When considering arena-filling rock bands, they frequently belong to a bygone age. This is not a critique; music is constantly evolving, and time is an inherent component. The significant element is that few groups continually release new music while selling out enormous arenas across the world. The Foo Fighters are the one exception to this trend. Their tours sell out within minutes following ticket sales, and they continue to create new songs, as evidenced by their 2023 hit, But Here We Are.
The Foo Fighters continue to carry the flag for rock music, and their success inspires the next generation of performers. Some folks who buy those fast-selling tickets will see Grohl and his band on stage and decide that’s what they want to do. This is why stadium bands are so important: they provide a pathway for the next generation into the music industry.
No one can attest to this more than Dave Grohl, who decided he wanted to be a professional musician after watching what he calls “the hottest band in the world.” The group readily reciprocates this praise, announcing themselves on stage every night with the same proclamation.
When Gene Simmons and Paul Stanley received the ASCAP Founders Award, Grohl was in charge of introducing them. In doing so, he stated how much Kiss had inspired him. He recalled buying his first album, and it confirmed his desire to be a professional rock performer.
“Picture this,” he said, “Springfield, Virginia, 1976. A tiny little lad with shaggy brown hair on a yellow yard sale bicycle takes home a copy of Destroyer, his first Kiss album. Everybody recalls their first KISS album, and this is how I recall mine.”
He went on: “With radioactive anticipation, I let the needle drop on that renowned start to ‘Detroit Rock City,’ possibly the finest introduction to any rock and roll album ever recorded. It filled both my speakers and my imagination. Kiss had filled my soul in 34 minutes and 27 seconds. I joined the fabled Kiss army. My room quickly became a fucking shrine. Posters of these four musical monsters adorned my walls, and action figurines covered my shelves. Kiss albums supplanted my previously A.M.-friendly record selection. “I was converted.”
Grohl’s statement impacted Gene Simmons and Paul Stanley, who commended him for doing the same to people today as he did to them. Simmons stated, “Dave Grohl and the Foo Fighters carry the flag, inspiring the next generation.”
In bedrooms across the world, there are individuals with a Foo Fighters shrine, records on a loop, and a worn-out guitar in the corner. They are passionately attempting to play ‘Everlong,’ perpetuating the cyclical nature of music’s influence. Grohl recognizes the significance of bands such as Kiss. That’s why he puts so much effort into his studio and live performances.
Expressing his admiration for his childhood heroes, he welcomed them to the stage in the manner they were accustomed to. “So, without further ado, it is my great honor to say: that you wanted the best, and you got the best.” The world’s hottest band – Kiss!”
