Dave Grohl established himself as a guitar hero leading Foo Fighters, despite achieving fame in the 1990s as the drummer for the grunge band Nirvana. The Foo Fighter combatants have been around for almost 20 years and are frequently praised as one of the best live bands. In this span of time, they have recorded eleven studio albums. They became the headliners at Glastonbury Festival, and even directed a full-length horror film.
Grohl has been asked to discuss his influences and personal musical heroes, which is not surprising given the size and devoted following his band enjoys. The lead singer shared his wide range of musical tastes and listening preferences. He seems to be appearing in documentaries and interviews all the time, excited to talk about his favourite bands. The history of rock, and, most importantly, his unwavering devotion to Led Zeppelin.
Regarding drumming, Grohl has frequently mentioned Neil Peart of Rush and John Bonham of Led Zeppelin, both of whom Grohl inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 2013. Regarding guitar playing, he stated to Classic Rock in 2011 that his “biggest songwriting influence” was Hüsker Dü.
Punk guitar music was very distinct from earlier genres, as illustrated by the work of Hüsker Dü. Power chords, buzzsaw strumming, and loads of distortion replaced the lengthy, intricate riffs and challenging chord progressions. Solos, among the most ostentatious features of rock guitar, were absent from many punk songs, distinguishing the genres.
A great solo is what really ignites the music nerd in admirers of classic rock like Dave Grohl. Guitar solos are a mainstay of rock and metal guitar playing. During an interview with GQ, the interviewer asked the frontman of Foo Fighters to choose his favorite guitar soloist. He couldn’t decide between two completely different choices.
Grohl’s first choice won’t surprise fans, given his outspoken praise of Led Zeppelin. “I think my favourite soloist is Jimmy Page,” he remarked. “I adore how he was constantly on the verge of complete mayhem, yet he was able to arrange each note in a way that evoked strong feelings.”
Grohl clarified that while many regard Page as one of the greatest guitarists of all time, he values “just going for it” over technical prowess. Not technical proficiency or perfection, but rather a fearless attitude is what I admire most in musicians.
Perhaps more unexpectedly, Dave Grohl chose to go with his second option. He chooses to highlight the legendary American slide guitarist Ry Cooder. And, in particular, his compositions for the 1984 cult film Paris, Texas. “My all-time favourite album is the soundtrack to that movie,” says Grohl.
This sounds like a painting of a desolate desert, but he uses a slide guitar to create it. He continued, “It’s just so simple and emotive, and amazing,” before saying, “So one of those two.”
