Foo Fighters Pause Sydney Concert to Honor Beaconsfield Miner Todd Russell

Foo Fighters Sydney concert tribute to Beaconsfield miner Todd Russell, Digi Mart USA News (Sydney, Australia): A solemn moment broke up an otherwise raucous Foo Fighters concert in Sydney on Tuesday night, as the band’s frontman delivered a lengthy on-stage tribute to Beaconsfield mine collapse survivor Todd Russell.

The U.S. band is touring Australia for the 16th time in its 32-year history.

Tuesday’s Sydney show coincided with the news of Russell’s death at the age of 54.

The Tasmanian mine collapsed on Anzac Day 20 years ago, trapping Russell a kilometre below ground with co-worker Brant Webb. The pair were presumed dead in the disaster, which killed a third miner, Larry Knight.

The two survivors were trapped in a vehicle underground, and their 14-day rescue effort became global news. When the pair were asked what supplies they needed, Russell requested an iPod loaded with Foo Fighters music to keep his spirits up during the loud drilling for the rescue effort.

Addressing the Accor Stadium crowd, frontman Dave Grohl described the band’s unusual connection to the Beaconsfield miners. While the men were trapped, Grohl sent a message promising two tickets and two beers for them at any Foo Fighters show once they got out of the mine.

He kept that promise, meeting the pair backstage at a Sydney Opera House show later in 2006. Grohl had also written a song for the men the night before, titled “Ballad of the Beaconsfield Miners.”

During Tuesday’s show, band members left Grohl standing alone on stage while a picture of Russell appeared on screen, and the singer recalled their get-together two decades earlier.

“Afterwards we all went to the bar and we had the beers I promised, and I got so drunk I promised I’d put [Ballad of the Beaconsfield Miners] on our next record,” he said.

“And I did. I’m glad I did because I’ve met a few heroes in my life but that was a big one, so I’m doing this one tonight for Todd Russell.”

Russell’s death came one week after he announced he was moving home to “see out his days” following an illness.