Foo Fighters to kick off Radio 1’s 50th anniversary celebrations in Live Lounge

Foo Fighters will kick off a month of celebrations to mark the 50th anniversary of BBC Radio 1.

The US rockers will perform in the station’s iconic Live Lounge, but from their own studio in Los Angeles, on September 1 to launch the special event.

Jay Z, Chris Martin, Miley Cyrus, Harry Styles and The Killers are also among those taking part in Live Lounge Month.

It wraps up on September 29 with an evening concert in front of a live studio audience, with a secret special guest.

Live Lounge host Clara Amfo said: “This year’s Live Lounge Month has me more excited for our listeners than ever.

“From LA back to our studios in the UK, there are 50 great years of Radio 1 to celebrate with all of the artists and I can’t wait for it to kick off!”

It starts on September 30, exactly 50 years since Radio 1 launched, and will air “best of” archive material, celebrating the role the station has played in music and entertainment.

Radio 1 Vintage will also see the return of Tony Blackburn – the first person ever to broadcast on BBC Radio 1.

There will be a live re-creation of Blackburn’s first ever Radio 1 show, including The Move’s Flowers In The Rain, which was the first song to be played on the station.

Blackburn said: “Launching Radio 1 on 30 September 1967 is, undoubtedly, the highlight of my career.

“It is hard to imagine that there was a time when the BBC would only play 45 minutes of popular music per day and we, as teenagers, had to wait until 7pm in the evening for Radio Luxembourg to come on, and play the music we wanted to hear.

“I owe so much to Radio 1 for my long career, to have been there at the beginning and to still be part of the BBC, it has been amazing to see how it has developed over the years to changes in technology, music, demand and, of course, its ever changing audience.”