Foo Fighters pull off the ultimate Rickroll, joining Rick Astley onstage for a wild live rendition of “Never Gonna Give You Up.”

Foo Fighters have always approached their concerts like a celebration, and their night at London’s O2 Arena proved that once again. Mid-set, they delivered one of their most mischievous surprises yet: Rickrolling the entire audience by bringing Rick Astley onstage for an amped-up performance of “Never Gonna Give You Up.” The band fused the ferocity of Nirvana’s “Smells Like Teen Spirit” with the unmistakable chord progression of Astley’s hit, while the ’80s icon leaned into a heavier, more rock-forward vocal style than fans usually hear from him.

The mashup landed with explosive force, catching the crowd off guard in the best way. Fans erupted, shouting every lyric and transforming the arena into one massive, roaring sing-along. The band fed off the chaos with pure joy, and the moment instantly spread across the internet. Within days, the clip was soaring into the millions, eventually passing 9.1 million views as people around the world replayed the unexpected collaboration.

Astley was 52 when this surprise moment happened—long after the peak of his late-’80s fame and even after stepping away from the industry for a time. Yet on that stage, his voice came through smooth, strong, and completely in command. It reminded everyone why the song became a global phenomenon in the first place. Dave Grohl, meanwhile, spent most of the performance with a huge grin, clearly delighted to unleash such a wild rock-meets-pop crossover.

Many fans don’t realize this collaboration wasn’t a one-time gimmick. Foo Fighters and Rick Astley have built a quirky, ongoing connection over the years, meeting repeatedly at festivals and special events. Grohl has invited him onstage multiple times, including a now-famous moment in Tokyo when the band launched into “Never Gonna Give You Up” without warning. Astley later returned the goodwill by recording a heartfelt acoustic cover of “Everlong,” which quickly resonated online, collecting more than 5.3 million views.

Astley’s “Everlong” cover kept the tone raw and intimate, performed with just his acoustic guitar. He didn’t try to reinvent the original; instead, he honored its emotional core, letting the tension and release unfold naturally. At the same time, he pushed his vocal dynamics further than usual, adding power in the chorus and letting the ending lift through a more expressive delivery. The result felt both familiar and freshly affecting to longtime fans of the song.

During an interview with Virgin Radio UK, Astley explained that his first performance with Foo Fighters in Japan was completely spontaneous. The two acts were sharing a festival bill, and he decided to watch their set from the side of the stage instead of hanging back. He admitted he wanted to be close because Dave Grohl and Taylor Hawkins were two of his musical heroes—and, as he joked, “somewhere in my DNA I’m a drummer,” a nod to his early years behind the kit.

According to Astley, everything started when a Foo Fighters crew member suddenly walked over with a microphone and told him, “Dave wants you onstage.” He was jet-lagged, had already downed a couple of beers, and had absolutely no expectation of performing. Still, he wasn’t about to turn down the chance. Once he stepped out in front of the huge crowd, he realized the band had somehow worked out “Never Gonna Give You Up” beforehand, clearly hoping he’d jump in and sing.

Astley later described the moment as one of the strangest and most exhilarating experiences of his career. Without a single rehearsal, he launched into his signature hit alongside one of the world’s biggest rock bands, belting it out in a much rougher and more aggressive style than usual. The crowd responded instantly, shouting every word and turning the performance into a massive, real-time Rickroll that left everyone grinning.

Reflecting on the moment, 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 discussing it later on UK radio, he laughed while warning viewers that the YouTube clip opens with some colorful language. As he put it, he simply “lost himself in that moment,” overwhelmed by the surreal joy of sharing the stage with a band he admired while revisiting the song that changed his life.

Together, Foo Fighters and Rick Astley have transformed what started as a playful internet joke into a surprisingly heartfelt musical partnership. Every time they meet onstage, the combination of humor, nostalgia, and genuine musicianship creates an atmosphere that fans can’t resist. Whether it’s a London arena erupting into a sing-along or millions watching a stripped-back acoustic cover online, their unlikely bond proves that enthusiasm, good energy, and a timeless melody can bridge generations and genres with ease.