There’s nothing else for Fall Out Boy to do but take it up a notch – and they surely do. Pete wastes no time in showing off his spectacular, Rammstein-esque flamethrower bass during commanding opener The Phoenix, while vocalist Patrick Stump (who already possesses one of the most impressive voices in rock) has genuinely rarely sounded better. Sugar, We’re Goin Down gets an enormous sing-along early on, while the dance-tastic Uma Thurman and emo-pop-punk throwback of Grand Theft Autumn / Where Is Your Boy? showcases just how much of a musical force the Chicago quartet have become since their scrappy early days.
Yes, this is a massive night in east London – but across town Elton John is saying farewell in Hyde Park. The London Stadium still gets its share of the Rocket Man, though, courtesy of Save Rock And Roll, and Patrick’s genuinely jaw-dropping impression of the iconic English crooner from his piano. Speaking of music icons, Metallica’s Lars Ulrich gets a namedrop during FOB’s set too, with Pete joking before a rowdy This Ain’t A Scene, It’s An Arms Race that, “I feel like if we can get, like, six mosh-pits going, maybe he would pick up my calls…” The crowd duly oblige and continue the party into a deliriously fun closing run of I Don’t Care, Thnks Fr Th Mmrs and Saturday. We’re sure you’ll be hearing from Lars any minute now, Pete.