Foo Fighters frontman Dave Grohl paused a packed Sydney concert at Accor Stadium to pay tribute to Todd Russell, a Beaconsfield mine survivor who passed away earlier this week at age 54.
During an acoustic section of the band’s ‘Take Cover’ tour, Grohl stood alone on stage as a photo of Todd Russell appeared on the stage screens, setting up the tribute.
He then performed “Ballad of the Beaconsfield Miners,” the instrumental he wrote nearly 20 years earlier.
“I’ve met a few heroes in my life, but that was a big one,” Ghrol told the audience. “I’m doing this one tonight for Todd Russell.”
On Anzac Day in 2006, a rockfall trapped Russell and fellow miner Brant Webb almost a kilometre underground in the Beaconsfield gold mine in northern Tasmania. Their colleague Larry Knight was killed in the accident.
The pair remained trapped for 14 days before being rescued on May 9th
While waiting, the miners asked for water and an iPod loaded with Foo Fighters music to help drown out the sound of the rescue drilling.
When Grohl learned of the request, he sent a message offering them tickets to any Foo Fighters show anywhere in the world and two cold beers when they got out, and he later kept that promise.
He kept his promise. Telling the crowd that later in October 2006, the band played acoustic shows at the Sydney Opera House. Grohl wrote “Ballad of the Beaconsfield Miners” in his hotel room the night before, knowing the miners would be there.
After the performance, the group went to a bar, shared the beers he had promised, and, as Grohl later recounted, he got so drunk he vowed to put the song on the next album.
It appeared on Echoes, Silence, Patience & Grace in 2007.
“Afterwards we all went to the bar, and we had the beers I promised, and I got so drunk I promised I’d put [Ballad of the Beaconsfield Miners] on our next record,” he said, reinforcing how the promise became the song’s release.
“And I did. I’m glad I did because I’ve met a few heroes in my life, but that was a big one, so I’m doing this one tonight for Todd Russell.”
Grohl then performed the song solo on acoustic guitar.
Russell’s death came one week after he announced a move home to “see out his days” following an illness. His son Trent said his father “fought an uphill battle” and that “his final moments were on his own terms.” Trent added that the last six days at home were filled with “family, friends, love and laughter.”
In a social media post, he wrote that years of pain, treatments, setbacks and emotional exhaustion had left him with “nothing left to give.” He said there were “no further options” medically or physically and that he had “no more fight left in me.” He planned to spend his remaining time at home with his wife, children and loved ones.
Tasmanian Premier Jeremy Rockliff offered condolences:
“Todd Russell went through the absolute wringer underground at Beaconsfield.
As a nation, we held our breath while rescuers went to work.
We were shattered when news came through that Larry Knight had been found and tragically was no longer with us.
Then Brant and Todd were miraculously found, and the work began to extract them.
Just before 6am on the 9th of May, after 14 days trapped, they emerged up the mine shaft.
Punching their fists in the air and moving over to the board to slide their safety tags to “safe”.
It was two weeks that stopped a nation.
But Todd didn’t let it define him.
He continued to serve proudly at the Beaconsfield Fire Brigade until February this year, an exemplary 31-year career of community service.
He told his story, and became an advocate for mental health.
And made the community around him a better place.
It’s safe to say that the thoughts and prayers of all Australians are with Todd’s loved ones and mates, as they mourn his loss today”
