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Pupils perform for Foo Fighters in stadium show

Georgie Dockerand
Yunus Mulla,North West
Anfield Road Primary School Group of schoolchildren smiling and waving wearing hi-vis jackets and sat on stage in front of the Foo Fighters' who are stood behind them.Anfield Road Primary School
The Bell Tower Beats, from Anfield Road Primary School, performed for the stars in Liverpool

A group of schoolchildren performed live on stage for Foo Fighters ahead of the band's Merseyside show - with footage being shared to millions on Instagram.

Thousands of fans gathered at Liverpool's Anfield stadium last week as the American band kicked off their Europe tour with two nights in the city.

But ahead of their first show on Thursday the rockers were treated to a performance of their own - when The Bell Tower Beats, a band from Anfield Road Primary School, took to the stage to perform the band's hit single, Times Like These.

"It was so fun performing for the Foo Fighters. I've never performed in front of anyone before," young band member Sean told BBC North West Tonight.

The Foo Fighters have since shared the special moment to their 5.8 million Instagram followers.

The Bell Tower Beats members said they practiced "loads" ahead of their stadium debut, and were delighted to play alongside such a household name.

"I really like how energetic they are and how much they have have when they are on stage performing," Alyssa said of the Foo Fighters.

Anfield Road Primary School A group of schoolchildren on stage at a stadium.Anfield Road Primary School
The children said they had practiced hard for the occasion

Fellow Bell Tower Beats member Mikey said: "It was scary because I've never been on stage and performed to rockstars."

Louisa added: "I'm a very, very big fan - a ginormous fan - of the Foo Fighters."

The special performance was organised by year three teacher, Danielle McNally.

"I started a social media campaign sending videos out of the children performing and at first not much happened," she said.

Anfield Road Primary School A group of schoolchildren sitting in rows on benches. They all wear dark grey t-shirts reading: 'Foo Fighters Rock 'n' Roll'Anfield Road Primary School
The Bell Tower Beats now have matching Foo Fighters T-shirts, given to them by the band

She then decided to try and send an email to Foo Fighters' management.

"I got an email to set up a call with a manger in LA," she said.

"Then she told me her idea to bring the children to Anfield to perform.

"It was a lovely experience and since then it's been carnage. It's been such an experience for our children."

Danielle McNally Danielle McNally has red hair and wears a hi-vis jacket. She is smiling stood next to a man with long dark hair and a silver beard and glasses, Dave Grohl.Danielle McNally
Schoolteacher Danielle McNally managed to snap a pic with Foo Fighters' Dave Grohl

Danielle added: "We love music, we love the arts, we want to get that across.

"And it's worked because we've got so many people now wanting to join our school band.

"Music's just gone mad and that's what we're about in our school."

Anfield Road Primary School The children sit on the floor at Anfield Stadium looking at the band members stood in front of them.Anfield Road Primary School
The schoolchildren got to go backstage after their performance and even did a question and answer session with the band

The children also got a chance to interview band members Dave Grohl, Nate Mendel, Chris Shiflett, Rami Jaffee, Pat Smear and Ilan Rubin.

Grohl was quizzed by the pupils about his favourite toothpaste, to which he answered "whitening", before the star told anecdotes including of the time he broke his leg falling off stage in 2015.

small brown ukulele with several autographs on the back.
The Foo Fighters also signed eight ukuleles belonging to pupils in The Bell Tower Beats

The Foo Fighters continue to make their way across Europe, with their next show taking place in Berlin, in Germany, on Wednesday.

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