Foo Fighters

by Mick Wall

Everyone from Sir Paul McCartney and Jimmy Page to Queens of the Stone Age now relishes the chance to share a stage with Dave Grohl and his legendary Foo Fighters. The question why? Musical depth? Not really. Major success? Well, yes. Despite no longer shifting albums in the same quantity as they did twenty years ago, this band can still fill stadiums the world over (when Dave's not breaking his leg, of course).Long before Kurt Cobain died by suicide in 1994, Dave Grohl was planning for a life after Nirvana. The unflinching bright sunlight to Cobain's permanent midnight darkness, Grohl had come from a similar broken home to his erstwhile band leader, but came out of the experience differently - brimming with positivity and a shrewd grasp of opportunities in the music industry.Did Grohl merely take the sonic blueprint of Nirvana and embellish it with a more life-affirming pop sheen? Of course he did. Every band in America that sold over a million records in the post-grunge 90s did the same. The difference was that Grohl had real credibility. And he knew it.With exclusive testimony from true insiders (including Krist Novoselic, Grohl's bass-playing partner in Nirvana, ex-girlfirends, record company executives, tour photographers and confidantes), this book is an exploration of the real story behind Grohl and the Foo Fighters - the only serious literary biography of the group and its leader, one of the most famous and critically bulletproof rock figures of the 21st century.

Genres: Music, Nonfiction, Biography, Memoir

288 pages, Kindle Edition

First published October 27, 2015

About the author

Mick Wall is an author, journalist, film, television and radio writer-producer, who’s worked inside the music industry for over 35 years. He began his career contributing to the music weekly Sounds in 1977, where he wrote about punk and the new wave, and then rockabilly, funk, New Romantic pop and, eventually, hard rock and heavy metal. By 1983, Wall become one of the main journalists in the early days of Kerrang! magazine, where he was their star cover story writer for the next nine years. He subsequently became the founding editor of Classic Rock magazine in 1998, and presented his own television and radio shows.

Reviews

[Tom Gase · Rating 2 out of 5]

I was hoping for more with this book, but knew right away I wouldn't like this book too much. The author even comes out and says on one of the first pages that this is not a book on the Foo Fighters. Uh...what? Because the cover and the description says that it is. The entire first half of the book is on Nirvana and although that's great and I love that band, I've read about that band countless times. I understand you totally need to have a chapter or two on the band with Dave Grohl running Foo Fighters, but the book doesn't actually start talking about the Foo Fighters until around page 140 or something out of 268. The Foo Fighters have (at that point) eight freaking studio albums. You can only get 120 pages on that? And the majority of that is basically just straight out of the documentary Back and Forth. I felt like I really learned nothing from this book, which is too bad because I really really enjoyed Mick Wall's book on Metallica. But this book was just too little on the subject and wasn't even written all that well. Although it was fun to read this book and listen to all my Foo Fighter cd's, there is probably a better book on the band out there somewhere.

[Diego · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is a Goodreads win review of an advance uncorrected proof. I couldn't put this down. Starts with Nirvana and how disturbed Kurt was. His mind was gone, and Courtney Love made it much worse. Dave and Krist just stood by and watched, they couldn't change him. I didn't realize they were really falling apart since In Utero. The band was really a train wreck because of Kurt and Courtney. Now I'm not surprised in the slightest he put a shotgun in his mouth. Dave was the survivor, but due to Kurts issues, Nirvana practices were useless, so Dave filled time practicing his own songs. Also didn't realize Foo Fighters essentially began while Nirvana was ending, just because they had to pass the time in the studio since Kurt would skip practices.
The story takes you through the highs and lows surrounding the release of each album. It's fascinating reading about the meaning behind each album and what inspires them. I would imagine virtually all bands go through similar hardships. A band staying together for an extended period of time is a tough accomplishment. The Foo Fighters have managed to do that, because of Dave.
It was gripping to get the inside scoop on Dave's experience, stuff you wouldn't read normally. The story about Kurt is depressing, but Dave's story is uplifting and remarkable. I get why so much is mentioned about Nirvana; to describe the hell of being in the band and what Dave put up with. It seems he disliked being in the band, though he is grateful and wouldn't change his decision of joining. He is an inspiration for those that work hard and keep a good head on your shoulders, success will follow. I'm more of a Foo Fighters fan now. And Dave Grohl.

"If you know the story behind the artist, it widens your appreciation for the music."

[Kris Tin · Rating 2 out of 5]

an easy read. but: the book is rather about dave grohl than the foo fighters.

and unfortunately, there are some factual errors. for example on page 171: the 2011 documentary is called "back and forth", and not "before and after". several quotes from this documentary are attributed to the wrong foo fighters member.

plus: half of the book covers nirvana and kurt cobain.

i'm sure there are better books about the foos.

[Marc · Rating 2 out of 5]

It’s not terrible. It’s also not a Foo Fighters book.

To be fair to Mick Wall, he makes no bones about that fact, although it does come across as a bit disrespectful to the other members of the band when he highlights his modus operandi in the first chapter: The Foo Fighters is Dave Grohl’s band, and always will be. So this is a Dave Grohl biography, and a ‘paint-by-numbers’ attempt at that.

