STACK #258 April 2026

MUSIC FEATURE

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TOY STORY O ne simple chart fact shows how much we love Foo Fighters. The band has had nine chart-topping albums in Australia. At home in America? Two. “We have always had a spicy love affair with our friends in New Zealand and Australia, making it a point at least once every album cycle “This tasty combination is something we inadvertently discovered on a tour of Australia.” The band is now celebrating Your Favorite Toy , the first Foo Fighters album to feature drummer Ilan Rubin. Dave Grohl talked about goodbyes when Foo Fighters became the Australia’s love affair with Foo Fighters continues.

Foo Fighters’ “Take Cover” tour hits Australia later this year, kicking off in Brisbane on November 5. TOUR ALERT

FUN FACT

first international band to do a stadium show in Australia after the COVID pandemic. “I don’t like saying goodbye to people,” Dave told the Geelong crowd. “Because the way we work is we always f-cking come back, because

to suffer the 15-hour flight and pay a visit,” Dave Grohl pointed out in his best-selling book The Storyteller. “And it’s always more than worth it... exploring this heavenly territory, making lifelong friends, and rocking the f-ck out of every venue we set foot in.” The band even has a favourite Aussie-inspired celebration.

Foo Fighters

Photo credit: Elizabeth Miranda

The band’s new drummer, Ilan Rubin, was just 32 when inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame with Nine Inch Nails in 2020. He is the youngest living inductee.

“We would not be the band we are today, here in Australia, if it wasn’t for the great, late Michael Gudinski.” Dave was backed by Taylor Hawkins, whose bass drum featured a photo

AWARDS ACTION Foo Fighters were inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 2021 – their first year of eligibility. And they have won 15 Grammy Awards.

Your Favorite Toy by Foo Fighters is out Apr 24 via Sony

of Gudinski. Tragically, Taylor died just three

that’s what we do... but I would like to dedicate this last song [ Everlong ] to an old friend who’s not here with us tonight. A person that always brought us over here and took care of us and made us happy.

“The Foo Fighters have one very peculiar indulgence that we request every now and then for special occasions: KFC and champagne,” Dave smiles.

weeks later. His loss is still being felt by every Foo Fighters fan. But Your Favorite Toy shows there’s a lot of life left in this band. Jeff Jenkins

A year ago, The Amity Affliction fans were rocked by the news that singer and founding member Ahren Stringer was leaving the band. But the chart topping band quickly regrouped, announcing Stringer’s replacement – American bass player and singer Jonny Reeves, from metalcore band Kingdom of Giants. And The Amity Affliction immediately started making new music. The result is the power-packed album House of Cards . Songwriter Joel Birch has always been very open with the band’s legion of fans. There have been some changes. But one thing stays the same – The Amity Affliction still rock. CHART FACT REBUILT The Amity Affliction have had seven Top 10 albums in Australia, including four chart-toppers: 2012’s Chasing Ghosts , 2014’s Let the Ocean Take Me , 2016’s This Could Be Heartbreak , and 2018’s Misery .

The title track explores the relationship he and his brother and sister had with their mother. “Our mother died in 2024 and none of us had a healthy relationship with her,” Joel explains. “She was very self-involved, aggressive, abusive in our early years, and in her later years, spent a good amount of time trying to put a wedge between the three of us. Thankfully, once she passed, the

Another track, Bleed , is a blistering takedown of online haters. “This song is a bit of a f-ck

you to people online who leave comments like they know me personally, or know anything about what’s happening in my life, and a bit of a reminder to myself that I am not beholden to that idea,” Joel says. The song states, “I bleed the way I bleed.” “That’s my way of saying that I am the way I am, not the way I am perceived to be by people who don’t actually know me and

House of Cards by The Amity Affliction is out Apr 24 via Rocket

three of us actually became closer as we realised we had individual, but shared, trauma related to her.”

have formed or projected an idea of me onto me by way of social media.” Yep, The Amity Affliction are back. And as defiant as ever. Jeff Jenkins AWARDS ALERT The Amity Affliction have been nominated for ‘Best Hard Rock or Heavy Metal Album’ seven times at the ARIA Awards. But they are yet to win.

Photo credit: Tom Brown

The Amity Affliction

32 APRIL 2026

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