Dave Grohl, once the drummer for Nirvana and now the frontman of Foo Fighters, has always been open about his musical influences, particularly his deep admiration for The Beatles. Among the Fab Four, Grohl singles out George Harrison as his favorite, drawn to Harrison’s unique sense of melody.
In a BBC Radio 2 interview commemorating the 50th anniversary of Abbey Road, Grohl revealed “Something” as one of his all-time favorite Beatles tracks, expressing his connection to Harrison’s musicality:
“I would like to play my favorite song by George Harrison, called ‘Something’,” he said.
Grohl went on to explain his preference for Harrison, stating:
“Of course, each one of them [The Beatles] is so entirely different, melodically they’re so different, songwriting, lyrically — but George Harrison, there was something about him that I almost preferred the most.”
Emphasizing his love for Harrison’s sense of melody, Grohl shared:
“I loved every single one of them for different reasons, but I connected to George Harrison’s sense of melody more than anyone.”
Grohl’s transition from drummer to frontman of Foo Fighters is marked by his admiration for Harrison’s work, evident in his approach as a songwriter. The first Foo Fighters record features a track titled ‘Oh, George,’ written as a tribute to the iconic musician. Grohl explained:
“On the first Foo Fighters record, there is a song entitled ‘Oh, George.’ I basically wanted the guitar solo to sound like something he would do. But the guitar solo in the song ‘Something’ is the first guitar solo I ever learned. It’s such a beautiful solo. Melodically, it’s safe to say that it’s one of the most classic guitar solos of all time. Such a beautiful song.”
Additionally, Grohl praised ‘Taxman,’ the opening track from Revolver, as another cherished creation by Harrison, commending its riffs, rhythms, and overall sonic excellence:
“It’s one of my favorite riffs and rhythms of all Beatles songs. I love the chords; I love the melody; I love the snare sound. You have to imagine that in 1966, they were inventing a lot of rock ‘n’ roll recording by figuring out new ways to engineer these sessions.”
After Harrison’s tragic death in 2001, Grohl penned a heartfelt tribute, declaring Harrison as his favorite Beatle and highlighting his quiet sensitivity and profound musical impact:
“George Harrison was always my favorite Beatle. His quiet sensitivity always seemed so noble. His songs seemed sweeter and deeper than the rest. Beyond being an amazing player, his ability to convey such emotion with just his guitar played a huge part in the Beatles’ music for me. He was the secret weapon.”
Dave Grohl’s tribute underscores the enduring influence George Harrison had on his musical journey, shaping not only his playing but also the ethos of Foo Fighters’ sound.