It’s an easy read which illustrates the life of Dave Grohl. Plus a lot of Nirvana. I mean, a lot. I realised that I was just over half way through the book and I’d just read about Cobain’s suicide. I understand (as does everyone) that we don’t get the Foo Fighters without Nirvana, but I wanted a Foo Fighters book, not a Nirvana one.

For new fans of the Foo Fighters, this is probably okay. They’ll learn things they didn’t know and get an insight into the beginnings and history of the band. However, if you’re a die-hard, this book will not tell you anything that you don’t already know. Almost everything is covered in the ‘Back and Forth’ documentary, and in fact that seems to be where Wall gets most of his information. He is constantly quoting the documentary, along with Paul Brannigan, who has written (in my opinion) a much better Grohl biography with ‘This Is A Call’.

[Stef Curran · Rating 2 out of 5]

I did not like Mick's writing in this book. I have read a handful of Mick's books, but I must say, I disliked the amount of criticism, unwarranted I believe, towards anyone in the band past or present who isn't Grohl.

[gosia⚰️ · Rating 2 out of 5]

książka nie jest o foo fighters. jest to historia dave'a, który założył foo fighters. mam wrażenie, że biografia jest napisana bardzo płytko, wypełniona podstawowymi informacjami, które każdy z osobna znajdzie w internecie. brakowało mi to skupienia się na reszcie członków zespołu. sam styl pisana micka walla nie przypadł mi do gustu. dwie gwiazdki daję jedynie za sentyment do foo fighters.

[Emilia · Rating 2 out of 5]

Miała być książka o Foo Fighters, a dostajemy kolejną biografię Dave'a Grohla - w dodatku znacznie okrojoną i w dużym stopniu przepisaną od poprzednich biografów muzyka. Czyta się dobrze i szybko (w końcu to niecałe 300 stron), ale to raczej zasługa wprawy autora, który ma na swoim koncie wiele muzycznych biografii. Lektura pozostawia niedosyt, ponieważ Mick Wall galopuje przez życie frontmana Foo Fighters, z rozmysłem pomijając pozostałych członków zespołu (co zaznaczył już na wstępie). Wiem, że Pan Grohl jest niekwestionowanym szefem w zespole, ale umniejszanie roli reszty muzyków jest po prostu nie fair. Odniosłam także wrażenie, że autor za wszelką cenę chce odpiąć łatkę "najsympatyczniejszego rockandrollowca" i sprawić, aby fani choć trochę "znielubili" Dave'a. Cóż, ze mną się nie udało...

[Luiza · Rating 2 out of 5]

The author states himself at the beginning that it's basically Dave's biography. Prepare for half of the book to be about Nirvana. It was overall an easy quick read, great for killing time during travelling but I think I enjoyed the note from Polish editor at the end more than the actual book. I feel like I'd recommend reading 'This is A Call' more, even though the amount of details at some points was overwhelming (but that might be because I'm just too young to actually know all the references).

[Nicholas Catt · Rating 4 out of 5]

Another interesting look at the rise of the punk/alternative rock world, dealing with being in Nirvana and with Kurt Cobain and the rise of the Foo Fighters. I enjoyed the book but not as much as Anthony Kiedis' Scar Tissue, much the same as I felt with the Smashing Pumpkins Tales of a Scorched Earth. Still a great read though.

[Pamela Harju · Rating 2 out of 5]

I'm a fan of Dave Grohl and of Foo Fighters and of Nirvana - but not of Mick Wall.

[David B · Rating 3 out of 5]

I've really enjoyed music/band biographies from various writers in the past, but this one is poor IMHO. Like others have said, it's misrepresented as a Foo's book when in fact the first 100+ pages are almost entirely devoted to Nirvana, and the entire basis for the book is Dave G.'s. If this book was sold as a bio on Dave's career that would be fine, but the fact that it isn't is a major deterrent for readers.

Honestly, the rest of Dave's bandmates in this book are depicted as spineless and at times untalented in their own right. Is that really true? I feel bad for them, if so, but I assume it's the author's spin on some of the band's history.

Next, I really deplore the writing style. It reads like the author is simply trying to target half-wasted teenagers, with dumbed-down language and gratuitous swearing. I don't need lofty writing but this is so far at the other end of the spectrum it does Dave and the band a disservice.

I'd give the book 1 star for writing and 1 extra star because it covers 2 important bands in Dave's life.

[Andrew · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book is about how the drummer of the band Nirvana left in order to start his own band that is known as the book title suggests: Foo Fighters. The book was written by Mick Wall who wasn’t in the band but a journalist who decided to document the origins of Foo Fighters. I really enjoyed reading this book because bands fascinate me and music is a big part of a lot of people’s lives, so it would be really easy to relate and see familiar songs in the story. It was really cool to see the behind the scenes of some of the songs that Foo Fighters created. It showed songs like There Is Nothing Left to Lose, which was written in a home studio. I also liked the part where the band refused to lip-sync on TV and insisted that they played live. I see a lot of artists who just lip sync at concerts which really sucks because those artists just hide behind the protection of autotune. Overall this was a decent read, I found it funny how Mike Wall was trying to sound like typical teenage boys in a band during the 90’s with his diction.

