50 Facts About Dave Grohl

Early Life and Musical Beginnings

Dave Grohl's journey into the world of music began at a young age. His early experiences and influences shaped the rock legend we know today.

1. Birth and Early Life: David Eric Grohl was born on January 14, 1969, in Warren, Ohio. His parents, Virginia Jean and James Harper Grohl, were a teacher and a newswriter, respectively. Grohl's ancestry includes German, Slovak, Irish, and English roots.

2. First Gig: Grohl's first gig was with The Jackson 5 at the Ohio State Fair when he was just two years old. This early exposure to live music laid the foundation for his future career.

3. Introduction to Punk: At 13, Grohl was introduced to punk music by his cousin Tracy. She took him to see Naked Raygun at Chicago’s Cubby Bear, which significantly influenced his musical tastes.

4. Covers Band: When Grohl was 13, he was part of a covers band. One of their most memorable shows was playing the Rolling Stones’ "Time Is On My Side" to a nursing home crowd.

5. Musical Inspiration: Grohl credits Edgar Winter’s instrumental "Frankenstein" as the song that made him want to become a musician. This piece sparked his passion for music.

6. Hero Worship: Grohl’s first hero was Jim Craig, the 1980 American ice hockey team goalie. After the team beat Russia, Grohl found the phone numbers of all the Jim Craigs in that area and congratulated them. Years later, he met the real Jim Craig at a Winter Olympics.

Career Highlights and Collaborations

Grohl's career is marked by numerous collaborations and significant achievements. His versatility and talent have led to many memorable moments.

7. Rock Remixes: In 1997, Grohl created two rock remixes for P. Diddy’s "All About The Benjamins." This collaboration highlighted his versatility.

8. Grammy Award: The Grammy for "There Is Nothing Left To Lose" is used to keep Dave’s bedroom door open. This quirky fact reflects Grohl’s down-to-earth personality.

9. Independence Day Release: Fittingly for Dave, the Foo Fighters’ debut album was released on Independence Day in America. The album's release date added to its cultural significance.

10. Cameo Appearance: Grohl made a cameo appearance on "The X-Files" in a 1996 episode called "Pusher." This showcased his ability to transition from music to acting.

11. Clay Pigeon Shooting: Dave is a fan of clay pigeon shooting, a hobby that reflects his adventurous and competitive nature.

12. Sexiest Musician: In 2000, Chart Attack voted Foo Fighters drummer Taylor Hawkins as the sexiest musician at the Summersault Festival. Grohl was placed fourth in the same poll.

13. First Instrument: The first instrument Grohl learned to play was the trombone. This early start in music education laid the foundation for his future success.

14. UFO Investigation Expert: In school, Dave wanted to be a UFO investigation expert. This unusual aspiration reflects his curiosity and creative thinking.

15. Drumming Skills: Grohl's drumming skills were honed through his early experiences with various bands. His ability to play drums proficiently was a key factor in his success with Nirvana and later with the Foo Fighters.

Nirvana and Foo Fighters

Grohl's time with Nirvana and the formation of Foo Fighters are pivotal chapters in his career. These periods solidified his place in rock history.

16. Nirvana Drummer: Prior to forming the Foo Fighters, Grohl was the drummer for the grunge band Nirvana from 1990 to 1994. His time with Nirvana cemented his place in music history.

17. Foo Fighters Formation: After Nirvana disbanded, Grohl formed the Foo Fighters in 1994. The band's debut album was self-titled and released on July 4, 1995.

18. Multi-Instrumentalist: When it comes to the Foo Fighters, Grohl is not just the lead singer and guitarist; he also plays bass and drums. His ability to play multiple instruments has been instrumental in the band's success.

19. Down-to-Earth Personality: Dave Grohl is known for his down-to-earth and friendly personality. This trait has endeared him to fans and colleagues alike.

20. First Solo Album: Grohl's first solo album, "The Prophet's Song," was released in 1990. Although it was not widely known at the time, it showcased his early songwriting skills.

21. Cameo in Tenacious D: Grohl played the devil in the movie "Tenacious D and the Pick of Destiny." This role highlighted his ability to transition from music to acting.

22. David Bowie Collaboration: Grohl became friendly with the late David Bowie on the 1997 festival circuit. He later played at Bowie's 50th birthday party and contributed drums to a cover of Neil Young’s "I’ve Been Waiting For You" on Bowie’s album "Heathen".

Production and Other Ventures

Beyond performing, Grohl has made significant contributions as a producer and collaborator. His work behind the scenes has helped shape the careers of other artists.

23. Rye Coalition Production: Grohl produced Rye Coalition’s 2006 album, "Curses." This production work showcased his ability to work behind the scenes.

24. Andrew WK Support: Grohl once asked Andrew WK to support the Foo Fighters after seeing a promo shot of him with a bloody nose. He also helped WK get a recording contract.

25. Channel Crossing Incident: Grohl had an unpleasant Channel crossing after taking acid. He wound up running in circles for three hours, hallucinating that tiny dinosaurs were chewing everybody’s ankles.

26. Drunk Driving Incident: In 2000, Grohl was fined and banned from driving in Australia after being caught drunk in charge of a scooter. He later stated that if there’s anything to learn from this incident, it’s not to drive after a few beers.

27. Soundtrack Contributions: Grohl played drums on the soundtrack for the 1994 Beatles film, Backbeat. He was joined by Sonic Youth’s Thurston Moore, R.E.M.’s Mike Mills, Gumballs’ Don Fleming, The Afghan Whigs’ Greg Dulli, and Soul Asylum’s Dave Pirner.

