(Credits: Andreas Lawen, Fotandi)
Sun 11 May 2025 14:00, UK
There’s an almost self-taught university of music you go to as an adolescent. Sifting through the catalogues of classic rock, you mould your taste on the pillars of greatness. Then there comes a moment when you realise that scruffy long-haired guy you see delivering power chords was actually a drummer. Not just any drummer, but one from the all-time classic bands and upon that realisation, you feel as though you’ve discovered a nugget of rock and roll gold. Then you realise, Dave Grohl might just be the godfather of modern rock and roll.
He sort of goes against the grain of everything we come to expect and love from hardcore rock and roll. Instead of sticking his tongue out, he grins widely and incites chaos from a place of pure love. While it brings a softer edge to the darkness of rock and roll, he still harbours the power of a grunge-loving dynamo.
Of course, his vocal takes on Foo Fighters showcase that, but his drum playing on Nirvana unleashed his dynamism. He was like a rhythmic steamroller, ploughing through the suburban streets of America with an unapologetic brand of rock. Relentless, precise, and with a subtle hint of groove, he repackaged the influences of yesteryear to create something compelling and contemporary.
As innovative and essential as Grohl is to the modern landscape of music, he’s never been afraid to wear his influences on his sleeve. Part of why he endears himself to fans is his simple and unashamed love of rock gods. His wide-eyed smile that surfaces as the mere mention of a 1970s rock icon is the bridge between fan and megastar, removing all barriers of exclusivity his life provides and instead inviting you to share anecdotes about your favourite music moment.
So if you’re unable to translate his drum fills into his undying admiration for Led Zeppelin, allow me to refer you to this comment: “Led Zeppelin completely moulded the way I play the drums. No one can deny that band anything. All their albums are great.”
The echoes of John Bonham’s drumming exist in the walls of Grohl’s kit, but with Bonham’s death in 1980, the chance for Grohl to share studio or stage time never arose. But in 2009, when Grohl’s legacy was firmly cemented in the canon, a passion project he would regard as simply unmissable presented itself.
Along with his desert rock icon Josh Homme, the pair formed Them Crooked Vultures with the help of Bonham’s engine room companion John Paul Jones on bass. It was undoubtedly a pinch-me moment for Grohl, who took the experience as both a once-in-a-lifetime chance to play with his idol, while allowing it to inform the Foo Fighters’ artistic responsibility to stay firmly away from expansive rock.
Grohl said, “Yeah, I think that the Vultures influenced me to not do what the Vultures do. Because the Vultures was the most fun I’ve ever had playing the drums. It was a real honour to play with an actual Godlike genius, John Paul Jones. It’s probably the most blazing live band I’ve ever been in.”
It’s high praise for a man who’s been at the eye of several rock storms. But a firm reminder of two of music’s underappreciated facts. Firstly, Grohl’s humility is perhaps the most pertinent conduit between fan and artist, and should be guarded at all costs. Second and perhaps more crucially, while Zeppelin’s influence on music is suitably regarded, the oversight of Jones’ true genius continues to ramble on.
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