Foo Fighters Will Receive The Global Icon Award At The 2021 VMAs

On the most prominent chorus he ever wrote, Dave Grohl wondered if everything could ever feel this real forever. Nearly a quarter-century later, his Foo Fighters have transcended the humble label of a metal band to be an institution of elder option statesmen, rock rulers who are soon to be inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in their first year of eligibility.


Nevertheless before that, at the 2021 MTV VMAs, Grohl and the Foos will become literally planetary by obtaining the Global Icon Award. The honor is set to create its debut VMA appearance immediately after being a prestigious MTV EMA staple for years. That's as real as it gets.


According to a release, the Global Icon Award "celebrates an artist/band whose unparalleled career and continued impact and influence has maintained a unique level of global success in music and in back of. The VMAs will honor the global icon who has left an indelible mark on the musical landscape keeps it up and continues to influence, inspire, and evolve." The Foos will be joining a staggering assortment of past honorees including Queen, Whitney Houston, Eminem, Green Day, U2, and more.


At this year's VMAs, the Foos will continue the celebration with an efficiency as well, marking their first time rocking the VMA stage since 2007. The band's twisty, black-and-white "Shame Shame" visual is up for three Moonperson awards: Best Rock, Best Cinematography, and Best Choreography. Their first VMA noms came all of the way back in 1996, and the last time the sort took house a trophy was in 2011.


Since starting in earnest as Grohl's post-Nirvana solo project in 1994 — he played every musical instrument on the band's self-titled debut — Foo Fighters have blossomed into a six-piece slick machine rounded out by Nate Mendel on bass, Taylor Hawkins on drums, Pat Smear on guitar, Chris Shiflett on guitar, and Rami Jaffee on keyboards and piano. With each other, they've planted a flag at the best of just about every metaphorical mountain. They've had No. 1 albums and singles, toured the world and back, and even remained on the road soon after Grohl fell off the stage and shattered his fibula in 2015. (He designed and sat in a light-up throne for the remaining dates, strumming a guitar and singing all of the while.)


Their influence on a generation is so ingrained that it may be hard to actually quantify. Younger fans might only know Grohl because the bearded, tattooed rock god howling like a werewolf at every concert, appearing in numerous music documentaries (including his own), and creating a disco record on a lark. Although dig deeper and more treasure awaits: the self-deprecating music videos, the resurfaced deep cuts, the sheer consistency and commitment to being unabashed arena-rock stars, and more.


"What we do can be very short-term. Things like this aren't meant to last forever," Grohl told MTV News in 2009. "We just do it one album at a time. You make a record and also you think, you know what? If that's the last record, I'm cool, 'cause what an awesome run. That was excellent. However it doesn't keep you from making another one."


In 1997, Grohl sang "Everlong" as a love song, not a career wish. Yet 24 years later, the soon-to-be Global Icon Award winners in his musical group will have something new to love. Not a bad wish soon after all.


The 2021 MTV VMAs will air live on Sunday, September 12 at 8 p.M. ET/PT from Barclays Center in Brooklyn. This year’s awards will debut a newly redesigned Moonperson statue from fine artist Kehinde Wiley. They'll also honor the victims of the 9/11 attacks by networking with with the nonprofit 9/11 Day on a series of events to promote awareness and positive action around the day’s 20th anniversary. Find the complete list of nominees here and the list of reported performers here.