Why the Foo Fighters were axed from the Emmys

Dave Grohl, frontman of American rock band the Foo Fighters. Photo / Nick Reed

Foo Fighters were dropped from the Emmy Awards after a disagreement with television network Fox.

The rock band were set to become the first ever rock band to perform at the Primetime Emmy Awards, which took place in Los Angeles, when producers asked them to play a song from their HBO documentary and upcoming album Sonic Highways.

However, they were ditched from the show after refusing to shorten their song.

Dave Grohl told TMZ: "We were supposed to play on the Emmys, and we were gonna play on the Emmys, and then they kicked us off."

The website reported that Fox wanted Foo Fighters to play half of a song from Sonic Highways, and half of Learning To Fly but they did not want to do a mash-up.

The band added to Rolling Stone: "The band and the Academy were extremely happy and excited to have Foo Fighters play as the first ever rock band on the Emmys. Fox then refused to allow the band to play a full song from the Emmy-winning Sonic Highways. That is why the band decided not to perform."

Sonic Highways received two Creative Arts Emmy Awards on September 12th in Los Angeles, for Outstanding Sound Editing for Nonfiction Programming and Outstanding Sound Mixing for Nonfiction Programming.

- Bang! Showbiz