📌 Key takeaways
- Ed Sheeran performed “Drive” on Jimmy Kimmel Live! with a dream team: John Mayer (guitar) and Dave Grohl (drums), among others.
- The performance showcased a hard-hitting rock side of Sheeran, far from the “acoustic solo” cliché.
- “Drive” is tied to the soundtrack of the film F1, and the live performance emphasized its garage / stadium side.
- To recreate that “one-man band” spirit at home, loopers remain a creative weapon (and Sheeran is their natural ambassador).
You turn on Jimmy Kimmel, expecting a quick, polished promo appearance... and instead you get hit with a full-on mini rock concert. This week, Ed Sheeran delivered a performance that raised quite a few eyebrows, and not just among fans. Why? He wasn't alone. By his side: John Mayer on guitar and Dave Grohl on drums (yes, that Dave Grohl). Add a top-tier rhythm section, and you get a side of Sheeran we see far too rarely on TV: raw, tense, electric. The song performed, “Drive”, has everything you want from a live track: an instant riff, full-throttle energy, and vocals driven more by instinct than polish. The result: a music news moment that feels like a real stage moment.
A TV set turned into a rock arena
What stands out most is the shift in atmosphere. On a late-night show, everything is timed, mapped out, optimized. Here, the energy spilled over the edges. The performance of “Drive” sounds like an old-school band track: you can feel the air move, the amps breathe, and the dynamics rise in waves.
And naturally, when you have John Mayer in the picture, you know the guitar won't just be there to accompany. His playing brings that blend of precision and blues-rock grit that makes all the difference: crisp attacks, phrases that answer the vocals, and that little “I can take off into a solo whenever I want” quality without ever losing the song.
On the other side, Dave Grohl does what Dave Grohl does: heavy, direct hits, with that sense of impact that turns any chorus into an acceleration. It's simple: the drums instantly give Sheeran rock-star stature. And that changes the whole perception of the track.
“Drive” is tied to the F1 project (movie + soundtrack). That context also explains the “speed / adrenaline” aesthetic, as well as the desire for a more hard-hitting live version than usual.
“Drive”: a song that refuses to behave
“Drive” isn't a ballad meant to get the crowd singing along on a dock at sunset. It's a song that pushes forward, with an effective structure and constant tension. On Kimmel's set, you feel it from the opening bars: the track is played like a sprint.
What works so well here is the contrast: Sheeran keeps his vocal identity (that instantly recognizable tone), but places it in a much more band-driven setting. It brings up a simple point: a pop songwriter can absolutely be credible when taking on rock codes, as long as they embrace the volume, the roughness, and the imperfections.
You can also hear a sense of letting go. In certain parts, the vocals get raspy, the dynamics hit hard, and that's exactly what makes the performance feel alive. In 2026, when so many TV performances feel like disguised lip-syncing, this kind of moment is refreshing.
Why John Mayer and Dave Grohl change the game
The lineup isn't just a publicity stunt. It reflects a musical intention. John Mayer has the art of making a riff feel “obvious” without making it ordinary. He has that talent for filling space, letting it breathe, then striking at just the right moment. On “Drive,” he brings a flavor that leans toward classic rock, with an elegant playing style that avoids the “distortion for distortion's sake” effect.
Dave Grohl, meanwhile, is the highway. His drumming puts the song on wide-open tracks. It thickens everything: the chorus feels bigger, the verse more urgent, the build more spectacular. Above all, his presence gives the performance instant credibility with a rock audience that usually keeps its distance from Sheeran.
This duo is proof that Sheeran knows exactly what he's doing: he isn't “playing” at rock, he surrounds himself with musicians who live it, and he rises to their level. That's exactly what makes the performance memorable.
If you want to understand why it sounds so “huge,” listen to the dynamics: more restrained verses, choruses that open up, and above all, synchronized attacks (drums + guitar). Those micro-details are what take a song from “good” to “unstoppable.”
The “musician Sheeran” takes center stage again
We sometimes tend to reduce Ed Sheeran to his hits and his earworm choruses. But this performance puts the spotlight back on one essential point: he's a real live musician. Someone who knows how to carry a song, deliver a melody, and above all adapt to a live setting without faking it.
And paradoxically, seeing him in “band mode” recalls his other signature: the one-man band with a looper. Because deep down, he's looking for the same thing: building energy in real time, stacking layers, and taking the audience along for the ride.
It's also a good opportunity to remember that if you want to explore this approach at home (without getting lost in menus), there are tools designed for exactly that. The brand's “signature” loopers clearly follow that same logic of simplicity and efficiency.
To work on Sheeran-style arrangements (rhythm + chords + melodic lines), check out the loopers Sheeran Loopers Looper X and Sheeran Loopers Looper +: perfect for building a song in layers, just like in his shows.
Why this performance is already a cult moment
Because it checks every box you expect from a memorable live performance: an unexpected pairing, a song that breaks out of its usual frame, and a delivery that feels like a “real” moment (not a sanitized demo). The viral effect makes perfect sense, too: you have names that speak to several audiences at once. Pop fans come for Sheeran. Guitar fans come for Mayer. Rock fans come for Grohl. And everyone stays because the band is playing.
Over the course of a career, this kind of appearance matters. It repositions an artist. It reminds people that he can still surprise them. And it raises a simple question: are we going to see Sheeran in this mode more often? A rock EP? More all-star collaborations? A heavier live sound on tour? Nothing has been confirmed, but the message is clear: he wants to break out of the box.
In the meantime, this Kimmel performance will remain one of those clips you send to a friend saying, “turn it up, check this out.” And for a TV appearance, that's already a win.
Sources
- Rolling Stone France – Ed Sheeran, Dave Grohl, and John Mayer reunite for “Drive” on Kimmel
- Rolling Stone (US) – Ed Sheeran performs “Drive” with Dave Grohl and John Mayer
- NME – The performance of “Drive” on Jimmy Kimmel Live!
- Stereogum – Report and context surrounding the live performance
- Guitar World – Behind the scenes of the collaboration around “Drive”
