If Dave Grohl didn’t have enough on his plate already, the rock heavyweight sat down yesterday for one of Reddit’s infamous Ask Me Anything (AMA) sessions in a hilarious exchange with fans online, saying his most simple pleasure is “being a father” (to Harper, 6 and Violet, 3), confirming drums are his favourite instrument to jam on, and revealing the secret to his luscious beard (“FISH OIL?”).
In between hosting E! Network talkshow Chelsea Lately this week, as well as preparing for the mother of all supergroup tours for his film Sound City: Real To Reel, and signing an exclusive new publishing deal, Grohl sat down for a 45 minute session revealing secrets and sass for his adorning audience, including confirmation that he’s begun work on the new Foo Fighters album.
Answering both personal and mundane questions, Grohl managed to extend his level of cool referencing the first time he jammed with Sir Paul McCartney at a stadium in Liverpool, stating “I played ‘Back in the USSR’, ‘Band on the Run’, and ‘I Saw Her Standing There’ and it was one of the greatest experiences of my life.”
The same jam session also spawned the Paul McCartney-fronted Nirvana reunion, with Grohl and the Beatle teaming up with Krist Novoselic and Pat Smear for the 121212 Benefit Charity concert to perform new superjam ‘Cut Me Some Slack’, which also features on the star-studded soundtrack for Grohls’ Sound City documentary.
Speaking nostalgically of music days gone past, fans gushed over Grohl’s involvement in documentary Sound City, his directoral debut which features the likes of Stevie Nicks, Lars Ulrich, Josh Homme, Rick Springfield and a plethora of legendary artists. “I played ‘Back in the USSR’, ‘Band on the Run’, and ‘I Saw Her Standing There’ and it was one of the greatest experiences of my life.” – Dave Grohl
But was there anyone he wished could have been on the film that wasn’t? “I would have to say Pat Benatar,” admits Grohl. “There weren’t enough women in the Sound City movie and she’s one of the greatest female rock singers of all time.”
Grohl is also taking many of the musicians featured in his all-star rockumentary on the road, as the Sound City Players, whose ranks include major musicians featured in the film and soundtrack who have a history with the studio, with the Foo Fighters frontman confirming their world tour would include Australia.
Grohl has also confirmed a Foo Fighters album is in the works, revealing they have started writing new material for an undisclosed release date. This comes after speculation the band were set to hang up their instruments for the final time following a series of comments and clues from the band, stating at Reading festival that it would be “the last show for a long time.”
When asked about the hiatus, Grohl replied, “like Pat Smear says… we’re not on hiatus.. we’re on “i hate us” and yes, we are already writing the new record.”
Other collaborations for the ‘nicest man in rock’ revealing his desire to work with Tedacious D’s Jack Black and Kyle Gass again stating “[It was] so hard to play the drums when you’re laughing hysterically and tears are rolling down you [sic.] cheeks. Maybe the hardest gig ever.”
Grohl will also be appearing on the forthcoming Queens of the Stone Age record, returning to the drummer’s stool ten years after QOTSA’s breakthrough 2002 album Songs for the Deaf.
Disappointingly Grohl has confirmed that he will not be touring with the band in his AMA, while fans continuously beg for a Them Crooked Vultures return as well.
Also featured on said QOTSA return is Trent Raznor of Nine Inch Nails, and the return of estranged bassist Nick Oliveri, and now – Sir Elton John, the latter revealing that working with Josh Homme, Grohl, and the crew was a “mindfuck”. As NME reports, John says:
I was in Vegas and I flew back to LA and Engelbert Humperdinck had written me a very sweet letter and asked me to sing a duet with him. He is part of my history and I couldn’t say no so I went and recorded a song with him. Then I drove three blocks and went from Engelbert to Queens Of The Stone Age, which was a bit of a mindfuck.”
The best news of Grohl’s AMA were his thoughts on grunge, with one avid redditor asking if ‘grunge’ will ever make a comeback. Grohl retorts with, “If you mean loud ass guitars, loud ass drums, and screaming ass vocals? That never went away ding dong.”
