Thursday, 12 June 2014

That's Entertainment : Foo Fighters


I was a BIG fan of Nirvana's Nevermind, but when Kurt Cobain died in early-1994, I didn't give it a second thought what the rest of the band - bassist Krist Novoselic and drummer Dave Grohl - would do next.  I just kind of assumed that Cobain was the 'genius' behind the band and that 'grunge was dead'.  I finished my high schooling and moved on to other things.

So imagine my surprise when in 1995, Dave Grohl returned with his own new 'band' called the Foo Fighters.  Released mid-year, I distinctly remember buying the self titled debut albums of both the Foo Fighters and Garbage at the same time and falling in love with both bands at the same time.  To me, Dave Grohl is one of the BEST drummers of ALL time.  To hear him rock out on guitar  was ad first 'different', even 'odd'.  And since 1998, he only really drums as a guest elsewhere, placing his faith in band drummer Taylor Hawkins.

For mine, Foo Fighters is a visceral album - a real rocking, crunchy album with the bare minimum of polish.  Yet it is stocked full of gems.  Absolute gems.  And sure Dave Grohl was mourning his friend's death and wondering what in hell he was going to do next after quite literally being a member of the 'biggest' band in the world, one that was a vanguard for musical, if not societal, changes, culminating in the 'alternative scene' becoming mainstream in America - but consider this: Foo Fighters was originally just demos of stuff Grohl wanted out of his system before he got serious about things.  He wrote, played and produced pretty much everything on the whole album.  There is only one guitar part credited to someone else and each song took about 45 minutes to complete.  Hoping to remain anonymous, Foo Fighters exploded, dominated radio play and charts around the world, and not because he was Nirvana's ex-drummer.  No, the album bristles, crackles, rocks and rolls.

And in no time, Dave had formed a band and was out there touring.  Songs like This Is A Call, I'll Stick Around and Big Me pulsed.  Without even trying, Dave Grohl became the 'coolest' guy in the world, more so when they filmed Big Me in Sydney.

By 1997, The Colour and the Shape arrived, with its explosive lead in track Monkey Wrench, quite possibly one of the riff-tacular songs of all time.  Even now, I get shivers.  Dave had grown the goatee, cut the hair and delivered a 2nd album filled with amazing rock outs and tenderness.  Yet for mine - and yes, they were singles - My Hero and Everlong - were two stunning sing-along monsters that had brilliant film clips, whilst Walking After You could bring you to tears.  It probably ranks up there as one of the best 'divorce' albums ever too; Grohl admits that the LP chronicles his change from 'chaos to newfound happiness'.  

Barely stopping for breath, There Is Nothing Left To Lose was released close enough to the end of the century and was another grab-bag of goodies.  Always ones to lampoon themselves and the industry whilst producing film clips with plenty of laughs, Learn To Fly roared on to TV with a cracker of a clip.  Stacked Actors was a scathing critique of Hollywood; Generator returned the talk box to the fore; Breakout is a belter; Next Year the song to wave a cigarette lighter to (it sounds a little Oasis for mine).  However, for mine, Aurora is one of those tracks that I resonated with and it is a soft piece from Grohl, whilst album closer Fraternity [released only on the Australian and Japanese editions] is my favourite track on the album.  The Foo Fighters were at their peak, the 'coolest' band in the world, and yet still remained 'rock & roll'  To prove it, Dave Grohl got busted on the Gold Coast driving a scooter whilst under the influence - losing his licence for 3 months and copping a fine.  He took it in good grace noting you shouldn't drink and drive after a few beers, no matter how capable you feel.

And whilst this article isn't about Dave Grohl, he really is the Foo Fighters.  Around 2001, they recorded the 4th album, but the band was in-fighting, a heroin overdose for Taylor Hawkins, bickering over tame million dollar demos, Grohl lost confidence in the album and the band looked like breaking up. Which is funny, because Grohl looks like he's mates with everyone - Jack Black, Brian May and Roger Taylor of Queen, John Paul Jones of Led Zeppelin and guesting as a drummer on numerous albums, including the Queens of the Stone Age's Songs for the Dead.  Grohl also has an amazing love of many genres of music and does session work, whilst forming side projects like Them Crooked Vultures and Probot, amongst others.  Holding it together, they finally released One By One in late 2002, with much heavier material including All My Life, Low and Times Like These.

Taking time out to help John Kerry on the 2004 Presidential Campaign, Dave Grohl wrote an album of acoustic material.  Taking it to the band, they eventually decided to try something different, and release the 2-CD In Your Honor.  One album was acoustic, the other rock.  No Way Back was the song I really quite liked off this set, whilst I have to say that Best of You was absolutely, positively and chronically played to DEATH by radio stations in this country, to the point I can barely listen to it now.  And the thing I find ironic is, despite the acoustic album being full of wonderful songs, many people don't consider it 'real' Foo Fighters, go figure!  But check out Miracle.  Love it!

Backing up with Echoes, Silence, Patience and Grace in 2007, The Pretender came out swinging, decrying the state of things, whilst the band returned to spoof territory for the video for Long Road To Ruin, which continued their penchant for gloriously funny film clips.  For Aussies, it contains The Ballad of the Beaconsfield Miners, a tribute to Brant Webb and Todd Russell.  When trapped underground, they requested an iPod with In Your Honor on it, and Dave Grohl sent a personal message to the miners telling him he had two cold beers waiting for them.  When eventually rescued, Dave Grohl lived up to his offer and the two saved miners met their hero.  

Displeased to be contractually obligated to release a best of album, they returned with their most recent album in 2011 - the fierce Wasting Light.  With blistering tracks like Rope, White Limo (featuring Motorhead's Lemmy in the clip), Bridge Burning, whilst I like Back & Forth and Walk, tucked in as the final track on the LP.  Walk has a real beauty to it, and check out the Falling Down inspired film clip (with the right amount of humour).  Declaring post tour they were calling it a day, it was seen as the band having done all it could, with some even suggesting Grohl had passed his use by date.  However, in 2014, 20 years after being that 'ex-drummer from Nirvana' and creating an enviable catalogue of music, it has been confirmed the Foo Fighters will release another album and probably be playing at a festival near you soon, and you'll see another 'funny' film clip.

For me, the Foo Fighters are part of the furniture now.  They're just wonderful.  Consistent, fun and energised but never pedestrian or predictable.  They give you want you want, plus more, and deliver in spades.  Dave Grohl IS the coolest rock star in the world.  He's becoming an elder statesman of rock, comfortable like warm slippers.  But every time, he jabs you with something from left field.  He'll give you that absolute riff-a-rolla monster or achy breaky heartstring puller.  He plays the industry game but does things his own way…he is that 'ex-drummer from Nirvana' after all, and for mine, he can do whatever the hell he pleases.  I'd hate to see a day when Dave Grohl wasn't in our lives anymore, so let's hope the shows goes on.  And whilst Nirvana are rock n roll greats, for me, the Foo Fighters are the ones who make great rock and roll and make rock and roll great!














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