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Dave Grohl, 52, was the drummer for Nirvana before founding Foo Fighters – the band celebrated their 25th anniversary in 2020 and won several awards, including 11 Grammys and five Britons.
What was your childhood or your first ambition?
Be a famous soccer player.
Private school or public school? University or directly at work?
I was a terrible student. I was a total prankster, all I wanted to do was entertain everyone – my grades were terrible. I left school at 17 to start filming, much to my father’s dismay – a conservative Republican speechwriter. My mother, who taught for 35 years, knew that I was not an idiot, but that I was not going to move forward in life if I was stuck in my academic failure.
Who was or still is your mentor?
I was raised by a bright, compassionate, generous and kind single mother. His life was devoted to raising two children with the salary of a teacher. She taught me to work for the things I wanted. And when I was 12 or 13, my cousin Tracy became punk rock. When I saw her leather jacket, shaved head, chains and spikes, she became my first hero. She was so empowered by her individuality. I wanted this. Musically, I have a long list of people that I have played and listened to over the years.
Are you in good physical shape?
You wouldn’t imagine going on tour keeps you in shape, but it does. At 52, I feel pretty good. It’s when I come home that I get sweet. I hate gyms, I hate working out, I hate yoga.
Ambition or talent: what matters most to be successful?
Ambition and dynamism. Talent unfortunately has little to do with it. I’m not the best drummer, I’m not the best guitarist, I’m not the best singer – but when I do any of those things, I do it like it’s my first day on earth. Being able to work with others as well. You have to be able to collaborate and cooperate.
What would you like to own that you don’t currently have?
I have never, ever been a material person – I think so because I was brought up with very little. What I love to collect are memories, and the ones I can keep forever.
How politically engaged are you?
I am always aware of what is going on. I still vote. Voting is not only a blessing and a right, it is important that everyone feels connected in this process. Lots of changes start locally. I try to do my best to help. I just wish there was more compassion and connectedness in the world.
What’s your biggest extravaganza?
My family. I feel blessed to have the resources to take care of them.
Where are you the happiest?
With my kids – the time we spend swimming, biking, or playing video games I don’t understand, or watching Harry Potter.
What ambitions do you still have?
My obsession that I have had for 30 years and that I have never revealed to anyone is that I want to become a really mean tap dancer. I don’t know how to dance, but there is something about the rhythm and the patterns that I understand. This year I bought a pair of tap dancing and it will happen.
What motivates you?
I am addicted to success. I can’t sit back and relax. I can not turn off.
What is the greatest achievement of your life so far?
My children. I’m so daddy! Each of my three daughters is a tornado, they are amazing. Musically, my greatest pride is only my survival. I’ve looked at a lot of people that I know that I like not to succeed, to stay alive. Music is a tricky road.
What do you find most irritating about others?
I don’t understand how someone can intentionally want someone else to hurt or feel pain.
If your 20 year old self could see you now, what would they think?
That I should have thought a little more about my choice of tattoos.
What item you lost would you like to have left?
No. The guitars, you play them, they become your best friend or your worst enemy, and then they disappear and that’s OK – there are songs to remind you that they existed.
What is the biggest challenge of our time?
To have hope. Believe in life, in love, in the goodness that is in all of us.
Do you believe in an afterlife?
We just don’t know. It is presumptuous and arrogant to think that we can understand the universe.
If you had to rate your satisfaction with your life so far, out of 10, what score would you make?
12½.
“Medicine at Midnight”, 10th album by Foo Fighters, is out February 5 on Roswell Records / Columbia Records, foofighters.com
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