With the tragic passing of Foo Fighters drummer Taylor Hawkins in March 2022, the band cancelled all upcoming tour dates. This has left many fans wondering if they will receive refunds for purchased tickets. Here is an overview of the current refund situation for Foo Fighters concerts.
Foo Fighters Tour Cancelled
The Foo Fighters were in the middle of a major tour in support of their 2021 album “Medicine at Midnight” when Taylor Hawkins died unexpectedly at age 50. The band immediately cancelled their remaining tour dates in South America as well as all upcoming shows in North America, Europe, Australia and New Zealand.
In total, over 50 Foo Fighters concerts were cancelled due to Hawkins’ passing. These cancelled shows span from March 2022 through December 2022. The tour was meant to be one of the band’s biggest ever.
Impact on Fans
Many loyal Foo Fighters fans had bought tickets to one or more of these now-cancelled concerts. The ticket purchases were made through authorized ticket sellers like Ticketmaster or AXS as well as resale marketplaces like StubHub.
Fans have been eager to find out if they will get ticket refunds or if the tickets will be honored for any potential future Foo Fighters shows. The status of the refunds has been complicated and evolving over time.
Initial Refund Policy Frustration
In the immediate aftermath of Hawkins’ death and the tour cancellation, Ticketmaster and other sellers did not offer refunds for cancelled Foo Fighters tickets. Instead, they stated the tickets would be honored for any future make-up shows.
This policy frustrated and angered many fans who did not want to hold onto tickets indefinitely for potential shows that might never happen. The likelihood of the Foo Fighters touring again at all seemed very uncertain.
Ticketmaster later updated its policy to allow refunds for cancelled shows but stated it could take 30 days or more for refunds to be processed. Other ticket sellers gradually began offering refunds as well.
Example Refund Timelines
Here are some examples of Foo Fighters ticket refund timelines from major ticket sellers:
| Seller | Refund Policy Update | Estimated Refund Processing Time |
|---|---|---|
| Ticketmaster | March 30, 2022 | 30+ days after request |
| AXS | March 28, 2022 | 30 days after request |
| StubHub | March 29, 2022 | 7-10 business days after request |
Current Refund Status
As of October 2022, refunds for Foo Fighters tickets are now being widely issued. Fans who request refunds are seeing the money returned to them within the timelines promised by most major ticket sellers.
In cases where tickets were resold on secondary marketplaces like StubHub, the status can depend on the original ticket holder requesting the refund from the primary seller first before the resale purchase is cancelled.
Refund Eligibility
These are key things to know about getting a Foo Fighters ticket refund currently:
- Refunds are available for all cancelled 2022 Foo Fighters concerts in North America, South America, Europe, Australia and New Zealand.
- Tickets purchased directly via Ticketmaster, AXS, etc. are eligible for refunds.
- Resale tickets purchased via StubHub, Vivid Seats, etc. are also eligible but may depend on actions from original ticket holder.
- Most refunds are being processed to original payment method used to buy tickets.
- Refunds typically take 30 days or less after request is submitted.
Requesting a Refund
To request a refund for Foo Fighters tickets, contact the original seller or marketplace where you purchased:
- Ticketmaster – Login to your Ticketmaster account online and request a refund.
- AXS – Call AXS support line or login online to request refund.
- StubHub – Call StubHub or login online and submit a refund request.
- Vivid Seats – Reach out to Vivid Seats support via phone, chat or email to get refund.
- Other Sellers – Contact the seller directly about refund policy and process.
Will Fans Get Automatic Refunds?
In most cases, Foo Fighters fans will not receive automatic refunds for cancelled shows. You need to actively request the refund from your ticket seller. This allows you to request a refund at a time of your choosing versus it being automatically processed.
Some ticket sellers like AXS have specified that they will automatically process refunds for cancelled events if no action is taken after 30 days. But it is best not to assume your refund will come automatically – submit the request as soon as possible.
Reasons for Refund Delays
While the refund process for Foo Fighters tickets is now moving more smoothly, some fans may still experience delays. Here are some potential reasons why:
- Huge volume of refund requests for all cancelled shows.
- Original ticket holder hasn’t requested refund yet (for resale purchases).
- Payment method expired since tickets were purchased.
- Seller has inaccurate contact info for the ticket buyer.
If your refund is taking longer than promised, proactively contact the seller to inquire about status and ensure they have proper payment info on file to process the refund.
