If there’s someone who knows how to write a hit, it’s Dave Grohl.
He was no stranger to success back when he was in Nirvana, but since forming Foo Fighters nearly 20 years ago the ‘nicest guy in rock’ has benefited from over 10 million album sales and 11 Grammy Awards from the band’s seven album strong discography; while new details have emerged on the much-anticipated album number eight (more details on that later).
So what are the songwriting secrets of ‘the nicest guy in rock’ to churning out certified rock favourites? Well the Foo Fighter has some interesting points of advice in a new video (via Alan Cross) where he tells viewers, and Tenacious D buddy Kyle Gass, three key points: think about it “like it’s a bumper sticker”, channel Aerosmith, and the golden rule of “don’t bore us get to the chorus.”
The clip, filmed backstage at the Netherlands’ 2008 Pinkpop festival, shows Grohl palling about with Gass to throw together a hit song, “because the deep [album] cuts don’t keep the mansion running,” he jokes. The leader of the globally recognised rock band also admits that “you don’t even need to change the way the chords are, you just change what you sing,” and humorously points towards Aerosmith’s way with penning a song that is “all chorus.”
So remember Grohl’s formula for song structure and you can’t go wrong. All together now:
“Chorus – Chorus – Pre Chorus – Chorus – Verse (Kinda) – Chorus – Pre Chorus – Chorus – Chorus – Chorus – Finale – Chorus.”
Jokes aside, it’s likely that Grohl has been employing his keen songwriting chops in putting together the next Foo Fighters album, with Grohl recently confirming that things were progressing swiftly on the follow-up to 2011’s Wasting Light. The producer who manned the decks for that album, Butch Vig, recently revealed that he’s reunited with the band once more for the untitled new release, expected sometime in 2014.
The legendary Vig, who first worked with Grohl back on Nirvana’s deathless 1991 masterpiece Nevermind, recently tweeted that he’d been in the studio once more with the band and their set of “KILLER” new material.
In working with Foo’s today. F**k, there are some KILLER new songs! I’m psyched!
— Butch Vig (@butchvig) August 24, 2013
The Garbage drummer and producer not only worked on 2011’s Wasting Light, recorded ‘garage’ style in Dave Grohl’s multi-million dollar home, but also on several tracks for Dave Grohl’s Sound City film and accompanying soundtrack, including the much-touted ‘Cut Me Some Slack,’ the all-star collab between Paul McCartney and the reunited Nirvana lineup of Krist Novoselic, Pat Smear, and Grohl.
Following on from the band commenting that the band had been “working overtime” on the new LP last month, Guitarist Chris Shiflett recently confirmed that writing was complete and that the band had started work, including rehearsals, “within the last few weeks.” The guitarist added: “It was a very short hiatus. We’re going to start recording the new Foo Fighters record at the beginning of next year.”
Meanwhile Grohl has talked up how the Foos’ latest would “not be a conventional record… we are going to make this album in a way that no one’s ever done before, and we’re pretty excited about it.” Working with Butch Vig might seem pretty conventional, but considering Grohl stretched himself into interesting musical explorations for the Sound City doco, soundtrack, and all-star live shows, working with some of music’s greats like Stevie Nicks, John Fogerty, Trent Reznor, Josh Homme might rub off in some interesting ways on his main musical concern.
