The History Of: Foo Fighters

With Kurt Cobain’s death in 1994, and the subsequent demise of Nirvana, no one expected anything from Dave Grohl. The world would have been perfectly content with him fading away, being nothing more than “that drummer guy from Nirvana” to the next generation. Dave, however, had no such plans. By June of 1995 he had recorded an entire album and soon released his new band’s first single, This Is A Call. Although Foo Fighters have had their share of setbacks, especially concerning line-up changes, they have proven to be one of Rock’s greatest and most consistent performers.

Whilst in Nirvana, Dave Grohl’s songwriting for the band had been negligible, contributing only the b-side Marigold. He had, however, been writing and recording songs by himself for quite some time. These lonely recordings would become the core of the Foo Fighters’ self-titled debut.

Although Grohl played all of the instruments during the recording of Foo Fighters’ debut album, he soon made sure that he had a complete line-up for his new band. There had rumours that Grohl’s former Nirvana band mate Krist Novoselic would join him, but this notion was quickly dismissed when Grohl recruited Nate Mendel as their bassist. Pat Smear, who had also played with Nirvana on occasion, joined the band as guitarist. William Goldsmith was put on the drums, leaving lead vocals and guitar to Grohl, a position the public had not seen him in.

With the release of their first single and shortly thereafter their debut album, the band faced much criticism. Critics claimed that they were borrowing too heavily from Nirvana, and wrote them off as a silly spin-off group that would soon perish.

Despite the accusations of their detractors, the band persisted and soon had a loyal following. The critics were not unanimous is their disliking of the album, and many claimed the album to be a solid record, showing much promise.

Foo Fighters toured extensively to promote their debut, and within a year of its release, it had gone platinum in the US. By late 1996, Grohl was ready to head back into the studio to start recording their second album. Although their debut had been a solo effort by Grohl, this time the band as a whole would be involved. Before the album had even been finished, they experienced their first major setback. Drummer William Goldsmith decided to pack it in, citing creative differences. Despite this explanation, rumours persisted that Goldsmith had been unhappy because Grohl redid much of the drumming he had done for the album. His departure did little to slow the recording process, however, as Dave simply finished the drumming himself.

Grohl wasted no time in filling the empty slot, and soon afterwards recruited Taylor Hawkins. In May of 1997 the Foo Fighters released their second album, The Color And The Shape. The record was received with great enthusiasm by fans, and songs such as Monkey Wrench, My Hero and Everlong became instant classics. The success of the album was somewhat marred by the departure of yet another member. Pat Smear left the band and was replaced by Franz Stahl, an old band mate from Grohl’s days as Scream’s drummer. Stahl would not bring stability to the band, however. In June of 1999 he left as well. His final replacement was Chris Shiflett, who had been a guitarist for No Use For A Name.

In 1999 Foo Fighters recorded There Is Nothing Left To Lose, their third studio album. Grohl had recently divorced his wife Jennifer Youngblood, and many fans felt that this ordeal was reflected in the album’s content. That aside, the album was a great success with fans and critics alike. At the 43rd Annual Grammy Awards, the Foos walked away with 2 awards. They received the Best Rock Album accolade for There Is Nothing Left To Lose, and Learn To Fly grabbed the best Music Video award.

In August of 2001, Foo Fighters were forced to cancel several European dates following the hospitalisation of drummer Taylor Hawkins. He was admitted after “overindulging” himself following the V2001 festival in the UK. In October of the same year Dave joined Queens Of The Stone Age as their drummer. This fuelled rumours that Foo Fighters was coming to an end. Grohl denied such a move, and soon afterwards announced that the band would record a new album.

October of 2002 saw Foo Fighters releasing their fourth studio album, One By One. It was a huge hit, selling more than a million copies. Critics praised it as their best work to date. It also earned them two more Grammy Awards. At the 45th Annual Award Show they received the nod for best Hard Rock Performance (All My Life). The following year One By One followed in the footsteps of its predecessor, receiving the award for Best Rock Album.

In August of 2003, Dave married MTV producer Jordyn Blum. Later that same year the band released a live concert DVD, Everywhere But Home. Recently it was announced that the next Foo Fighters album will be a double disc set, with one being rock, and the other acoustic.

Foo Fighters have had a somewhat turbulent history, but regardless of this they have forged ahead to become one of rock’s greatest performers. With a new album in production, and ‘rock’s nicest guy’ showing no signs of loosening his powerful grip on the music industry, Foo Fighters seem determined to remain a permanent fixture on the Rock landscape for years to come.

Comments

[BlueViper1998]

foo fighters own.

