I’m a huge fan of Dave Grohl and his music career and recently read his autobiography The Storyteller. The book details his life and career throughout numerous bands (Scream, Nirvana, Foo Fighters, Queens of the Stone Age to name a few) and is a great read. One of my favorite chapters was his telling of how the Foo Fighters’ debut album came to fruition. The year was 1994 and Nirvana frontman Kurt Cobain had just tragically taken his own life. With Cobain gone and Nirvana officially finished, Grohl found himself at a career crossroads. He was devastated but carrying a folder full of songs he had quietly written over the years (as Dave said “It’s like that famous joke– what’s the last thing the drummer said before he got kicked out of the band? ‘Hey, I wrote a song.’”)
So instead of joining another band or spiraling in his grief, Grohl booked six days at Robert Lang Studios in Seattle and recorded the entire Foo Fighters debut himself. Yes he wrote every part, played every instrument, and sang every single vocal line. It’s a remarkable accomplishment considering both the technical ability needed to complete that type of undertaking as well as doing it in such a difficult mental state after the loss of a friend.
That raw spirit is imbued throughout the album. There is a scrappy, hook-filled energy that reflects both Grohl’s punk roots, his innate sense of melody, and his love for rock music in all its various forms. What started as a personal outlet recorded on a whim with little expectation ended up snowballing into the Foo Fighters we know today. And ultimately this album became the foundation for one of rock’s most enduring bands.
Standout Songs: “This Is a Call”, “Big Me”, “Good Grief”, “Weenie Beenie”
