The Foo Fighters were scheduled to begin a tour in late 2022, but it was cancelled after the sudden death of drummer Taylor Hawkins. This has left many fans wondering if they can get refunds for their Foo Fighters tickets from Ticketmaster.
Background on the Foo Fighters Tour and Taylor Hawkins’ Death
The Foo Fighters were founded in 1994 by former Nirvana drummer Dave Grohl. Over the past three decades, the band has become one of the most successful and acclaimed rock acts in the world. In 2021, the Foo Fighters were inducted into the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame.
In late 2022, the Foo Fighters were scheduled to embark on a major tour across North America and Europe in support of their 10th studio album, Medicine at Midnight. The tour was slated to begin on April 29, 2022 with a performance at the Festival Estéreo Picnic in Bogotá, Colombia.
Tragically, on March 25, 2022, longtime Foo Fighters drummer Taylor Hawkins died unexpectedly at the age of 50. The band announced that in light of Hawkins’ passing, they would be cancelling all upcoming tour dates.
“It is with great sadness that Foo Fighters confirm the cancellation of all upcoming tour dates in light of the staggering loss of our brother Taylor Hawkins,” the band said in a statement. “We’re sorry for and share in the disappointment that we won’t be seeing one another as planned.”
Ticketmaster’s Refund Policy for Cancelled Events
As the Foo Fighters tour was called off entirely, Ticketmaster has stated that refunds will be available to fans who purchased tickets through their platform.
Ticketmaster’s purchase policy for events allows refunds if:
– The event is postponed, rescheduled or canceled.
– The event has a significant change to the lineup (headliner changes or festival date changes).
– The event has a material change to the date, venue, or location.
– There is severe weather that prevents the event from occurring.
For canceled events, Ticketmaster states that refunds will automatically be issued to the original purchaser within 30 days. The refund will be issued using the same method that was used to purchase the tickets.
So in the case of the canceled Foo Fighters tour, Ticketmaster customers who bought tickets through their websites or apps should automatically receive refunds within about a month of the cancellation announcement.
How to Request a Refund for Foo Fighters Tickets
While Ticketmaster states they will automatically issue refunds for canceled events, fans who purchased Foo Fighters tickets may still want to proactively request their refund or confirm it is being processed.
Here are some tips on how to request and confirm a Foo Fighters ticket refund from Ticketmaster:
– **Check your email** – Ticketmaster should email you confirmation when your refund has been issued. Check your inboxes and spam folders for any emails from Ticketmaster about your refund status.
– **Check your Ticketmaster account** – Log into your Ticketmaster account online or via the mobile app and go to your purchase history. There should be notifications about any refunds being processed.
– **Contact Ticketmaster customer support** – If you don’t see any notifications about your refund, get in touch with Ticketmaster’s customer service department. You can call their support line at 1-800-653-8000 or contact them via their online chat function. Be prepared to provide your order number, original method of payment, and any other details about your ticket purchase.
– **Allow time for processing** – Ticketmaster notes it can take up to 30 days for refunds on canceled events to be issued. If you don’t see the refund after a month, follow up again with their customer support.
Foo Fighters Ticket Refund Timeline
Here is an overview of the Foo Fighters ticket refund timeline for Ticketmaster purchases:
– **March 29, 2022** – Foo Fighters announce cancellation of all upcoming tour dates due to the death of drummer Taylor Hawkins.
– **April 2022** – Ticketmaster begins automatically processing refunds for all purchased Foo Fighters tickets.
– **May 2022** – Ticketmaster aims to complete all refunds for Foo Fighters tickets within 30 days of the tour cancellation announcement. Fans should see refunds issued to their original payment methods during this time.
– **June 2022** – If you still have not received your Foo Fighters ticket refund from Ticketmaster, follow up with their customer support department.
This timeline could vary slightly depending on when you purchased tickets and your method of payment. But Ticketmaster has stated all qualified refunds will be processed within 30 days of cancellation.
Checking Refund Status for Other Ticket Purchase Methods
While Ticketmaster was the official ticket retailer for the Foo Fighters tour, fans may have purchased tickets through other avenues like:
– Reseller marketplaces (StubHub, Vivid Seats, etc)
– Fan-to-fan exchanges
– Pre-sales events
– Radio promotions
If you purchased Foo Fighters tickets through a third party site, you’ll need to consult their policies and customer service teams for refund information.
Here are some tips on checking refund status if you didn’t buy directly through Ticketmaster:
– **Contact the seller** – If you purchased from a ticket reseller marketplace, contact their customer service department for the refund policy. There should be options to request a refund for a cancelled event.
