When Foo Fighters announced their lineup for Cal Jam, a rock and roll summit in California, memories surfaced of the inaugural event held in Ontario, CA in 1974. 

Deep Purple and Emerson, Lake & Palmer teamed up to host the gathering that attracted upwards of 300,000 people there (other reports suggest the number was closer to 400,000) for sets from the two hosts as well as Earth, Wind & Fire, Eagles, Black Sabbath and others. In an intro video for the 2017 edition, Dave Grohl and Foos drummer Taylor Hawkins reflected the historic rock gathering. 

For their version, they’ll “rewrite history” with Queens of the Stone Age, The Kills, Liam Gallagher, Royal Blood, Japandroids and many others for the one-day event. The day will surely be full of collaborations as Grohl has ties to nearly every group on the bill, including playing drums for Queens of the Stone Age. The Kills’ Alison Mosshart also appears on the band’s new record Concrete and Gold and Royal Blood opened up for the Foos on their massive Sonic Highways tour. 

While we wait for that, let’s go back to the very first Cal Jam from 1974 with Deep Purple’s headlining set.