Dave Grohl and the Foo Fighters are bummed that the band won't be able to tour for some time because of the frontman's leg injury, but a new report from Billboard suggests that the time away from the road will have a much greater impact on the band financially.
The band was forced to cancel the rest of its European tour after Grohl fell from stage during a show in Gothenburg, Sweden, including a headlining gig at the Glastonbury Music Festival. Those five shows amounted to an estimated $10 million in losses for the Foo...partially due to performance fees lost, as well as travel expenses that otherwise would have been covered by concert earnings. Shipping the band's equipment back overseas is $200,000 by itself.
The potential losses stack up even further when you consider what impact the injury might have on the band's forthcoming North American tour. The Foo Fighters were (and currently still are, until someone tells us otherwise) scheduled to kick off a 44-date tour of the continent beginning next weekend. The estimated haul for that trek would total roughly $50 million, according to Billboard. And that's just ticket prices. Merchandise sales could bring in anywhere from an additional $5 million to $10 million.
Of course, we can't assume that the Foo won't take part in the North American tour as scheduled. The first show of the run is especially important, serving as a mini-music festival celebrating the band's 20-year anniversary. The event—which will take place at RFK Stadium in Washington D.C. (on July 4, no less)—will feature guest performances from Buddy Guy, Joan Jett, Gary Clark Jr., Heart, LL Cool J and Trombone Shorty. It's tough to see that event going over well if the headliner/organizer doesn't show up.
Grohl has been ambiguous on the date of his return, only assuring fans that he'd be back "AS SOON AS POSSIBLE."
