Queens of the Stone Age frontman Josh Homme publicly flouted Ford Field's no-smoking policy while opening for Foo Fighters in Detroit on 6 August, lighting a cigarette on stage despite the venue warning the band it could face a $10,000 fine for smoking backstage. The moment capped a set in which Homme urged the crowd to resist corporate rules, framing his defiance as a stand against excessive stadium costs such as parking, drinks and ticket scalping.

Ford Field, a 65,000-capacity venue, enforces a smoke-free policy covering seating areas, lounges, bars, suites and other indoor spaces, and had reiterated the rule specifically for the Foo Fighters show. According to Metro Times, Homme complained the band had struggled to find anywhere on site where they were permitted to smoke before he lit up during the encore, ahead of closing the 11-song set with "A Song for the Dead". It remains unclear whether Homme or Queens of the Stone Age were ultimately fined. The Detroit gig, which also featured Mannequin Pussy, was the second stop on Foo Fighters' "Take Cover Tour", which began in Toronto and runs through September.