Will Tickets Be Honored for Future Shows?
Originally, Ticketmaster and other major sellers said Foo Fighters tickets would be automatically honored for any future make-up shows the band holds. However, that policy was scrapped in favor of providing refunds.
There is still a chance the Foo Fighters could decide to reschedule cancelled concerts once they are ready to tour again. But there is no guarantee for ticket holders that their original tickets would be honored.
The band would likely announce an official policy for make-up shows that covers how existing tickets would be handled. This gives the Foo Fighters flexibility to reprice tickets or restrict which original tickets would be valid.
Booking Future Shows
Some key factors to consider regarding the Foo Fighters potentially doing make-up shows for cancelled 2022 concerts:
- No timetable is set for the band to tour again after Hawkins’ death.
- When they do return, smaller club shows may be more likely at first.
- Big tours might be scaled back in scope compared to original plans.
- Exact cities and venues could change from cancelled 2022 itinerary.
Fans should be prepared to buy new tickets at current prices if attending future make-up events rather than relying on original tickets to be valid.
Purchasing Ticket Insurance
The chaotic handling of ticket refunds after the Foo Fighters tour cancellation has highlighted the value of ticket insurance.
Various ticket marketplaces like TickPick and StubHub offer optional ticket insurance. For an additional fee (typically under 10% of ticket cost), buyers can get coverage in case the event is cancelled and refunds are not provided.
Insurance can provide peace of mind knowing you will either be able to attend a make-up event or get your money back if the show is permanently cancelled. It removes any hassle of trying to get refunds.
Pros of Ticket Insurance
Here are some of the main benefits that come with purchasing ticket insurance:
| Benefit | Description |
|---|---|
| Refund guarantee | Guaranteed full refund if event is cancelled and not rescheduled. |
| Easy claims | Fast and simple refunds compared to pursuing standard refunds. |
| Make-up event access | New tickets provided if cancelled event is rescheduled. |
In most cases, fans recoup the full cost of the ticket insurance in the event they need to file a claim. It can provide significant peace of mind for major purchases like concerts and sporting events.
Cons of Ticket Insurance
There are also some potential drawbacks to purchasing ticket insurance:
- Added cost to already expensive tickets.
- Typically only refunds ticket face value, not fees.
- May not coverevents cancelled due to pre-existing circumstances known at time of purchase.
- Does not reimburse travel costs if unable to attend rescheduled date.
Insurance policies have exclusions, so the coverage may not be absolute. Still, the extra protection is usually worthwhile for big ticket purchases.
Will Foo Fighters Tour Again?
The biggest remaining question is whether the Foo Fighters will regroup and tour again at all following the loss of Taylor Hawkins. He had been the band’s drummer for 25 years and was considered vital to their success and live performances.
No official decision has been announced yet by Dave Grohl and the rest of the band. They have said they will take time to grieve and regroup privately before making any decisions.
Here are some possibilities on what could happen with Foo Fighters down the road:
- Announce permanent disbanding of the group
- Continue on with a new drummer
- Bring on guest drummers for certain shows
- Limit live shows in favor of studio recordings only
- Eventually do reunion/tribute concerts to honor Hawkins
Fans continue to hold on to hope that the Foo Fighters will find a way to come back together to keep making music. But no definite answer can be given yet about their future.
Impact on Music Industry
The Foo Fighters cancelling their entire 2022 tour has some wider impacts on the live music industry:
- Venues lost major source of revenue from cancelled sold out shows.
- Other artists may be reluctant to book large tours.
- Questions arise about rigors and risks of non-stop global touring.
- Some acts may avoid touring altogether following tragedies.
With high demand for live concerts, other bands will eventually fill the void left by the Foo Fighters. But the landscape of touring may shift after losing a stalwart giant of live performing.
Conclusion
The process of receiving refunds for cancelled Foo Fighters concerts in 2022 was initially slow and frustrating for fans. But ticket sellers have shifted policies to now allow and facilitate getting money back for tickets.
Fans who actively request refunds are having success getting repaid over the past several months. Automatic refunds are unlikely to be issued unless no action is taken for a long period.
The potential for the Foo Fighters to reschedule cancelled shows is still undetermined. Ticket holders should not plan around original tickets being valid for make-up dates.
Meanwhile, the untimely passing of Taylor Hawkins has brought turmoil and uncertainty over the band’s ability to continue without him. Only time will tell if one of rock’s great live bands takes the stage again in the future.