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12 times Foo Fighters were masters of disguise

Like most bands, Foo Fighters have their fair share of performance and behind-the-scene tour montages that serve as official music videos. However, the sublime rockers also have established themselves as having quite a sense of humor, most prevalent in their choice to get dressed up in ridiculous outfits for the sake of video plotlines. From starting a riot in a nursing home to starring in a ’70s soap opera, head below for some of Foo Fighters best and nearly unrecognizable costumes.

READ MORE: Dave Grohl has the perfect reaction to Foo Fighters stage crasher—watch

“Big Me” (1996)

Foo Fighters made their debut in 1995 with their self-titled record (practically a solo affair by Dave Grohl), and “Big Me” was one of the singles taken from that release. The track’s accompanying video introduced fans to the group’s unique humor, serving as a parody of real-life Mentos ads. Their spots for “Footos,” a mint deemed as “the Fresh Fighter,” have the band acting as construction workers who move a woman’s boxed-in car and sporty guys who cut straight inside a parked car blocking their path. Following the video’s release, the band stopped playing the track for a brief period after fans repeatedly flung Mentos at them. “Honestly, it’s like being stoned,” frontman Grohl revealed. “Those little things are like pebbles.” The video was their first with director and former Lemonheads bassist Jesse Peretz (Nada Surf, Selena Gomez) who they would go on to work with several more times throughout their videography.

“Everlong” (1997)

“Everlong” features Grohl and drummer Taylor Hawkins as a quintessential suburban husband and wife. Viewers are transported between dreams had by each character. Grohl imagines them dressed as Sid Vicious and Nancy Spungen being harassed by guitarist Pat Smear and bassist Nate Mendel while Hawkins dreams of an Evil Dead-inspired cabin getaway. The video is directed by Michel Gondry who later went on to helm films such as Eternal Sunshine Of The Spotless Mind and The Green Hornet.

“Learn To Fly” (1999)

“Learn To Fly” starts off with the antics of Tenacious D’s Jack Black and Kyle Gass as airport employees readying a plane for its next flight. Foo Fighters appear as themselves as well as pilots, flight attendants and several different passengers who put them in everything from wigs to fat suits. The wacky video secured the band’s first Grammy win at the 2001 ceremony for Best Short Form Music Video, beating out Busta Rhymes, Reba McEntire, Papa Roach and Will Smith. They also won Best Rock Album for There Is Nothing Left To Lose that night.

“Breakout” (2000)

While “Breakout” is taken from their album There Is Nothing Left To Lose, the track also appears in the Jim Carrey film Me, Myself & Irene alongside others by Smash Mouth, Third Eye Blind and the Offspring. The accompanying video spotlights the film with some of its stars (Traylor Howard, Tony Cox, Anthony Anderson) appearing at the drive-in set clip. Howard’s character sets out on a date with Grohl as a reserved sweater-vest wearing guy and his split rock star personality, a component inspired by the movie’s plot. Grohl’s mother also makes an appearance as an angry passenger passing the couple on the way to the cinema.

“Next Year” (2000)

“Next Year” depicts Foo Fighters as astronauts on a manned flight to the moon, inspired by Apollo 11’s 1969 trek. It features the band in costume, but most of the clip is film stock from real missions. The band perform the track in a zero-gravity simulation, plant a logo-emblazoned flag and meet then-president Richard Nixon.

“The One” (2002)

Orange County is a 2002 comedy starring Colin Hanks and Black as brothers and total opposites. Foo Fighters released “The One” via the film’s soundtrack and in turn, used it as inspiration for the video. The clip has the members attending Performing Arts High School where they dabble in acting, orchestra, ballet and miming complete with the appropriate costuming.

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“Low” (2003)

Continuing their on-screen relationship, Black joins Grohl in “Low.” The duo appear as rednecks getting hammered at a motel, much of which is filmed to look like it’s being captured first-person through a camcorder. The night takes a turn when they pop open suitcases and get dressed in drag. Grohl originally wanted to film Black dancing in the skimpy outfit with no edits, but director Peretz convinced him to change his mind.

“Long Road To Ruin” (2007)

The Foos took their campy antics to a new level with “Long Road To Ruin” as they created a show within a show. The ‘70s set video has the band portraying actors who are characters on a medical soap opera. Grohl appears as Davy Grolton who plays Dr. Hansom Davidoff. Grohl’s Grolton character is a mega-star, appearing on the cover of teen magazines and in tabloids. He also fronts the Davy Grolton Band, which offers up some performance shots for the track. The video also has Rashida Jones appearing as Grohl’s love interest on- and off -screen.

“White Limo” (2011)

“White Limo” gives off a grainy VHS feel as the late Lemmy of Motörhead drives the stretch sporadically throughout town. Mendel appears in short shorts and rollerblades as the rest of the band bros down in the back of a red pickup and an alley before recruiting Lemmy as their chauffeur. The video also was directed by Grohl who helmed that duty several times.

“Walk” (2011)

Using the Michael Douglas film Falling Down as inspiration, Foo Fighters released an intense look at how one man reacts to the grind of daily life. Grohl stars as the white-collar worker sick of morning traffic and other shortcomings, so he ditches his car and sets off by foot. The other members appear as similarly stranded drivers and later as everything from a fast food clerk to thieves. The band won Best Rock Performance for the track at the 2012 Grammy Awards where Grohl gave a speech about the importance of “the human element of music” that was regarded as an attack on the electronic genre and in turn led to an apology from the frontman.

“Hot Buns” (2011)

While this video is not for a Foo Fighters track and rather a NSFW promo for their fall 2011 North American tour, it still ranks up there with some of the band’s best looks. Set in a truck stop, the members appear as over-the-top interpretations of truck drivers (and a janitor) who have stopped to grab a meal and a shower set to Queen’s “Body Language.”

“Run” (2017)

Taken from their most recent release, Concrete And Gold, “Run” shows the Foo Fighters in what may be their most intense costuming yet. Directed by Grohl, the band appear as elderly residents in a nursing home, performing for their peers and in turn offering up the soundtrack to a riot as the room goes completely and utterly insane.