[kurush]

yeah. foo fighters rock.

[ultimate_punk]

Good article.

[Nesk_101]

that rocks, don't forget he drummed for the studio recording of Tenacious D's album. the funny part is that if you take " The D" and combine it with " Foo " you get, "The Foo-D". an interesting twist eh?

[Butterknife]

great article. foos kick ass

[Blackbullet]

kool, love the foos

[vinniebeast]

The Foo Fighters are good and Dave Grohl is a talented musician.

[vinniebeast]

that rocks, don't forget he drummed for the studio recording of Tenacious D's album. the funny part is that if you take " The D" and combine it with " Foo " you get, "The Foo-D". an interesting twist eh?

No just coincidence really

[r_lightning]

kurush:
can someone do an article on the history of Bush?
[POSTED: 04 October 2004 - 10:28]|

hahaha! of course..

[r_lightning]

btw, very good article.. 5stars

[Reaper_Of_Souls]

kurush:
can someone do an article on the history of Bush?


Funny you should say that, I wanted to do one before I started on the Foo Fighters history. It's kinda hard to research it though. Since Golden State they've faded away a bit, not an abundance of info out there. But I'm working on it.

[ILIKEMUSICALOT]

Yeah, you didn't put how he drummed for Tenacious D for the recording.

[Grunion]

Foo Fighters for the win!

[Jerman]

Grohl also plays the Demon in the 'Tribute' Music video.

[jasonmetal love]

nice article mate

[punge]

haha i ***ing had dinner in a restraunt after meeting dave. he so ***ing funny

[civildp1]

a little short but good on info. Dave also played Sasquatch in the newest beastie boys video

[MarshGTR182]

Foo Fighters rock.

[nirvana4lf]

david grohl kicks ass. he is so talented because he plays a wide variety of instruments, (personally, i think he is best at drumming and vocals). he plays guitar, bass, drums, and sings! and is amazing at all 4 of them. also, you forgot that dave is going to be on the new nine inch nails cd. i also heard that he left the foo fighters, but that is only a rumour.

[thumbwar123]

AWESOME BAND!!!! woo hoo! i have their cd in my cd player right now. i think i'll go listen! woo hoo!

[im not mental]

everlong is a great song.

civildp1:
a little short but good on info. Dave also played Sasquatch in the newest beastie boys video

really? that's cool!

[buckethead101]

learn to fly is the most funniest music video i've ever saw. I love the song and the band.....
Foo Fighters rules

[zsmith]

learn to fly is a funny video...but wow...that was your first video?...the first video i remember is "I'd do anything for love" by Meatloaf...good stuff

[Tom Trendy]

Great article. I own all their albums, but in my opinion, One By One is their worst album, its still a great album, just not as great as the others. (Everlong is the greatest love song ever written).

[Dave_Grohl]

yeh nice but, i didnt learn anythin new

[eastern_riffs]

well..ok article..

[blaster9125063]

Giddy up. Great article. Foo Fighters rock. If you don't own it you have to get the dvd. There are a number of acoustic tracks that rock.

[donnelly67]

dave was also in the good charlotte - lifestyles of the rich n famous vid, which is a bit gay

[piperm1]

didnt see him... foo fighters r a great band, hope they can make mroe sucessful albums

[life_247]

Poor article imo,

Dave co wrote Smells like teen spirit, and you comeplety forgot the pocket watch demo!!! that was releassed and set the whole thing off.

Also the first album featured big me, which was a hit. Along with their classic for all the cows.

[count forstula]

good article. i saw this thing where he pointed out an episode of the x-files he was in, also. didnt know he was in all those videos.

[green_face]

FOO FOGHTERS KICK ASS! great article

[Tijuanawannaroc]

what is Dave thinking....going off of one of the greatest bands ever and trying to make it on his own....thanks Dave....and we need more of you in pig tails i'll fly with that. Foo Fighter's is a great out come of a great and very funny man....Dave keep doing what you do. Foo Fighers kicks ass

[Live_Long]

Have you all forgotten about Probot? Geez...

[glpledzep145]

good article... i didnt really learn ne thing new but it held my interest, so good job...

[r_lightning]

Live_Long:
Have you all forgotten about Probot? Geez...
[POSTED: 05 October 2004 - 21:53]|

This is about Foo Fighters not Dave Grohl.. :-S

[natethegreat86]

i also heard that he left the foo fighters, but that is only a rumour.

Not a chance, bro. Dave started the band and IS the band. if hes gone, so is the band. And to totally shut that rumor down, dave recently got interviewed on my local radio station and talked about the foos and stuff and he was VERY excited about the band and the new record.

