Things that the Foo Fighters Doc Taught Me

A little heavy on the Foo Fighters this week, but when you have a documentary and new album coming out, you get to enjoy the perks of being featured on my blog.  So bands and musicians out there release an album and movie, and you got the attention of me. 


But I just wanted to talk a little bit about some things that I happened that I never knew about with the Foo Fighters.

• The first album started out as a cassette tape that Dave Grohl made during a break in Nirvana.  And he played all the parts on it.  To me that's just crazy, and it's even more amazing how good that album sounds.  To think one person made it that has to blow your mind!

• Pat Smear was an on and off again member. Almost came back full time when Chris Shiflett first came to the band.

• William Goldsmith the first drummer got a conference call to tell him he was no longer needed, but was needed to tour for the Colour and the Shape.  Dave actually had to record new drum parts for that album because he didn't feel that they were right.  

• Franz Stahl, guitarist for Scream, which Grohl was a part of in his early days.  Franz wasn't working out as guitarist, and got a call as well to stop playing with the band. That's about the only bad thing I've heard about the band, they don't exactly know how to kick a member out the right way. But if that's the only bad thing, then you're doing something right. 

• Foo Fighters went as a three piece for a short time, but we all know and love the four piece two guitar attack, which really cranks up the sound for them.

• They held auditions for the guitar player, and Shiflett came in and nailed it.  He got the part, and of course that's been the lineup ever since.

• Finally just thinking about the musicians and where they came from is interesting and funny to me.  Let's start with Grohl, he drummed for Nirvana yes we all know that, but he also drummed with Scream, a hardcore punk band in DC.  And he almost played with Tom Petty as the full time drummer.  Can you imagine Grohl playing drums with Tom Petty?? He did play a one time gig with him on SNL.  

• Then we have Taylor Hawkins, who drummed with Alanis Morissette, who was obviously a huge artist back in the 90's.  He wanted to join a true band, and took that call right away.  

• Nate Mendel, came from Sunny Day Real Estate, emo kings of the 90's. He almost went back to the band, when they reunited in 99, but knew that Foo Fighters was the right place for him.  

• William Goldsmith was the drummer there for Sunny Day Real Estate, so interesting that they were part of that emo scene, and were part of the rock scene as well.  

• Finally, Chris Shiflett was part of No Use For A Name.  Anyone that really knows me, knows that NUFAN was one of my first punk bands that I loved.  To think he came from that punk scene to this whole huge rock scene is an amazing story.

Maybe that's why the Foo is such a great band.  You have all these influences and experiences coming together.  Foo Fighters seem to have a great relationship with each other, through the good and bad.  That's another stamp on a great band.  I will say once again the new album is fantastic, so go and check it out as soon as you can or when it comes out Tuesday.