There aren’t many rock success stories quite like Dave Grohl’s. When he joined Nirvana in 1990, Nevermind hadn’t even been recorded yet — and no one could have predicted the cultural shockwave it would unleash. Grohl’s thunderous drumming became the backbone of Nirvana’s sound, driving the band through its meteoric rise until tragedy struck with Kurt Cobain’s death in April 1994.
In the aftermath, Grohl turned down offers to join other major acts — including Danzig and even Tom Petty’s band — instead choosing to explore his own voice. That decision led to the 1995 debut of Foo Fighters, a self-recorded album where Grohl played nearly every instrument himself. It was a personal project, born from grief and uncertainty, but it exploded into a full-fledged band and a dominant force in alternative rock.
By the early 2000s, Foo Fighters had established themselves as arena giants. But Grohl’s rock journey didn’t stop there. In 2002, he reconnected with his heavy roots, joining Queens of the Stone Age to lay down drums for their acclaimed album Songs for the Deaf. His powerhouse style gave the record its heartbeat, and he toured with the band as well, further cementing his place as one of the era’s most vital musicians.
But what happened next was something even Grohl couldn’t have dreamed up — or maybe he did.
In 2009, Grohl and QOTSA frontman Josh Homme, both self-confessed Led Zeppelin fanatics, teamed up with none other than Zeppelin’s legendary bassist and multi-instrumentalist, John Paul Jones, to form the supergroup Them Crooked Vultures. The result was a surreal meeting of generations — a band that combined Grohl’s raw energy, Homme’s sludgy desert riffs, and Jones’ musical wizardry. Their self-titled debut arrived in November that year and quickly became a cult classic.
For Grohl, it was more than a project. It was the realization of a lifelong dream. Speaking to Modern Drummer in 2010, he said:
“You realise that I am playing with John Paul Jones. That has everything to do with why I played the way I did on the album. I am a Zeppelinologist. I grew up worshipping that band like they were my church. I didn’t go to church—I listened to Led Zeppelin, and that was all I needed.”
Grohl’s reverence wasn’t just for show. He wasn’t just copying Bonham’s licks — he was chasing the why behind them. That depth of understanding gave Them Crooked Vultures its unique pulse.
John Paul Jones, often the understated genius of Led Zeppelin, brought a kaleidoscope of sound to the band. While Page delivered iconic riffs and Plant commanded the spotlight, it was Jones who added the color — mandolins, keyboards, Moog synths — turning every Zeppelin album into a sonic adventure.
Though fans hoped for a second album, scheduling conflicts between the trio put those plans on indefinite hold. Years passed. Then, in 2022, tragedy struck again when Foo Fighters drummer Taylor Hawkins passed away. In tribute, the three Vultures reunited on stage at the Wembley Stadium and LA’s KIA Forum tribute concerts, performing “Gunman” and “Dead End Friends” — a powerful reminder of what their music meant.
For Dave Grohl, it wasn’t just music. It was coming full circle. From a teenager air-drumming to Physical Graffiti to standing beside one of his idols, Grohl’s journey is a testament to how dreams — even rock and roll dreams — really do come true.