[rachellee]

Foo Fighters rock, right after Nirvana... Dave Grohl really has talent

[metalneck]

Hes drumming on the new NIN album, Probot also ruled

[Axe Master]

Yeah Foo Fighters are one of, if not the best rock band of the last decade. They kick ass!

[LpBlack_Beauty]

great article. i like how you wrote it the way you did. you got basically everything out there and it wasn't really long. i like that.. i hate having to read long articles i get bored.

[LUCINDerellA03]

Good article. Love the Foo's. Can't wait till their new album releases.

[Vinura]

them aliens rock!!!..

[Vinura]

(waits for the "what aliens?" comments)

[Vinura]

oh yeah and any recognize the devil in the int tenacious D vid?
thats dave alright

[L0stMyF00dSt@mp]

Dave Grohl also wrote the song Heart-shaped box which is a Nirvana song, not just Marigold like the article said.

[lacey]

grohl is sooo good, hes easely one of the best things that ever happend to music.

foo fighters are amazing

[bottled water]

he was sasquatch??!?!?! are you sure??

[ArtOFGuitar?]

Probot is pure genius.Keep it up Ghrohl!

[Wiegraf]

Has anyone heard the Foo Fighter's cover of Stairway to Heaven? That was funny. I think that it was intentional.

[stinky_cheese]

Good review imo!
Where did most of you get your info? Dave wasn't in the Beasties and Good Charlotte videos lol! And Smells Like Teen Spirit was played before Dave was in Nirvana he says himself that he copied most of the drum patterns for Nevermind form Chad Channing, he's only ever officially written Marigold and the main riff to Scentless Apprentice for Nirvana.

You also forgot to mention that he has produced records for bands like verbena, played on Garbages forthcoming album and has even directed a few Foo videos along with winning numerous guitarist of the year awards...okay I know too much, shutting up now! ;P

Oh and yeah the Stairway to heaven cover is great! :P

[bengalaas]

taylor hawkins was the ex-drummer from alanis morisette..

[shotgunjoe]

www.motiv.freewebspace.com MOTIV ROCK ALONG WID FOO FIGHTERS!!!..

[Reaper_Of_Souls]

Where did most of you get your info

No particular place, read alot of interviews/articles/biographies and stuff.

You also forgot to mention that he has produced records for bands like verbena, played on Garbages forthcoming album and has even directed a few Foo videos along with winning numerous guitarist of the year awards

Yeah I left out a lot of stuff relating to Dave, thought it became too off-topic. Wanted to keep it as close to the Foos as possible, with Dave of course being the central figure.

['tallica07rhcp]

Dave is the man. nothing else to it.

['tallica07rhcp]

Hes drumming on the new NIN album, Probot also ruled

... almost forgot about probot, they do rock!

lacey:
grohl is sooo good, hes easely one of the best things that ever happend to music.

holy overstatement batman.


spam deleted.

[numetaldude]

"next year" is another beautiful foo song.. When I heard it on the opening credits of "Ed", I thought it was Dave Matthews or John Mayer. Never expected it to be from the Foo Fighters. Then again, I hadn't heard many of their songs then.

The best thing about the Foo Fighters is that it gave Dave Grohl a chance to sing, because he has a great voice, and in Nirvana, we never got to hear it. So I guess Kurt's death did have upsides.

[poor_white_boy9]

FOO FIGHTErS RULE Dave is the coolest

[i_am_lamb]

foo fighter=good band

nice article

[i_am_lamb]

^^**the foo fighters

[J3ZZA]

Foo fighters could arguably be my favorite band, "one by one" was one of the first real albums i bought and i loved it straight away. FOO'S FOREVER!

[J3ZZA]

oh yer good article aswell sorry :p and dave grohl is a very cool guy

[schfifty five]

if yall havent heard yet, they've got a new album comin out - its a double disc, one acoustic, one normal, the normal side features john paul jones, and the acoustic one has norah jones

[smb]

One by One had been recorded by the time Dave Grohl joined Queens of the Stone Age, he just delayed the release of it until before the Queens/Foos/RHCP tour was organised.

Might get the next Foos album just for John Paul Jones on it!

You should probably have mentioned that Songs for the Deaf was Dave's first album as drummer since Nirvana.

[bluebeen]

If you have any information on when the next foo fighters album is going to be released please tell, i'm dying to know.
By the way this article rocked, nice work!!!!

[marmite]

68th!!!! god im bored.....

[thom smells]

You should probably have mentioned that Songs for the Deaf was Dave's first album as drummer since Nirvana.

Not really, Dave did a lot of the drumming on the colour and the shape after all.