I was a big Nirvana fan. I remember buying Nevermind, and thinking about the time where the weird was turning mainstream. I was an avid 120 Minutes viewer, watched Headbanger’s Ball, etc. I was into ‘alternative’ and knew about the band Nirvana before Smells Like Teen Spirit. But I remember watching that video (just like everyone else on the planet) and was thinking, this was hot. What surprised me was hearing it on the local radio, hearing at kitchen I worked at (and I didn’t bring it). People that listened to absolutely shitty music were playing it. It was a weird time. After that, the classic 90s grunge and overall alternative/shoegaze stuff started to be much more appreciated, which was fun to be in the middle of that, but just like anything.. too much of a good thing, can be bad.
I remember after In Utero, I was about done with Nirvana. The grunge thing was getting quite boring, and I was exploring bands like Pavement, Built to Spill, etc that were counter-grunge in a way, into that slacky/lazy vibe, but ohhh so good. Kurt killed himself around this time, and shortly after Foo Fighters came up in ranks. I was interested. I had respect. Some of their songs were good, but I never really got into them. Never owned an album.
Fast forward to 2011, I stumbled across an insane opportunity to see them here in Missoula (at this time Foo Fighters were crazy large, and the thought of them playing our little town.. was weird to say the least). On top of that.. I actually had full back stage pass access, and got to hang out with the Foos, pre and post show. Amazing experience. But from that experience, I was totally amazed about how cool and down to earth those guys are — and of course Dave Grohl. That guy just wants to play music, and is appreciative every second that he can. No BS diva stuff here. Just straight up decent human being. You can read about that experience here. I always thought that was his schtick, but after that night, I realized, this is really how he is.
With that said, I have friends that get tired of the constant praise that he gets.. and just like Nirvana being heard everywhere, Dave (and his legendary status) does get old, so I get that. The Sonic Highways was a tipping point for some people of – “Okay, I get it.. you’re amazing”
Yesterday, the internet was all ablaze with stories of Dave Grohl jumping off of the stage and breaking his leg at a concert in Sweden. That’s headlines in itself, but finishes singing the song while on his back, then comes back on stage with a temporary cast to finish the set.. well, that’s next level stuff right there. So here I am again, thinking, damn, I don’t care what other say about Dave Grohl. The ability of him to gut check that pain, and finish a show for the people that paid good money to get a show, that says a lot to me. So if he was legend before, what is he now?
I even heard someone talking about it might have been a hair-line fracture (no big deal). Well, take a look at this x-ray. I think.. that’s a pretty big deal.
Let me know what you think by commenting below!
