Dave Grohl, full name David Eric Grohl, was born in 1969 in Ohio, later moving to Springfield, Virginia – a suburb of Washington. He taught himself to play the guitar at age 12 and played in punk bands in the area.
In high school Dave played guitar in a band called “Freak Baby”. He also made time to teach himself to play drums on the side. He played in several bands after that and started becoming known as a drummer around the DC music scene.
Dave Grohl was asked to join the major DC band, Scream, as its drummer when he was only 17 years old, and recorded two albums with them. When Scream disbanded in 1990, a friend introduced Dave to Kurt Cobain and he auditioned for Nirvana. The band had already released one album “Bleach”, but the next album “Nevermind” achieved worldwide success.
Dave contributed material to both Nirvana albums, including riffs herd in the song “Scentless Apprentice”. Being involved with developing the sound of Nirvana, he played guitar as well as drums in the studio.
As a prolific songwriter, he saved most of his compositions worrying that he might upset the balance of Nirvana, already phenomenally successful with Kurt Cobain at the helm.
In 1994, with the death of Kurt Cobain, Dave recorded a demo tape of his own work – playing all instruments. He also considered joining other bands, his name being linked with Tom Petty and Pearl Jam.
However, his demo tape was attracting record company interest. It was released by Capitol Records as a debut album called “The Foo Fighters” in 1995. Dave Grohl recorded and worked on the whole album himself and then assembled a band that could play it.
The Foo Fighters released seven albums between 1995 and 2007. As with Nirvana, Dave had been more familiar behind the drum kit but contributed on guitar as well.
Dave has also worked for other bands as both guitarist and drummer; however one may get the sense that, though a skilled guitarist, people would rather see him drum when playing a live performance.
Dave’s most recent project has him playing drums again in the band “Them Crooked Vultures” ; a trio with John Paul Jones, ex Led Zeppelin bassist, and Josh Homme, Queens of the Stone Age singer and guitarist.
However, his demo tape was attracting record company interest. It was released by Capitol Records as a debut album “The Foo Fighters” in 1995. Dave Grohl recorded and worked on the whole album himself and then assembled a band that could play it!
The Foo fighters released seven albums between 1995 and 2007. As with Nirvana, Dave Grohl has been more familiar behind the drum kit but has contributed on guitar in the studio.
Dave Grohl has also worked with other artists as both guitarist and drummer but one gets the sense that although he is skilled guitarist , people want to see him drum when playing a live performance.
Dave Grohl’s most recent project sees him playing drums again. The band “Them Crooked Vultures” is a trio with John Paul Jones – ex Led Zeppelin bassist and Josh Homme ex Queens of the Stone Age.