Foo Fighters pull off the ultimate Rickroll, teaming up with Rick Astley for a live performance of “Never Gonna Give You Up.”

Foo Fighters have always treated their shows like a giant party, and their night at London’s O2 Arena proved it once again. In the middle of the set they pulled off one of their cheekiest stunts yet, Rickrolling the entire crowd by bringing Rick Astley out as a surprise guest to belt out “Never Gonna Give You Up.” The band slammed together the raw energy of Nirvana’s “Smells Like Teen Spirit” with the chord progression from Astley’s smash hit, while the ’80s icon leaned into a grittier, rockier edge than his usual smooth delivery.

The unexpected mashup clicked far better than anyone could have predicted, and the reaction inside the arena was explosive. Fans roared, sang every word, and turned the show into one huge, laughing sing-along while the band played like they were having the time of their lives. True to the spirit of the internet’s favorite prank anthem, people online couldn’t get enough either, driving the performance clip to 9.1 million views and counting.

By the time this collaboration happened, Astley was 52 and long past the height of his late-’80s pop fame, having even stepped away from the music business once already. Yet on that stage his voice sounded powerful, smooth, and totally locked in, reminding everyone why the song became a classic in the first place. Dave Grohl spent most of the performance grinning from ear to ear, clearly thrilled to spring such a perfect rock-meets-pop surprise on the audience in real time.

What many fans don’t realize is that this wasn’t just a one-off novelty pairing. Foo Fighters and Rick Astley have slowly built a quirky, ongoing connection over the years, crossing paths at festivals and special events. Grohl has invited him up onstage more than once, including a now-legendary moment in Tokyo when the band launched into “Never Gonna Give You Up” completely off the cuff. Astley later returned the compliment in the studio, recording his own take on one of their most beloved tracks, “Everlong,” which struck a chord online and racked up 5.3 million views.

For his “Everlong” rendition, Astley kept things stripped down and intimate, accompanying himself on acoustic guitar. Rather than reinventing the song, he stayed faithful to its structure and mood, carefully preserving the emotional build that fans adore. At the same time, he leaned into his strengths, pushing a little more vocal power and dynamic range into the chorus and final moments, turning the cover into something both familiar and freshly moving for listeners.

In a later chat with Virgin Radio UK, Astley explained that his first onstage moment with Foo Fighters in Japan was completely unplanned and unrehearsed. They were sharing the bill at a festival, and he decided to watch their set from the side of the stage rather than from backstage. Astley said he wanted to be as close as possible because Dave Grohl and drummer Taylor Hawkins are two of his absolute musical heroes, especially since, in his words, “somewhere in my DNA I’m a drummer,” a nod to his early years behind the kit.

According to Astley, the whole thing kicked off when a Foo Fighters roadie suddenly walked over, handed him a microphone, and said, “Dave wants you onstage.” At that point he was seriously jet-lagged, had already knocked back a couple of beers, and definitely wasn’t expecting to perform. But there was no way he was going to turn down a chance like that. Once he stepped out in front of the crowd, he realized that the band had somehow figured out “Never Gonna Give You Up” and jammed it beforehand, clearly hoping they could coax him into singing it.

Astley described what happened next as one of the strangest and most thrilling moments of his career. Without any rehearsal, he launched into the song alongside the Foo Fighters, turning the festival into a massive, roaring Rickroll in real time. He found himself belting out his signature hit in a rougher, more rock-driven style than usual, feeding off the energy of thousands of fans who were singing every word at the top of their lungs.

Looking back, Astley said, “I ended up singing to 50,000 people with the Foo Fighters on a weird and wonderful version of ‘Never Gonna Give You Up.’ It was proper nuts.” When he later spoke about it on UK radio, he joked that anyone searching for the clip on YouTube should be ready for some strong language at the start. As he put it, he simply “lost himself in that moment,” swept up in the surreal joy of sharing the stage with one of the world’s biggest rock bands while revisiting the song that changed his life.

Together, Foo Fighters and Rick Astley have turned what started as an internet joke into a surprisingly heartfelt musical partnership. Each time they collide onstage, the result is a mix of nostalgia, humor, and genuine rock-and-roll excitement that audiences can’t resist. Whether it’s a stadium full of fans screaming along in London or millions watching a stripped-back cover online, their unlikely collaboration proves that a great song and a sense of fun can bridge any gap between genres or generations.