– **Check account credits** – Some sites may automatically issue account credits instead of refunds. Log into your account to see if this was applied.
– **Follow up on any special circumstances** – If tickets were transferred or obtained through a special promotion, confirm if any extra steps are needed for refunds.
– **Be patient** – Third party sellers have high volumes of refunds to process after a large cancelation. Don’t panic if it takes over 30 days to see the refund.
– **Dispute unresponsive sellers** – If the seller is unresponsive or refuses to issue a refund, dispute the charges with your bank or credit card company. Provide details of the cancellation and failed refund attempts.
Can You Donate Foo Fighters Tickets Instead of Getting a Refund?
Some Foo Fighters fans may opt to donate their tickets instead of getting a refund, as a way to honor Taylor Hawkins’ memory and legacy.
Ticketmaster has not provided a direct way for fans to donate the value of their tickets. But there are a couple third party options:
– **The Taylor Hawkins Tribute Fund** – This fund was established by the Hawkins family via the NIVA charitable organization. Fans can donate the value of their tickets to the fund at [https://www.nivassoc.org/nivc-donate/](https://www.nivassoc.org/nivc-donate/). Donations will support causes important to Hawkins like music education.
– **Live Nation’s Hero Nation** – Hero Nation allows Live Nation ticket holders to donate the cash value of tickets towards various causes instead of taking refunds. Fans must email [email protected] to coordinate Foo Fighters ticket donations through this program.
If you choose to donate your tickets, be sure to email confirmation of the donation to Ticketmaster when requesting your refund. This will allow them to quickly process the refund without the need to follow up.
Impact of Refunds on the Foo Fighters and Live Music Industry
The mass refunds for the Foo Fighters cancelled tour will likely have significant financial implications:
– **Lost revenue for the band** – The Foo Fighters were expected to gross around $50 million from the canceled tour according to Pollstar. Refunds mean losing out on a major payday.
– **Refund logistics for Ticketmaster** – As the ticket retailer for the tour, Ticketmaster has to dedicate staff and resources to refunding hundreds of thousands of tickets. This can be a costly and time intensive process.
– **Financial hits for venues, promoters, vendors** – The Foos cancellation also means lost income for the tour’s partner venues, promoters like Live Nation, and vendors who support the concerts.
– **Broader industry impact** – High profile tour cancellations chip away at the live music industry’s post-COVID recovery. Billions in ticket sales revenue was already lost during the pandemic.
While refunding tickets is the right call, it adds to the financial strains facing live music. But fans can show their support by buying tickets again when bands announce new tours in the future.
Future Foo Fighters Performances and Taylor Hawkins Tributes
It’s unclear when or if the Foo Fighters will tour again following Hawkins’ death. The band has not made any public statements about their future plans.
Some key details about potential Foo Fighters concerts and tributes:
– **No immediate tour plans** – There is no timeline for the Foos resuming touring. It may be months or longer before they are ready to return to the road.
– **Possible breakup** – Some speculate Hawkins’ death could lead to the group permanently disbanding after nearly 30 years together. But this remains unconfirmed.
– **One-off shows?** – While a full tour may be unlikely in the near term, the Foos could regroup for select tribute concerts honoring Hawkins’ memory.
– **Taylor Hawkins Tribute Concerts** – Several big names in rock and pop have already performed at concerts in London and Los Angeles paying tribute to Hawkins. Foo Fighters members have participated alongside acts like Queen, Rush, and Alanis Morrissette. More tribute shows look likely.
Fans will have to stay patient and understanding as the band navigates this painful time. The most important thing is allowing them to grieve and heal on their own timeline.
Top Things to Know About Foo Fighters Ticket Refunds
Here are some key takeaways about getting refunds for cancelled Foo Fighters tickets:
– Ticketmaster will automatically process refunds within 30 days for all tickets purchased through their platform.
– Check your Ticketmaster account and email for refund confirmations. Follow up with their customer service if needed.
– For non-Ticketmaster purchases, contact the seller directly about refund policies and timeline.
– Refunding millions in ticket sales has financial implications for the band, Ticketmaster, venues, and the live music industry.
– It’s unclear if or when the Foo Fighters will tour again following Hawkins’ death.
– Fans can potentially donate the value of their tickets to the Taylor Hawkins Tribute Fund.
The band’s tour cancellation was heartbreaking, but Ticketmaster and other sellers are working to ensure fans receive the refunds they are owed. This allows the Foos to fully focus on healing while fans patiently await the day they can see the band perform live once again.