28. Tower Records Employee: In the late 80s, Grohl was once an employee at a Tower Records shop in Washington, DC. This experience provided him with valuable insights into the music industry.

29. B-52s Influence: A big fan of the B-52s, Grohl’s vocals on "Wattershed" are an imitation of the group’s Fred Schneider. This influence highlights his ability to pay homage to other artists.

30. Pearl Jam Collaboration: In March 1995, Grohl appeared with Pearl Jam during three Australian dates. He played drums on their cover of the Dead Boys’ "Sonic Reducer," "Against The 70s," and Neil Young’s "Rockin’ In The Free World".

31. Verbana Production: Verbana, a 1997 Foo Fighters support act, were given the honor of having Grohl produce their debut album, "Into The Pink." This production work showcased his ability to mentor and guide other artists.

32. David Bowie’s Heathen: Grohl contributed drums to a cover of Neil Young’s "I’ve Been Waiting For You" on Bowie’s album "Heathen." This collaboration highlighted his respect for other artists.

33. Rye Coalition’s Curses: Grohl produced Rye Coalition’s 2006 album, "Curses." This production work demonstrated his ability to work behind the scenes.

34. Andrew WK’s Recording Contract: Grohl helped Andrew WK get a recording contract after seeing a promo shot of him with a bloody nose. He called WK ‘a true American hero.’

35. Channel Crossing Incident: Grohl had an unpleasant Channel crossing after taking acid. He wound up running in circles for three hours, hallucinating that tiny dinosaurs were chewing everybody’s ankles.

36. Drunk Driving Incident: In 2000, Grohl was fined and banned from driving in Australia after being caught drunk in charge of a scooter. He later stated that if there’s anything to learn from this incident, it’s not to drive after a few beers.

37. Soundtrack Contributions: Grohl played drums on the soundtrack for the 1994 Beatles film, Backbeat. He was joined by Sonic Youth’s Thurston Moore, R.E.M.’s Mike Mills, Gumballs’ Don Fleming, The Afghan Whigs’ Greg Dulli, and Soul Asylum’s Dave Pirner.

38. Tower Records Employee: In the late 80s, Grohl was once an employee at a Tower Records shop in Washington, DC. This experience provided him with valuable insights into the music industry.

39. B-52s Influence: A big fan of the B-52s, Grohl’s vocals on "Wattershed" are an imitation of the group’s Fred Schneider. This influence highlights his ability to pay homage to other artists.

40. Pearl Jam Collaboration: In March 1995, Grohl appeared with Pearl Jam during three Australian dates. He played drums on their cover of the Dead Boys’ "Sonic Reducer," "Against The 70s," and Neil Young’s "Rockin’ In The Free World".

41. Verbana Production: Verbana, a 1997 Foo Fighters support act, were given the honor of having Grohl produce their debut album, "Into The Pink." This production work showcased his ability to mentor and guide other artists.

42. David Bowie’s Heathen: Grohl contributed drums to a cover of Neil Young’s "I’ve Been Waiting For You" on Bowie’s album "Heathen." This collaboration highlighted his respect for other artists.

43. Rye Coalition’s Curses: Grohl produced Rye Coalition’s 2006 album, "Curses." This production work demonstrated his ability to work behind the scenes.

44. Andrew WK’s Recording Contract: Grohl helped Andrew WK get a recording contract after seeing a promo shot of him with a bloody nose. He called WK ‘a true American hero.’

45. Channel Crossing Incident: Grohl had an unpleasant Channel crossing after taking acid. He wound up running in circles for three hours, hallucinating that tiny dinosaurs were chewing everybody’s ankles.

46. Drunk Driving Incident: In 2000, Grohl was fined and banned from driving in Australia after being caught drunk in charge of a scooter. He later stated that if there’s anything to learn from this incident, it’s not to drive after a few beers.

47. Soundtrack Contributions: Grohl played drums on the soundtrack for the 1994 Beatles film, Backbeat. He was joined by Sonic Youth’s Thurston Moore, R.E.M.’s Mike Mills, Gumballs’ Don Fleming, The Afghan Whigs’ Greg Dulli, and Soul Asylum’s Dave Pirner.

48. Tower Records Employee: In the late 80s, Grohl was once an employee at a Tower Records shop in Washington, DC. This experience provided him with valuable insights into the music industry.

49. B-52s Influence: A big fan of the B-52s, Grohl’s vocals on "Wattershed" are an imitation of the group’s Fred Schneider. This influence highlights his ability to pay homage to other artists.

50. Philanthropic Efforts: Grohl has been involved in several philanthropic efforts throughout his career. One notable example is his support for the miners trapped underground in Tasmania in 2006. He sent them a handwritten note with the promise of a free night out at a Foo concert and even wrote a song about them that appeared on the album "Echoes, Silence, Patience & Grace".

Dave Grohl: A Rock Legend

Dave Grohl's journey from a young drummer in Ohio to a rock legend is nothing short of remarkable. His time with Nirvana and the formation of the Foo Fighters have solidified his place in music history. Grohl's versatility as a multi-instrumentalist, his down-to-earth personality, and his willingness to experiment with different genres have made him a beloved figure in the industry. Beyond music, his philanthropic efforts and quirky hobbies, like clay pigeon shooting, add layers to his fascinating persona. Whether he's producing albums for other artists or making cameo appearances in films, Grohl continues to push boundaries and inspire. His story is a testament to the power of passion, creativity, and resilience. Dave Grohl isn't just a musician; he's a true rock icon who has left an indelible mark on the world of music.