12 Times Rock Bands Brought Fans Onstage to Epically Shred Songs
Ozzy Osbourne, Foo Fighters, Blink-182 and more have all given audience members the chance of a lifetime.
Performing for a packed house is every musician’s goal, but jamming onstage with their idols is the kind of wild fantasy most superfans only dream about.
Fortunately, many of the world’s greatest rockers are happy to reciprocate the love they receive from thousands of adoring fans by giving talented audience members the chance to shred riffs, belt out melodies and bang out grooves with the band at live shows.
From metal legends like Ozzy Osbourne and Pantera to current chart-toppers like Foo Fighters and The Killers, here are 12 rock bands that brought fans up to help them slay songs.
1. 10-Year-Old Guitarist Shreds “Crazy Train” With Ozzy Osbourne
Yuto Miyazawa made headlines when he covered this heavy metal classic on The Ellen DeGeneres Show before he played it perfectly in front of thousands at Ozzfest one year later.
2. “Kiss Guy” Stuns Dave Grohl Playing “Monkey Wrench” With Foo Fighters
Dave Grohl wisely picked the dude wearing Gene Simmons’ KISS mask to play lead on the Seattle-based rockers’ radio staple. Following the jam, the frontman even said that aspiring guitarist Yayo Sanchez was the best fan the Foo Fighters have ever played with.
3. Classic Rock Lover Channels Alex Van Halen on “Hot for Teacher” With Steel Panther
The glam rock revivalists in Steel Panther didn’t hesitate to give the Australian fan who challenged their drummer to a duel all kinds of shit as he hopped on stage, but they backed off after he ripped the opening groove to this killer Van Halen track.
4. Sean Kinney Lets Persistent Fan Play “Would” With Alice in Chains
After displaying a t-shirt inscribed with a plea to play for the entire show, bassist Mike Inez finally said “Get up here, motherfucker” and let the dude fill in for Sean Kinney on one of the grunge legends’ most endearing songs.
5. College Student Drums on “Under Pressure” With Foo Fighters
OK—we’ve already seen one Foo fighters-and-fan performance. But this cover of Queen’s “Under Pressure” with college sophomore Pierce Edge was too awesome to omit.
6. Fan Sings Dimebag Darrel’s High Notes With Pantera
Pantera frontman Phil Anselmo clearly influenced young Dusty’s vocal style. The groove metal pioneers were even polite enough to let the guy warm up before the late and great Dimebag Darrel tested his skills by having him match pitches of his shrieking guitar harmonics.
7. Metallica Bassist’s Son Plucks”Blind” and “Twist” With Korn
He’s not just a fan—this 12-year-old prodigy is the son of Metallica bassist Robert Trujilo. Tye’s undeniable talent earned him a stand-in spot on the nu-metal outfit’s South American tour in Reginald “Fieldy” Arizu’s absence.
8. Fan Chugs Beer and Slays “Jesus of Suburbia” With Green Day
This dude kicked off his on-stage performance of this lengthy American Idiot single by downing a brew in front of a roaring crowd. It doesn’t get much more punk rock than that.
9. 13-Year-Old Drummer Plays “Always” Encore With Blink-182
Travis Barker’s machine-gun fills require more than amateur ability to execute, but this young percussionist made it look easy.
10. Nervous Guitarist Rips Lead Riff on “Unholy Confessions” with Avenged Sevenfold
Based on his Under Armour t-shirt, buzz cut and geeky glasses, you’d never guess that “Steve from Philly” could play a mosh pit-worthy rendition of this Avenged fan favorite.
11. Street Musician Sings “I Don’t Want to Miss a Thing” With Steven Tyler
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zQNNmvRo8l8
Technically, Steven Tyler sang Aerosmith’s power ballad with Moscow-based busker Alexander Anisimovfor, but it’s still an awesome version of an admittedly cheesy song.
12. Drummer Saves Groove on “For Reasons Unknown” With The Killers
The first guy who volunteered to play this Sam’s Town single didn’t play two bars before he was kicked off the kit. Luckily, Jose Luis was there to bring the beat back in front of 65,000 fans.