, Italy

A cover of Pink Floyd’s “In The Flesh?” enjoyed a decent run on Foo Fighters’ setlists as Hawkins often sang it during shows until it was eventually dropped in 2015.

This song opens Pink Floyd’s iconic album The Wall, setting up its overarching narrative. Hawkins mentioned to Rolling Stone in 2017 that he began exploring Pink Floyd’s music as a teenager after being unimpressed with contemporary releases.

6. ‘Young Man Blues’

Original artist: Mose Allison

Times played: 83

First played: July 9, 2008, at Key Arena in Seattle, Wash.

Last played: Oct. 28, 2021, at House of Blues in Cleveland, Ohio

This blues classic from 1957 gained traction after The Who covered it starting in 1968; they later included it on their live album Live at Leeds.