In late August 2020, a ten-year-old drummer named Nandi Bushell, whose playing had already carried her across screens far beyond her home, asked the rock musician Dave Grohl for a contest of drums, and he answered with grace rather than with dismissal. It is a small exchange, but it carries something older than the internet: a young person's courage meeting a veteran's generosity, with craft as the common language. The challenge now rests in her hands, as such moments always do when the next step belongs to the one who dared to ask.
Dave Grohl Accepts Drum Battle Challenge From 10-Year-Old Prodigy Nandi Bushell
Grohl handed the challenge back: the ball was now in her court.
Mark
Start with the obvious question. Why did this one cut through when kids post drum covers constantly?
Mimi
Part of it is the target. She didn't just cover a song, she named Dave Grohl and asked for a battle. And the playing itself, the speed on "Everlong" and the twirling purple sticks, gave people something to pass along.
Luke
Worth keeping the claims small, though. What we can say is the video passed 2 million views on Twitter. Why it spread is interpretation.
Mark
And Grohl didn't just like the post. He answered with a full video.
Mimi
He played "Dead End Friends," a Them Crooked Vultures song, and said he'd watched all her YouTube videos. That detail matters, because it says he engaged with her work, not just the moment.
Luke
That's his own statement, though. We have no independent confirmation of how much he watched. Same with the "at least 100 texts." That's his figure, and a casual one.
Mark
Fair. What about her response?
Mimi
Immediate delight, a reaction video, and then straight to business. She said she has to learn the song and intends to checkmate it.
Luke
Which leaves the real unknown. She hasn't posted her answer yet, so nobody can say how the battle goes, or whether it goes beyond these two exchanges.
Mark
So the story is still open.
Mimi
Yes. The next move is hers.
Der Puls
- A ten-year-old's video of Foo Fighters' 'Everlong' drew millions of eyes and a bold public challenge to Dave Grohl.
- Grohl answered within days, posting his own video of 'Dead End Friends' and declaring the challenge accepted.
- The online crowd buzzed as at least a hundred texts reached Grohl urging him to respond to the young drummer.
- Bushell is racing to learn 'Dead End Friends' for her reply, and the next move is hers to make.
In late August 2020, a ten-year-old drummer named Nandi Bushell, whose playing had already carried her across screens far beyond her home, asked the rock musician Dave Grohl for a contest of drums, and he answered with grace rather than with dismissal. It is a small exchange, but it carries something older than the internet: a young person's courage meeting a veteran's generosity, with craft as the common language. The challenge now rests in her hands, as such moments always do when the next step belongs to the one who dared to ask.
On August 17, 2020, ten-year-old Nandi Bushell posted a short video of herself playing the Foo Fighters' "Everlong" in purple, twirling matching sticks between phrases. Her caption carried a wish to one day jam with Dave Grohl and the band, and she addressed him directly: she wanted a drum battle with him. The clip soon passed two million views on Twitter.
Over the weekend, Grohl replied. On August 29, the Foo Fighters' account shared his video of him playing "Dead End Friends" by Them Crooked Vultures. He said the challenge was accepted, that he had not played these songs in a long time, and he signed off, "Your move!!! Your friend in rock, Dave."
Grohl admitted friends had nudged him, with at least a hundred people texting to ask what he would do. He had also watched every video on Bushell's channel, which has over 100,000 subscribers, and called her an incredible drummer. Then he returned the ball to her court.
Bushell, who is of British and Zulu heritage and has already appeared on television, responded with delight, calling the reply "UNREAL!" She said she would learn "Dead End Friends" and planned to checkmate him. At the time of the report, she had not yet posted her answer, and the next move remained hers.
On August 17, 2020, a 10-year-old drummer named Nandi Bushell posted a short video of herself playing the Foo Fighters song "Everlong." She wore purple, twirled a pair of matching purple drumsticks between phrases, and tore through the fast-paced tune. Her caption laid out a wish: to one day jam with Dave Grohl, Foo Fighters drummer Taylor Hawkins, and the rest of the band.
The message was addressed directly to Grohl. "Mr Grohl I would love to have a drum battle with you," she wrote, adding that she loved "Everlong" and that it was hard to play because it moves so fast, but was also great fun. The clip collected more than 2 million views on Twitter.
Over the weekend, Grohl answered. On Saturday, August 29, the Foo Fighters' Twitter account posted his reply: a video of him playing "Dead End Friends," a song by Them Crooked Vultures, another of his bands. He wrote that the challenge was accepted, that he had not played these songs in a very long time, and that he was thankful for the inspiration. He signed off, "Your move!!! Your friend in rock, Dave."
Grohl said in the video that he had been prompted by friends. By his account, at least 100 people from around the world had texted him to say a girl was challenging him to a drum-off and asking what he planned to do about it.
He also made clear he had done his homework. Grohl said he had watched all of the videos on Bushell's YouTube channel, which has more than 100,000 subscribers. "You're an incredible drummer," he told her, saying he was flattered that she had chosen some of his songs and that she had played them all perfectly. Then he handed the challenge back: the ball, he said, was now in her court.
Bushell is of British and Zulu heritage. Her skills have already taken her onto television, including appearances on "The Ellen DeGeneres Show" and "Good Morning America."
Her reaction was fast. She posted a video of herself beaming with excitement and thanking Grohl for responding. In a tweet, she wrote, "This is UNREAL!" and said she couldn't believe he had actually accepted. She added that it was now her turn to learn "Dead End Friends," and that she planned to "checkmate" this one too.
As of the Los Angeles Times report, neither side had conceded and Bushell had not yet posted her answer to Grohl's video. The next move belongs to her.
Bemerkenswerte Zitate
You're an incredible drummer... So now the ball is in your court.— Dave Grohl, in his video response
This is UNREAL! I can't believe Dave Grohl actually accepted my drum battle.— Nandi Bushell, on Twitter
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