The Foo Fighters‘ tour rider for Jakarta allows them permission to swear, smoke and drink on stage, where normally punishments for those breaking laws on these behaviours range from fines to years in prison.

The band are playing their first show in the Indonesian capital Jakarta since 1996, at Carnaval Ancol on October 2. This show was announced earlier this week, following their recent announcement of the band’s headline slot at the Singapore F1 Grand Prix concerts.

According to Consequence Sound, their Jakarta rider allows them permission to swear, smoke and drink on stage – behaviours which are normally looked down upon, not permitted or illegal in Indonesia.

“They’ve asked for the freedom to curse on stage, as well as permission to smoke and drink during the show,” said Ravel Junardy, the promoter of the show and the CEO of Ravel Entertainment. “As long as it doesn’t touch on sensitive topics like race, religion, or Indonesian cultural values, we’ll allow it.”

Ravel Entertainment have been brought in to help moderate when Western acts come to the country to perform. Junardy asks regulators to bring up issues ahead of the concert, while protecting himself if the Foos go too far.

After their show in Jakarta, the Foos will jet over to Tokyo, Japan. There, they’ll play the Saitama Super Arena on October 7, and finally the Glion Arena Kobe in Osaka on October 10. Nab your tickets to all shows here. 

Their Jakarta and Japan shows come after it was recently announced that Josh Freese had been let go as their drummer, with Freese saying he was “shocked” and “disappointed”.  Freese joined the Foos as their touring drummer in 2023 following the sudden passing of their drummer Taylor Hawkins in March 2022.

Taking to social media, Freese wrote that “the Foo Fighters called me Monday night to let me know they’ve decided ‘to go in a different direction with their drummer’. No reason was given.

“Regardless, I enjoyed the past two years with them, both on and off stage and I support whatever they feel is best for the band.”

He later jokingly shared 10 possible reasons why he was “booted” from the band, including whistling “‘My Hero’ for a week solid on tour” and “starting every rehearsal with a 20 minute cowbell sound bath”.

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