Not every song can win over listeners from all over the world. Every performer aspires to please their fans. However, there are plenty of instances in which an album, song, or musical segment falls short of what fans believe it should sound like. Even Dave Grohl, whose likeability is difficult to dispute, acknowledges that not everyone will enjoy every Foo Fighters song.
The truth is that when Grohl launched his new project, he never intended for it to be music for anyone in particular. Foo Fighters emerged from the ashes of Nirvana, in part because Grohl recorded songs he wanted to hear. He quickly put together the band’s debut album to help him move on from his previous band.
But as the record began gaining momentum, Grohl realized he would need to put together a band to see it through. He enlisted the help of newcomers like Nate Mendel and old friends like Pat Smear. After Taylor Hawkins and Chris Shiftlett joined the group, Grohl eventually discovered a dynamic that worked. Finishing their second album, The Color and the Shape, would be excruciating.
The group would improve throughout the 2000s, with a hit song appearing on almost every album. “Echoes Silence Patience Grace” embraced both bright and dark aspects, marking a well-overdue moment for the band. The group recorded their first greatest hits album.
But like all best-of packages before them, Dave Grohl was asked to pen a new song for the project, seemingly to craft the group’s next big hit. The band would go on to have another huge hit with “Wheels.” Inspired by Tom Petty, it featured a swirling chord progression. This gave the impression that the band was flying through the air.
Grohl freely acknowledged that, despite his pride in the song, it is not what would draw in traditional Foo Fighters fans. “You do a song like ‘Wheels’ and people go, ‘Really? Is that the band Foo Fighters? People start to panic. “Oh no, is that where they’re heading?” One of those songs that even our most ardent fans detest. I appreciate that a wide range of people can enjoy or dislike the songs we have.
Even though the song is catchy, Grohl’s point about the decline in the fan base is understandable. It feels like the song never really goes out of first gear, always building before dropping off again. This is in contrast to the aggressive edge of hits like “All My Life” or “Best of You,” thanks to the midtempo groove and open chords.
The band has been a little hit-or-miss with the song, playing it intermittently throughout their career depending on how they’re feeling. It made for a great piece of ear candy to add to a best-of compilation. Foo Fighters, now the premier rock group, made their first venture into “dad rock” despite their contemporary dominance.
