Dave Grohl Is Killing Rock n' Roll

[Kudzu Guillotine]

Dave Grohl is Killing Rock ‘n’ Roll, Long Live Rock ‘n’ Roll: Prologue to a Manifesto

[tinnitus photography]

good rant, and pretty much on target.

[Duke Silver]

I watched the Sonic Highways episode on Chicago the other day. It was kinda enjoyable until I realized it was all preamble to the debut of the new FF single, which really is horrible. What's the point of bringing Buddy Guy, Bonnie Raitt and Rick Nielsen into it if you're just going to squeeze out a generic FF song that incorporates literally zero of those influences?

[Iowan]

Yeah. Or not.

Whether or not you like his music, I've never got the impression Grohl claimed to be anything. The guy is just having fun, playing the music he wants to play, and making a pretty good living off it. He doesn't speak for anyone nor does he claim to be some kind of savior of rock.

If you can't stand the Foo Fighters, there's nothing wrong with that, but this seems pompous and misguided to me.

[Kudzu Guillotine]

I thought what Tim wrote wasn't meant to be taken entirely seriously though I'm sure I know of some elitists that will stare down their noses at me for some of my musical tastes that will just eat that shit up.

Can't say I have a real gripe with Grohl because through no fault of his own, he has become the face of rock n' roll over the past several years. I also find it kind of humorous that each time a band like Zeppelin, Rush, Cheap Trick, etc. is being lauded, he's there saying they're his favorite band. He even sang the praises of the Edgar Winter Group during his keynote address at SXSW a few years ago. Cool to see him cut through the bullshit that good music is good music no matter how steeped you may be in punk rock (meaning the roots of Nirvana). All that said, he strikes me as the Phil Collins of the modern age because the guy is every-fucking-where. Again, through no fault of his own.

[Dean]

Pompous douchebaggery is a bigger threat to rock and roll than Dave Grohl.

Watch Sound City and talk shit about Dave. I dare ya.

[Clams]

I thought what Tim wrote wasn't meant to be taken entirely seriously though I'm sure I know of some elitists that will stare down their noses at me for some of my musical tastes that will just eat that shit up.

I don't know what that means, but count me in.

[Kudzu Guillotine]

I thought what Tim wrote wasn't meant to be taken entirely seriously though I'm sure I know of some elitists that will stare down their noses at me for some of my musical tastes that will just eat that shit up.

I don't know what that means, but count me in.

It's got a lot to do with some article I read about Big Star a while back where the author posited that a lot of fans of that band feel that much of the music of the 70's is beneath them. The prog rock bands of the day (namely ELP) usually seem to be a target but it also goes for the likes of Zeppelin, Deep Purple, Skynyrd, etc.

[bovine knievel]

Pompous douchebaggery is a bigger threat to rock and roll than Dave Grohl.

Watch Sound City and talk shit about Dave. I dare ya.

I agree! Sound City made me hop on the Dave Grohl bandwagon.

[Rocky]

So it seems the author doesn't care much for Dave Grohl.

[RevMatt]

I don't own a Foo Fighters album but when they come on the radio I usually crank it up instead of changing the station. I don't think he is "killing" rock and roll. Just that there should be a dozen more current bands that I crank up the volume instead of changing the station.

[olwiggum]

I think Dave Grohl and the Foo Fighters are actually doing their best to keep "mainstream" rock alive, whatever that means.

[Tequila Cowboy]

I understand that this is cheeky humor for the most part but I'm sure there is a Dave Grohl hate legion out there. With all the Maroon 5's & Nickelback's in the world do we really need to hate on Grohl who seems to truly love Rock & Roll?

[PeterJ]

The author needs a little humor in his rock n roll.

I don't think Grohl has ever claimed to be this artist that is bringing punk to the masses. Sure, he likes punk, and claims it as an influence, but that doesn't mean he should copy it and it should be exactly what his music is today.

For the record, I enjoy most of the Foo Fighters catalog.

[Iowan]

The author needs a little humor in his rock n roll.

I don't think Grohl has ever claimed to be this artist that is bringing punk to the masses. Sure, he likes punk, and claims it as an influence, but that doesn't mean he should copy it and it should be exactly what his music is today.

For the record, I enjoy most of the Foo Fighters catalog.

I do too. I think he's actually underrated in critical circles as a songwriter. Yeah, he has a "formula" so to speak, but Patterson Hood has written how many preacher/murder songs without melodies? Everyone who makes it that long has certain formulas or tendencies. At his best, Grohl is pretty fucking great. At his worst he's boring and self-derivative.

[DiamondDave]

Yeah. Or not.

Whether or not you like his music, I've never got the impression Grohl claimed to be anything. The guy is just having fun, playing the music he wants to play, and making a pretty good living off it. He doesn't speak for anyone nor does he claim to be some kind of savior of rock.

If you can't stand the Foo Fighters, there's nothing wrong with that, but this seems pompous and misguided to me.

^^^This.

[Daddy_played_poker]

My oldest son and I are Foo fans. We became fans during some tough times and still enjoy their music. Dave Grohl has had a part in lots of music that I like so I don't have a problem with him.

[Smitty]

He seems like a decent dude, fairly grounded all things considered. Musically he's as generic as it gets, but a lot of that's forgiven because of Nirvana and his demeanor.

[tinnitus photography]

have all you Grohl fans heard that Probot record?

he should have stopped on a high point.

[Dean]

using that logic, we'd have never heard Layla and Other Assorted Love Songs

[tinnitus photography]

Clapton is Death Valley.



