Foo Fighters concluded their week-long residency on Jimmy Kimmel Live in the early hours of Friday morning with a cover of Gerry Rafferty's 1978 classic, "Baker Street." The choice was not unexpected, as frontman Dave Grohl had previously disclosed his plans during an earlier interview with host Jimmy Kimmel. Grohl described the track as a significant guilty pleasure and one of his favorite songs of all time, noting that it evokes memories of his youth in the 1970s driving with his mother while listening to AM radio.
During the performance, the band maintained their high-energy approach without adding a saxophone player or synthesizer to replicate the original arrangement. Instead, lead guitarist Chris Shiflett interpreted the song's famous riff on guitar. Grohl engaged in gentle headbanging while drummer Ilan Rubin delivered an energetic performance behind the kit. This rendition marked the only cover song performed by the group during their week on the show.
The residency featured a mix of new and classic material, including performances of "Window" and "Your Favorite Toy" from the band's 12th studio album, Your Favorite Toy, as well as "This Is A Call" from their 1995 self-titled debut. The Scottish-born Rafferty, who was also a member of Stealers Wheel, saw "Baker Street" peak at number two on the Billboard Hot 100 in 1978. He passed away in 2011 following a long battle with alcoholism.
Following this television appearance, Foo Fighters continue their world tour, which has already taken them through North America and Europe. The band is scheduled to begin their Australian leg of the tour next week.
Sources: Billboard.