Rope is a song by Foo Fighters, the second track on their seventh studio album, Wasting Light (2011). It was released on March 1, 2011. Like the rest of the album, it was written by all band members and produced by the band alongside Butch Vig. The song originated during the tour supporting Echoes, Silence, Patience & Grace (2007), the band’s sixth studio album. A demo version was recorded after the tour ended in 2008. Some acts that have been noted as influences on the song include Rush and Led Zeppelin.
Rope was released as the lead single of Wasting Light on March 1, 2011, through RCA Records as a download. It was supported by a music video, shot almost entirely in VHS, that paid tribute to the claustrophobic space of the recording studio used for the album. A remix by Canadian producer deadmau5 was later released as part of a limited edition 12-inch single. Rope received favorable reviews from critics and performed well commercially. It was the year-end number-one song of 2011 for the Billboard Rock Songs chart, peaked at No. 68 on the Billboard Hot 100, and reached the top 25 in five countries, including the United Kingdom.
The single premiered on radio on February 23, 2011 and was officially released on March 1, 2011. The song was only released as a download single and no physical CD single was actually released. However, a 12-inch vinyl single was released on May 9, 2011.
Tracklist:
- Rope
The music video, directed by Grohl, was shot entirely in VHS, and shows the Foo Fighters performing inside a white cube set built inside a soundstage in Los Angeles. The “tight, claustrophobic space” was inspired by Grohl‘s garage, where Wasting Light was recorded. The first verse and chorus of the song simply show the band performing, while the second verse and chorus show the band as silhouettes, and the instrumental bridge and final chorus shows lights of various colors flashing within the cube.
The music video made its worldwide premiere live from a MTV.com contest winner’s house in Los Angeles, CA. An MTV and fan interview from the same house was conducted after the premiere, followed by a Twitter “question and answer” portion.
Foo Fighters
Dave Grohl: lead vocals, rhythm guitar
Chris Shiflett: lead guitar
Pat Smear: rhythm guitar
Nate Mendel: bass guitar
Taylor Hawkins: drums, backing vocals
Additional Personnel
Rami Jaffee: keyboards
Drew Hester: cowbell
Taylor Hawkins (February 17, 1972 March 25, 2022).
