History of Dave Grohl in Timeline

David Eric Grohl is an American musician best known as the founder, lead singer, guitarist, and songwriter for the rock band Foo Fighters. He is also recognized for his time as the drummer for the influential grunge band Nirvana from 1990 to 1994. Grohl's career spans decades and he has become a prominent figure in rock music, contributing significantly to the genre as a performer and songwriter. He is a highly respected and influential figure in contemporary music.

Sections (2)

Full Timeline Career & Achievements

January 14, 1969: Dave Grohl's Birth

On January 14, 1969, David Eric Grohl was born. He would later become a musician, the founder of the rock band Foo Fighters, and the drummer of Nirvana.

1982: First Concert: Naked Raygun

In 1982, Dave Grohl attended his first concert, Naked Raygun at The Cubby Bear in Chicago, marking the beginning of his immersion in punk rock.

December 1985: Joins Dain Bramage

In December 1985, Dave Grohl joined the hardcore punk band Dain Bramage.

March 1987: Grohl quits Dain Bramage

In March 1987, Dave Grohl quit Dain Bramage without warning to join Scream.

1987: Tour and Iggy Pop Performance

During a 1987 tour stop in Toronto, Dave Grohl played drums for Iggy Pop at a CD release party at El Mocambo.

1989: Debut album Bleach

In 1989, Nirvana had already recorded several demos for the follow up to their debut album, Bleach.

May 4, 1990: Scream Live Album Recording

On May 4, 1990, Scream recorded a live album in Alzey, Germany, later released as Your Choice Live Series Vol.10.

1990: Grohl joins Scream and later Nirvana

In 1990, Scream broke up, and Dave Grohl became the drummer for Nirvana, marking a significant turning point in his career.

1990: Melvins introduce Grohl to Nirvana

In 1990, during a tour stop, Buzz Osborne of the Melvins introduced Dave Grohl to Kurt Cobain and Krist Novoselic of Nirvana.

1991: First Appearance on Nevermind

In 1991, Dave Grohl first appeared on Nirvana's second album, Nevermind, which went on to be a massive success.

1991: Recording of Nevermind

In early 1991, Nirvana entered Sound City Studios in Los Angeles to record Nevermind, a pivotal album in their career.

1992: Release of Pocketwatch Cassette

In 1992, Dave Grohl released his own material on a cassette called Pocketwatch under the pseudonym "Late!"

1993: Cobain interview about songwriting contributions

In a 1993 interview with MTV, Kurt Cobain expressed his excitement about the possibility of Krist Novoselic and Dave Grohl contributing more to Nirvana's songwriting.

April 5, 1994: Kurt Cobain's Suicide

On April 5, 1994, Kurt Cobain's suicide occurred, marking a tragic event in music history and impacting Dave Grohl's life and career.

October 1994: Demo Recording at Robert Lang Studios

In October 1994, Dave Grohl scheduled studio time at Robert Lang Studios and quickly recorded a fifteen-track demo, playing all instruments himself except for a guitar part on "X-Static".

1994: Cobain's Suicide and Nirvana's Disbandment; Grohl Forms Foo Fighters

In 1994, after Kurt Cobain's suicide, Nirvana disbanded. Subsequently, Dave Grohl formed Foo Fighters as a one-man project, starting a new chapter in his musical journey.

March 1995: Performance with Pearl Jam during Australian Tour

During Pearl Jam's March 1995 Australian tour, Dave Grohl performed with the band for a song or two at three shows, amidst rumors of him potentially replacing their drummer.

July 1995: Release of Foo Fighters' Self-Titled Debut Album

In July 1995, Foo Fighters' self-titled debut album was released, remixed from Dave Grohl's demo, marking the official start of the band's journey.

1995: Foo Fighters Album Release

In 1995, Dave Grohl released the album Foo Fighters and assembled a full band to tour and record under the Foo Fighters name.

February 1996: Cameo Appearance on The X-Files

In February 1996, Dave Grohl and his then-wife Jennifer Youngblood made a brief cameo appearance on The X-Files third-season episode "Pusher."

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May 1997: Release of The Colour and the Shape

In May 1997, The Colour and the Shape was released, featuring singles like "Everlong", "My Hero", and "Monkey Wrench", establishing Foo Fighters as a rock radio staple.

1997: Directing Foo Fighters music videos

In 1997, Dave Grohl began directing Foo Fighters music videos, expanding his role beyond music performance.

1997: Grohl works on the soundtrack to the movie Touch

In 1997, Dave Grohl began work on the soundtrack to the 1997 movie Touch, performing all instruments and vocals himself, except for contributions from Louise Post, Barrett Jones, and John Doe.

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1999: Recording of There Is Nothing Left to Lose

In 1999, Foo Fighters recorded the album There Is Nothing Left to Lose in Dave Grohl's basement studio in Alexandria, Virginia, following their departure from Capitol Records.

2000: Collaboration with Queen's Brian May

In 2000, Queen guitarist Brian May added guitar flourish to Foo Fighters' cover of Pink Floyd's "Have a Cigar", strengthening the bond between the two bands.

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2001: Induction of Queen into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame

In 2001, Dave Grohl and Taylor Hawkins inducted Queen into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame and performed "Tie Your Mother Down" with May and Roger Taylor.

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April 2010: Recollection of the 9:30 Club

In April 2010, Dave Grohl reminisced about his teenage years spent at the 9:30 Club, a pivotal music venue in Washington, D.C.

October 2010: Grohl's First Impression of Nirvana

In October 2010, Dave Grohl recalled his initial impression of Nirvana upon meeting them for the first time.

2013: Release of Sound City documentary

In 2013, Dave Grohl released his debut documentary, Sound City, showcasing his skills as a filmmaker.

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April 10, 2014: Induction into Rock and Roll Hall of Fame

On April 10, 2014, Dave Grohl was inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame as a member of Nirvana.

2014: Release of Sonic Highways documentary miniseries

In 2014, Dave Grohl released the documentary miniseries Sonic Highways, further solidifying his presence in film.

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2014: Induction into Rock and Roll Hall of Fame with Nirvana

In 2014, Dave Grohl was inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame as part of Nirvana, recognizing his contribution to the iconic band.

2014: Sonic Highways episode

In a 2014 episode of Foo Fighters: Sonic Highways, Dave Grohl shared that Kurt Cobain kissed him upon hearing a demo of "Alone + Easy Target."

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2016: Rolling Stone ranks Grohl 27th-best drummer of all time

In 2016, Rolling Stone ranked Dave Grohl the 27th-best drummer of all time, acknowledging his drumming prowess.

2021: Release of 'What Drives Us' documentary and autobiography 'The Storyteller'

In 2021, Dave Grohl released the documentary film What Drives Us and his autobiography, The Storyteller: Tales of Life and Music, adding to his diverse creative portfolio.

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2021: Inducted into Rock and Roll Hall of Fame as a member of Foo Fighters

In 2021, Dave Grohl was inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame as a member of Foo Fighters, marking his second induction.

2022: Starring in Studio 666

In 2022, Dave Grohl and the Foo Fighters starred as themselves in the comedy horror film Studio 666, marking another foray into acting.

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2022: Grohl's Isolation After Cobain's Death

In a 2022 interview, Dave Grohl reflected on going into isolation and retreating for several months after Kurt Cobain's death, unsure of what to do next.