Foo Fighters Biography

Grohl soon decided to form a band, recruiting bassist Nate Mendel and drummer William Goldsmith from rockers Sunny Day Real Estate. Former Germs and Nirvana guitarist Pat Smear completed the lineup. The band named themselves the Foo Fighters after a World War II secret force that allegedly researched UFO's. The newly named Foos formed their own label, Roswell, and signed a contract through Capitol Records for their self titled debut album release in July 1995. It was an instant success with the single, This Is A Call gaining heavy airplay on alternative rock radio in the US. Broader in scope and more harmonic, the album alienated many Nirvana fans with the obvious grunge influences peppered with an infectious, hardcore rush. By early 1996 the album was certified platinum in the US and sold well in the UK.

Throughout 1996, the Foo Fighters supported the album with an extensive tour and achieved chart success with their single, Big Me in March. In late 1996 the group began work on their second album, The Colour and the Shape, with producer Gil Norton. The sessions proved difficult. Recording dates were constantly scrapped and arguments led to William Goldsmith quitting the band, leaving Grohl to drum on the majority of the album. Before the record's release, Goldsmith was replaced by Taylor Hawkins who had previously drummed with Alanis Morissette. The album, the first they had recorded as a band, was released in May 1997 to rave reviews. Grohl's songwriting had evolved - the melodic, distortion pop of single Everlong reached the UK Top 20 while the more contemplative tracks like Walking After You (used in the X-Files movie) and Doll, suggested Grohl was gaining more confidence to chill out rather than always go for the musical jugular. Pat Smear left the group after the album's completion and was replaced, briefly, by guitarist Franz Stahl.

The group's growing self belief was confirmed by some well received festival sets while the album topped Kerrang!'s yearly critic's poll. Grohl flirted with film score work in 1998 with the soundtrack to the movie Touch. Shortly after the band signed a deal with RCA Records for their third album, 1999's There Is Nothing Left To Lose. Recorded as a three piece after the departures of Smear and his replacement, Stahl, the album contained more mature, soaring rock melodies, exemplified by the single, Learn To Fly. The band were now established as a major rock act (although Grohl insists that their fame in the UK far outstrips their US success where they still play to 3,000 seater arenas). Shortly after the release of There Is Nothing Left To Lose, the band recruited ex-No Use For A Name guitarist Chris Shiflett.

The band continued to build their reputation on their live appearances, culminating in 2002 with a highly acclaimed performance at the Reading Festival. The band followed that with the release of their fourth album, the outstanding, One By One. However the recording of the set was fraught with difficulties. Grohl decided to scrap the tracks they had already layed down and left briefly to drum for Queens Of The Stone Age's Songs For The Deaf album. He performed several live shows with them before returning to the Foo Fighters and re-recording the whole album in a few days! The album hummed with throbbing angst and frustration but above all, soaring, melodic singles such as All My Life and Times Like These which were both UK chart hits, leading to the band's first ever UK arena tour which was an instant sell-out. One by One entered the UK album charts at No.1. Grohl felt it was the band's best album.

The Foo Fighters remain one of the few major rock acts who always, on the surface at least, seem to temper rock star excess with something approachng a conscience. To the fans, Grohl remains a rocker with integrity although he's unapologetic about the band's success. With a new single, The Best Of You, released in May 2005 and a new album, In Your Honor to follow in June, Grohl feels the band are at their peak. "I don't see that I should feel bad about our success," he says. "I front a band that has become the best in its own right through damn hard work. I'm not Lemmy but I still get up each morning and I love rock music more than anyone."