After pivoting to recent Billboard Rock & Alternative Airplay No. 1 “Shame Shame,” the band capped their performance with a blistering run through signature 1997 single “Everlong.” While they performed the climactic hit, a split-screen montage simultaneously playing clips from dozens of Foo Fighters videos from the course of their career was displayed both behind them and underneath them, projected onto the actual stage.
Following the performance, Grohl gave Eilish a big hug and accepted the award on the band’s behalf, saying, “We’ve been a band for 26 years, so it feels pretty good.” He went on to thank a number of figures from MTV’s history, pulled half-facetiously from a “list” he said the group had prepared but were clearly just improvising — including past VJs like Kurt Loder, Tabitha Soren and J.J. Jackson, and former vp of music and talent Amy Finnerty, often credited with helping give Grohl’s old band Nirvana their break on the channel.
“We’ll see you in 26 years,” Grohl concluded his speech.
