Dave Grohl, the former rhythmic force behind Nirvana and the charismatic frontman of the Foo Fighters, stands as a true aficionado of rock. His passion for music is akin to Quentin Tarantino’s fervor for cinema, evident in his eagerness to delve into discussions about bands spanning various sub-genres and varying degrees of obscurity – from the iconic Beatles to the avant-garde Butthole Surfers.
While Grohl’s primary wellspring of inspiration lies in the classic heavy rock stylings of Black Sabbath and Led Zeppelin, he holds a deep admiration for The Beatles. In his formative years, Grohl immersed himself in the melodies of The Beatles, playing their records on a loop and honing his drumming skills by synchronizing with Ringo Starr’s beats. Additionally, the 1980s pop sensation Prince also finds a place in Grohl’s eclectic musical palette.
The pinnacle of Grohl’s musical pride came to fruition when Prince covered Foo Fighters’ ‘Best of You’ at the 2007 Super Bowl. Reflecting on this moment in Dave’s True Stories, Grohl expressed his shock and deep emotion, stating, “As my tears hit the keyboard like the Miami rain that night, I realized that this was without a doubt my proudest musical achievement.” This profound realization encapsulated the culmination of years spent practicing in solitude, enduring harsh conditions during European fan tours, and bleeding through drumming sessions.
One of the pivotal Beatles records that fueled Grohl’s drumming passion in his youth was the monumental 1968 double LP, often referred to as “The White Album.” This release, with its remarkable diversity ranging from the delicate beauty of ‘Blackbird’ to the playful energy of ‘Ob-La-Di, Ob-La-Da’ and the profound elegance of George Harrison’s ‘While My Guitar Gently Weeps’ to the avant-garde experimentation of John Lennon’s ‘Revolution 9,’ appealed to Grohl’s love for unbridled eclecticism.
In a 2000 interview with Melody Maker, Grohl included The Beatles in his top ten favorite albums of all time, expressing his admiration for the songs on “The White Album,” such as ‘Blackbird,’ ‘Revolution 9,’ ‘Revolution,’ and ‘Helter Skelter.’ Fondly addressing the Fab Four, Grohl pondered their evolution from innocent beginnings to the experimental stage fueled by LSD, stating, “It’s funny to imagine those four cute little Beatles years later on LSD. Where did they go wrong, writing something like ‘Helter Skelter’ and influencing Charles Manson? I’d call this timeless.”
‘Helter Skelter,’ a track singled out by Grohl for its significance, was penned by Paul McCartney in response to The Who’s heavy rock sound. Widely regarded as a pivotal moment in the birth of heavy metal and punk genres, the classic track was later reinterpreted by Siouxsie and the Banshees on their 1978 debut album, ‘The Scream.’