Dave Grohl is unquestionably one of the greatest rock drummers of all time. A titan of the kit, drawing inspiration from some of the best, he combines a deep understanding of technique with invention and natural thunder. He covered all the bases required to establish himself as a rhythmic legend.
Grohl appears to have been born to be a legend. He began playing the drums at a young age, inspired by The Beatles’ music and drummer Ringo Starr. At 17, he left school, becoming the new drummer for the hardcore band Scream. This initial period would lead to him becoming the drummer for Nirvana, the most influential band of his generation.
After dominating the world with Kurt Cobain and Krist Novoselic, it wouldn’t be long before Dave Grohl became known as one of the greatest drummers of all time. During this heady period, many people compared him to the best rock drummers who had inspired him in his early years, including Keith Moon, John Bonham, and Neil Peart.
Notably, the late Led Zeppelin drummer John Bonham was the figure who inspired Grohl the most when he was younger. He said that he is his favourite of all time.
There are several similarities between the two, including their thunderous power and dedication to serving the song through their grooves. The Foo Fighters’ leader is such a fan of Bonham that he once chose his top ten performances.
Grohl has frequently praised John Bonham’s game-changing work. When he was at the height of his fame with Nirvana in 1992, he told Juke what made the Zeppelin drummer such a “impressive” musician. Grohl was asked if he imagined himself as The Who’s Keith Moon as a kid just starting out, referring to the long line of rhythmic heroes from which he emerged. He replied that he didn’t; it was Bonham’s scintillating grooves that turned him on.
Grohl stated, “John Bonham, actually. He really knew how to lay down a groove. When I first started out, I believed that playing hard and showing off made you a good drummer. But now I realise that keeping the groove is more impressive than playing a hundred fills every four bars. “John Bonham played the drums hard while keeping the groove.”
