A hit born from a Greatest Hits compilation
In 2009 RCA pushed the Foo Fighters to mark the band’s 15th anniversary with a Greatest Hits collection. Dave Grohl, initially resistant to the idea, agreed to record two new songs for the package: “Wheels” and “Word Forward.” When the compilation arrived, “Wheels” served as the lead single and quickly found radio traction, topping the rock charts for two weeks.
Though presented as a fresh entry in the Foos’ catalog, “Wheels” arrived with a clear lineage — one rooted in the work of another American rock mainstay.
The musical nod to Tom Petty
Listeners and critics immediately noticed that “Wheels” shares a warm, open-chorus feel and midtempo drive reminiscent of Tom Petty and the Heartbreakers’ “Learning to Fly.” While the two songs sit in different keys, their chord movement, rhythmic swagger and buoyant tempo create a similar emotional atmosphere.
Grohl has never hidden the influence. He described “Wheels” as a loving ode to Petty, citing him among the artists he admires and aspires to emulate. As Grohl put it: “I love Tom Petty. I’m not ashamed to say it. There’s a couple of people that I look up to or idolize so much that I hope to be like them some day. People like Tom Petty or Neil Young just seem like cool dudes that just make cool and decent music.”
A friendship forged on Saturday Night Live
The connection between Grohl and Petty goes deeper than stylistic homage. In November 1994, after Tom Petty and the Heartbreakers parted ways with drummer Stan Lynch, Petty invited Grohl to sit in on drums for a Saturday Night Live appearance. Grohl — who was still grappling with Kurt Cobain’s death and was beginning work on what would become the Foo Fighters’ debut — accepted the offer. The pair performed “You Don’t Know How It Feels” and a high-energy take on “Honey Bee.”
That SNL night was significant for Grohl personally: he later said it was the first time he looked forward to playing drums after a difficult period of mourning. After the performance, Petty even asked Grohl to join the Heartbreakers on tour. Grohl politely declined in order to return to the studio and build the Foo Fighters’ future.
Petty’s response and continued tributes
Petty apparently took the nod in stride. The respect was mutual, and the Foo Fighters have returned the favor in live settings over the years — covering Petty tunes such as “Breakdown” and “Honey Bee.” Following Petty’s death in 2017, those tributes took on added resonance as band members and fans reflected on his influence.
Where “Wheels” sits within the Foos’ legacy
“Wheels” illustrates how homage and originality can coexist: the song borrows a tone and structure associated with Petty without being a direct copy. It became a successful single tied to a retrospective release, rather than a marker of a new creative era — although it did help keep the band prominent between studio albums.
The Foo Fighters as a whole have continued to evolve. Since forming in 1994 out of the aftermath of Nirvana, they’ve released multiple albums and garnered widespread acclaim, including induction into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 2021 (Grohl had previously been inducted with Nirvana in 2014). The band has also navigated lineup changes and tragedy: original drummer Taylor Hawkins died in March 2022, and subsequent lineup shifts have seen drummers such as Josh Freese and later Ilan Rubin involved with the group.
Why the Petty influence matters
Tom Petty’s songwriting—direct, melodic, and grounded in American rock traditions—resonates with artists who prize clear hooks and honest storytelling. For Grohl and the Foo Fighters, Petty provided a model for writing accessible rock songs that still carry emotional heft. “Wheels” stands as a compact example of that influence: a radio-ready rocker that also functions as a respectful, unmistakable tip of the hat to a musical forebear.
Bottom line
“Wheels” began life as one of two new tracks on a career-spanning collection, but its enduring appeal owes much to the spirit it borrows from Tom Petty. That blend of homage and original voice underscores how influences travel across generations — and how a single SNL night in 1994 helped spark a musical friendship that informed a memorable Foo Fighters single.