Billie Eilish Announced the Foo Fighters as ‘Global Icons’
The MTV Video Music Awards were back this year with a live audience and Doja Cat as the host. Grammy award-winning artist Billie Eilish took home two awards, including the Video for Good honor for her hit song “Your Power.” Additionally, she had the distinct pleasure of presenting the Foo Fighters with the first-ever MTV U.S. Global Icon Award.
The Foo Fighters have been rocking for more than 25 years
Billie Eilish has accomplished more in her short 19 years of life than most performers achieve in their entire careers. Blasting onto the scene in 2015 with her breakout hit “Ocean Eyes,” the young performer has not stopped churning out chart-topping hits.
Billboard’s Woman of the Year dominated the 2020 Grammy Awards. According to Biography, she “became the first woman and the second artist overall to sweep the ‘big four’ categories.”
The Foo Fighters have been performing longer than Eilish has been alive. Former Nirvana drummer Dave Grohl is the frontman for the Foo Fighters, entertaining audiences for the past 26 years. The grunge band got together back in 1994 after Nirvana broke up following Kurt Cobain’s untimely death. Nate Mendel, Pat Smear, Taylor Hawkins, Chris Shiflett, and Rami Jaffee make up the rest of the iconic band.
NME reported that after a lengthy career in the music industry, the Foo Fighters have 12 Grammy Awards, seven Platinum albums, and two VMA awards. This year they are being inducted into the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame.
The Foo Fighters took the 2021 VMA stage to perform a medley of their greatest hits. They started with the iconic “Learn to Fly” followed by “Shame Shame,” a newer single nominated this year in several categories. Their first performance at the VMAs since 2007, they finished off the set with “Everlong.”
The legendary band paid homage to recently-deceased Rolling Stones drummer Charlie Watts, with “CHARLIE R.I.P” written in black marker on the skin of Hawkin’s bass drum.
Billie Eilish introduced the Foo Fighters as global icons
Billie Eilish enthusiastically introduced the Foo Fighters as the first recipients of the MTV U.S. Global Icon Award.
According to People, the award celebrates “an artist/band whose unparalleled career and continued impact & influence has maintained a unique level of global success in music and beyond.”
The “Bad Guy” singer announced the Foo Fighters, saying, “An entire generation of music fans grew up with this band, and they helped the world fall in love with rock and roll.” She continued, “They put their hearts into every single song and leave it all on the stage every time. They carried the torch of rock and roll for 26 years.”
Eilish finished by saying, “They are heroes. They are legends, and now they are officially global icons.”
Grohl accepted the award, acknowledging “all of the people at MTV past and present.” Proclaiming, “it feels pretty good,” the band’s founder said, “Thank you all very much for this award. We’ll see you in 26 years.”
MTV’s Europe Music Awards Global Icon Award recipients include Queen, Green Day, Eminem, Ozzy Osbourne, and Janet Jackson.
Other highlights of the 2021 Video Music Awards
The night opened with an appearance by Madonna to commemorate the 40th anniversary of MTV. The live show featured performances by Lil Nas X, Kacey Musgraves, Camila Cabello, and more.
K-pop sensation group BTS won the Best Summer Song award for their hit single “Butter.” Disney darling Olivia Rodrigo was a big winner, taking home three awards, including Best New Artist. Lil Nas X also won three VMAs. Justin Bieber received the Artist of the Year award and won the Best Pop award for “Peaches.”
Billboard reported that before handing Bieber the trophy, Cyndi Lauper was met with “venue-shaking cheers” when she made a call for women’s rights.
When Eilish accepted her Video for Good award, she also made a call for action to protect young women, saying that we “need to remember that we all have power, and we have to remember to not abuse it.”