And let me know when Grohl even begins to approach the heights of "Shake Your Blood"

[Shakespeare]

have all you Grohl fans heard that Probot record?

he should have stopped on a high point.

but doesnt this kinda contradict the "on target rant"?

one of the biggest names in mainstream rock made time to record a pretty well received labor of love project with his childhood underground heroes, and let an underground label like southern lord put it out, yet hes somehow killing rock and roll in the process? he didnt have to give any of those vocalists an easy payday like that, and he certainly didnt need to let southern lord put it out. if dave was the prick this article presents him as he would have sang the songs on that record and had his rca put it out with the standard foo fighters hype machine.

i get that daves omnipresence rubs some people the wrong way, but hes always been a guy that seems to genuinely love music and has never shied away from openly crediting the bands that got him where he is today, whether directly or just as a fan. if theres gonna be one guy being presented as a token rock ambassador these days, you could do a whole lot worse

[Dean]

Stones should have packed it in after Their Satanic Majesties Request

[Dean]

No Double Fantasy either.

or half of Neil Young's entire catalog

[Daddy_played_poker]

have all you Grohl fans heard that Probot record?

he should have stopped on a high point.

Probot was not the best of the batch.

[tinnitus photography]

have all you Grohl fans heard that Probot record?

he should have stopped on a high point.

but doesnt this kinda contradict the "on target rant"?

one of the biggest names in mainstream rock made time to record a pretty well received labor of love project with his childhood underground heroes, and let an underground label like southern lord put it out, yet hes somehow killing rock and roll in the process? he didnt have to give any of those vocalists an easy payday like that, and he certainly didnt need to let southern lord put it out. if dave was the prick this article presents him as he would have sang the songs on that record and had his rca put it out with the standard foo fighters hype machine.

i get that daves omnipresence rubs some people the wrong way, but hes always been a guy that seems to genuinely love music and has never shied away from openly crediting the bands that got him where he is today, whether directly or just as a fan. if theres gonna be one guy being presented as a token rock ambassador these days, you could do a whole lot worse

Probot was 10 years ago. that's less than the Beatles' entire career by a couple of years.


was Wasting Light an improvement?

[tinnitus photography]

have all you Grohl fans heard that Probot record?

he should have stopped on a high point.

Probot was not the best of the batch.

[tinnitus photography]

Stones should have packed it in after Their Satanic Majesties Request

because the Stones were not a one man band...

are you waiting for Pat Smear's or Courtney Hawkin's next records?


and if you think Grohl's discography even begins to approach the Stones...well, have another one.

[Shakespeare]

have all you Grohl fans heard that Probot record?

he should have stopped on a high point.

but doesnt this kinda contradict the "on target rant"?

one of the biggest names in mainstream rock made time to record a pretty well received labor of love project with his childhood underground heroes, and let an underground label like southern lord put it out, yet hes somehow killing rock and roll in the process? he didnt have to give any of those vocalists an easy payday like that, and he certainly didnt need to let southern lord put it out. if dave was the prick this article presents him as he would have sang the songs on that record and had his rca put it out with the standard foo fighters hype machine.

i get that daves omnipresence rubs some people the wrong way, but hes always been a guy that seems to genuinely love music and has never shied away from openly crediting the bands that got him where he is today, whether directly or just as a fan. if theres gonna be one guy being presented as a token rock ambassador these days, you could do a whole lot worse

Probot was 10 years ago. that's less than the Beatles' entire career by a couple of years.

ok but how does this take away from my point at all? the article, which you agreed with, presents dave as a selfish asshole who only ever promotes dave grohl, and projects like probot (and numerous other instances, ranging from greg dulli guesting on the first FF album to bob mould guesting and touring on the most recent album, plus all the sound city/sonic highway collabs, and the hundreds of bands daves referenced and credited in interviews. its not like probot is the only, or even the most recent, example of dave bringing lesser known artists into his spotlight) blatantly contradict that. the guy may be damn good at promoting himself, but hes even better at promoting other bands. your love of probot (which is a fun record, sure, though not daves best work as a drummer or sognwriter) just doesnt jive with defending the dave grohl is killing rock and roll argument.

you dont have to like his music, and you can want him to go away for a bit (hell, i love his music and i still wish hed go away for a bit) but acting like hes somehow hurting rock music is ridiculous, and just reeks of contrarianism. the guys legitimately worked hard for what he has and somehow still acts like a fan more than a performer. its not his fault there arent many guys like him left in rock. hes not the most original songwriter out there, nor does he (or any reasonable fan of his) claim so, but he does have a knack for writing songs for 20,000+ people to scream along to at a concert, and hes done it for long enough its no fluke.

as for wasting light, the consensus ive seen on it was that it was their first great record after a couple mediocre ones. people, incluidng me, generally prefer the first three FF albums over the later ones, but wasting lgiht was very well received.

this afternoon the foo fighters announced a gig for this friday night at the 700 capacity black cat in dc. $20 tickets available at the club a few hours later. like him or not, for an act of their size, thats cool as shit.

fwiw i maintain that daves best work has come as a drummer, but i think people are often too quick to write him off as a songwriter just cuz he doesnt do anyting fancy. theres always room for more huge hooky stadium anthems in my book

[Dean]

Stones should have packed it in after Their Satanic Majesties Request

because the Stones were not a one man band...

are you waiting for Pat Smear's or Courtney Hawkin's next records?


and if you think Grohl's discography even begins to approach the Stones...well, have another one.

unless you're clairvoyant, your last statement is irrelevant.