Dave Grohl has long been regarded as a musician’s musician. As the frontman for one of the world’s most successful bands, Grohl’s influence extends beyond the stage. His unwavering commitment to championing the underground side of rock and roll has resonated deeply with numerous fans.
Many of them never expected their beloved underground acts to achieve such widespread recognition. This has forged a special connection with Grohl. Grohl has openly expressed his admiration for iconic bands such as The Beatles and Led Zeppelin. However, he holds the belief that one particular band has not received the recognition it deserves.
In his early days, long before the era of Foo Fighters and Nirvana, Grohl was content being a part of the underground punk scene. His rise to prominence came as a member of the band Scream, where he had no ambitions of achieving wealth and fame through his music. Instead, his focus was on making music with his friends, playing as loudly as possible. His satisfaction came from playing music as loudly as possible with his friends.
Despite his inclination towards dissonant punk rock reminiscent of Black Flag and Fugazi, Grohl also had a soft spot for melody. His musical upbringing was notably diverse.
It allowed him to transition from listening to Slayer one day to grooving to ABBA the next. This wide-ranging exposure instilled in him a profound appreciation for melody.
While punk rock often rejected pretty melodies, Hüsker Dü was one of the pioneering bands that fully embraced the melodious side of their favorite music. Under the leadership of Bob Mould, the band achieved legendary status within the underground alternative music scene. Their pioneering work laid the groundwork for subsequent acts like Nirvana and Pearl Jam to attain fame in the following years.
While Kurt Cobain admired bands like R.E.M., Grohl held Hüsker Dü’s album “Zen Arcade” in high regard, considering it one of his all-time favorites.
He once stated, “I was a huge fan of Hüsker Du. Their album ‘Zen Arcade’ is one of the most underrated American rock ‘n’ roll records of all time. And only recently did I realize how much I’ve drawn inspiration from Bob for the last 16 years! I met him for the first time last summer and said, ‘You know that I’d be nowhere and nobody without your music, right?’ He very politely nodded and said: ‘I know.'”
“Zen Arcade,” with its expansive concept, combined the grandeur of classic rock with the raw sounds of punk. It was a moment when Mould’s ability to craft melody harmoniously intertwined with his signature intensity, creating a sonic tapestry that foreshadowed what Nirvana would do in the years to come.
When Grohl started writing his own songs, he paid homage to one of his favorite bands. While Mould’s work influenced the melodic side of Foo Fighters, Grohl openly acknowledged that the lyric “I’m a new day rising” from ‘Times Like These’ is a direct tribute to Hüsker Du’s album of the same name.
Dave Grohl even had the opportunity to collaborate with Mould later on. After embarking on a solo career following Hüsker Du’s breakup, Mould gained recognition in the underground scene.
Grohl invited him to contribute to the Foo Fighters album “Wasting Light,” co-writing. And providing backing vocals for the song ‘Dear Rosemary.’
Throughout this collaboration, Dave Grohl held Mould in high regard and was awestruck by the experience of working together. He once likened the experience to co-writing a song for Hüsker Dü two decades prior. Now, the Foo Fighters were presenting their interpretation of it. Meeting one’s musical heroes can sometimes yield mixed results, with unpredictable outcomes.
However, Grohl’s profound admiration for Mould led to a transformation from being a superfan to becoming a close friend.
