Breakout (Foo Fighters song)

"Breakout" is a song by Foo Fighters. It is the second track and fourth single from their third album There Is Nothing Left to Lose.

"Breakout"
A variant of standard artwork
Single by Foo Fighters
from the album There Is Nothing Left to Lose and Me, Myself & Irene soundtrack
Released	September 18, 2000
Recorded	March–June 1999 November 23, 1999 (live)
Genre	Alternative rock post-grunge pop punk
Length	3:21 3:39 (live)
Label	Roswell, RCA
Songwriter(s)	Dave Grohl Nate Mendel Taylor Hawkins
Producer(s)	Foo Fighters and Adam Kasper Emma Lyne and Sam Cunningham (live)
Foo Fighters singles chronology
"Generator" (2000) "Breakout" (2000) "Next Year" (2000)
Music video
"Breakout" on YouTube

History

The single was released as a two disc set in the UK and Europe, and also had separate releases in the Netherlands, Australia and Japan.^[1] Promotional singles were also released in the US for radio play.^[1]

The song appeared as a playable track in Lego Rock Band.

Music video

The video was directed by The Malloys, and served as a tie-in to the song's appearance in the film Me, Myself & Irene. It mainly features Dave Grohl playing a character who has a "multiple personality" disorder (just like Charlie Baileygates/Hank, Jim Carrey's character in the film) while taking his girlfriend to see the movie at a drive-in. In addition to Grohl's mom, Ginny, as the woman who flips him off while he is driving, the video also features some of the actors from the Me, Myself & Irene including Traylor Howard, who played Charlie's ex-wife Layla, and Tony Cox, who played the limo driver, along with Anthony Anderson, who played Jamal Baileygates & Jerod Mixon who played Shonté Jr. Baileygates. The MTV series Making the Video documented the making of the music video.

Live recordings

A live version recorded on November 23, 1999, at the Barrowlands for the BBC Radio 1's Rock Show programme was released as a B-side to the CD versions of the "Generator" single.

Two live versions were released on the Everywhere but Home DVD, recorded in Toronto and Reykjavík.

A live version filmed at Hyde Park on June 17, 2006, was released on the Live at Hyde Park DVD.

A live version filmed at Wembley Stadium on June 7, 2008, was released on the Live at Wembley Stadium DVD.

Track listings

UK CD1 white cover

1. "Breakout" - 3:21
2. "Iron and Stone" (The Obsessed cover) - 2:52
3. "Learn to Fly" (live from Sydney, Australia, January 24, 2000) - 3:38

UK CD2 grey cover, Europe CD white cover

1. "Breakout" - 3:21
2. "Monkey Wrench" (live from Melbourne, Australia February 1, 2000) - 4:23
3. "Stacked Actors" (live from Sydney, Australia, January 24, 2000) - 5:21

Japanese version white cover

1. "Breakout"
2. "Iron & Stone" (The Obsessed cover)
3. "Ain't It the Life" (live acoustic at 2 Meter Session, 22 Nov 1999)
4. "Learn to Fly" (live from Sydney, Australia, January 24, 2000)
5. "Stacked Actors" (live from Sydney, Australia, January 24, 2000)

Australia CD white cover

1. "Breakout"
2. "Monkey Wrench" (live from Melbourne, Australia February 1, 2000)
3. "Next Year" (live from Melbourne, Australia February 1, 2000)

Netherlands CD Live in Holland, part one

1. "Breakout"
2. "Floaty" (live acoustic at 2 Meter Session, 22 Nov 1999)
3. "Ain't It the Life" (live acoustic at 2 Meter Session, 22 Nov 1999)
4. "Next Year" (live acoustic at 2 Meter Session, 22 Nov 1999)

Personnel

Album

• Dave Grohl – vocals, guitars
• Nate Mendel – bass
• Taylor Hawkins – drums

Video

• Dave Grohl – vocals, guitar
• Chris Shiflett – guitar, backing vocals
• Nate Mendel – bass
• Taylor Hawkins – drums

Chart positions

Chart (2000)	Peak position
Australia (ARIA)[2]	59
Canada Rock/Alternative (RPM)[3]	15
Netherlands (Single Top 100)[4]	63
UK Singles (OCC)[5]	29
UK Rock & Metal (OCC)[6]	2
US Mainstream Rock (Billboard)[7]	11
US Alternative Airplay (Billboard)[8]	8

Certifications

Region	Certification	Certified units/sales
Australia (ARIA)[9]	Gold	35,000‡
United Kingdom (BPI)[10]	Silver	200,000‡
‡ Sales+streaming figures based on certification alone.

References

1. Foo Fighters - Breakout discogs.com. Retrieved 26 May 2014.
2. Ryan, Gavin (2011). Australia's Music Charts 1988–2010. Mt. Martha, VIC, Australia: Moonlight Publishing.
3. "Top RPM Rock/Alternative Tracks: Issue 7258." RPM. Library and Archives Canada. Retrieved November 13, 2016.
4. "Foo Fighters – Breakout" (in Dutch). Single Top 100. Retrieved November 13, 2016.
5. "Foo Fighters: Artist Chart History". Official Charts Company. Retrieved November 13, 2016.
6. "Official Rock & Metal Singles Chart Top 40". Official Charts Company. Retrieved April 15, 2017.
7. "Foo Fighters Chart History (Mainstream Rock)". Billboard. Retrieved November 13, 2016.
8. "Foo Fighters Chart History (Alternative Airplay)". Billboard. Retrieved November 13, 2016.
9. "ARIA Charts – Accreditations – 2023 Singles" (PDF). Australian Recording Industry Association. Retrieved 16 November 2023.
10. "British single certifications – Foo Fighters – Breakout". British Phonographic Industry. Retrieved May 20, 2022.