[Aria · Rating 1 out of 5]

DNF p6, & it took me 2 separate runs at this book to be able to stomach getting that far through this hot mess. This guy is a shit writer. Words mean things. (It's interminable but then it stopped? What?) Some rewriting would have been incredibly beneficial as the pages are littered with sentences ending in open prepositional phrases.

Then there's this line line:

"Pause, drama, pause, dingle-dangle-doo on the guitar, piercing stare into the crowd."

Seriously? You didn't show drama, you literally just wrote "drama." Further, no guitar ever has sounded like "dingle-dangle-doo," not even Chuck Berry's. If that's what you're hearing I can't trust your ears, & therefore your supposed musical reporting.

Finally, wtf is the M.O. for hating on Kurt? What even is the point of comparing the two men at all? It's just not needed. Tell me more about your inability to understand an entire generation of American Gen Xers. (Actually, pleased don't.) Geez. This guy wants to rim Dave Grohl so badly.

This book is going straight in the trash.

[Regiane Dias · Rating 5 out of 5]

Com o falecimento do Taylor Hawkins,  o baterista da banda, a leitura foi bem " dolorida ", algumas passagens mostraram que o que casou a m0orte dele, já havia acontecido anos antes, escapou por bem pouco.

Mas também foi maravilhoso saber um pouco mais do Dave Grohl, que é considerado por muitos o cara maia legal do Rock. Desde os tempos que era apenas o baterista de olhos grandes e sorriso novo do Nirvana,  já se notava que era um brilhante baterista.

Desde a m0rte do Kurt Cobain,  teve que se reinventar. Além dele e do Krist o outro membro do Nirvana, enfrentarem longas batalhas judiciais com a viúva do Kurt, a Courtney Love. Dave também teve de lidar com as inúmeras calúnias que ela inventou.

Quando decidiu criar o Foo fighters,  Dave que é hiperativo, fervilhando de idéias,  resolveu gravar o álbum antes mesmo de arrumar as pessoas para a banda . O primeiro CD do Foo foi gravado todo literalmente por ele, que tocou todos os instrumentos e gravou todos vocais.

Ao longo dessas mais de duas décadas, ganhou confiança no próprio talento, nas próprias composições e é considerado um dos melhores bateristas da história, gravou o nome do Foo como uma das maiores e melhores bandas de Rock, fez parcerias com seus ídolos como Paul McCartney.

É uma leitura que vale muito a pena não só para os fãs da banda e de Rock, mas para conhecer uma história muito interessante.

[Thiago · Rating 2 out of 5]

Em primeiro lugar como o próprio autor afirma não é uma biografia dos FF e sim de Dave Grohl.
Me incomodou em primeiro lugar como praticamente a primeira metade do livro é focado no período de Dave no Nirvana e como ele fica escanteado para segundo plano dando protagonismo a Kurt e Courtney Love. Entendo a relevância do Nirvana para a carreira de Grohl mas dar praticamente meio livro a esse período sendo que o foco era o Foo Fighters foi decepcionante.
Há também alguns erros na tradução e opiniões do autor desnecessárias para uma bio. Apesar desses pontos seria interessante uma edição atualizada contando os acontecimentos mais recentes sobretudo a morte de Taylor Hawkins e o renascimento dos Foos.

[Noah Larson · Rating 4 out of 5]

I liked the book Foo Fighters: Learning to Fly by Mick Wall, but the thing is, this isn't a book about Foo Fighters. It's about the founder of Foo Fighters (drummer for Scream and Nirvana too!) Dave Grohl. I don't necessarily have a problem with that, but I don't think the title is very fitting in this case. Wall does a great job getting the correct tone for the book. Dave Grohl is a rock star to the core, and the language of the book reflects that of...a rock star. But it makes it a more interesting and engaging read! The quotes given throughout the book are deep cuts as well. Wall clearly did his research on the book. Pat Smear interviews about Foo Fighters? That is gold. Interactions between Axl Rose and Kurt Cobain? Once in a blue moon. Overall, a 4/5 seems fitting for the book.

[Roxanne · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is a Goodreads win review. I really loved this book as I have gone to concerts since I was 14 years old. Now music pretty much lost me when the heavy metal bands I loved were getting replaced by Grunge or Garage Rock. That music was so dark and depressing, I never did learn to like it. Dave Grohl who started with Nirvana was a very different person than Kurt Cobain. Dave is a happy, lover, and bringer of light in the Foo Fighters. I have not been able to see them in person but I have seen them on many programs and they are so great. I have read other things by Mick Wall, my favorite is Gun's N" Roses: The Most Dangerous Band in the World. I am going to read all of his books now.

[Laura Hebbend · Rating 4 out of 5]

Mick Wall is an exceptional writer and covers many historic events throughout the Nirvana era then on to the foos. I read the Charles R Cross biography on Nirvana and thoroughly enjoyed that but this is more about Dave and his journey from start to end. I’d read a lot of pieces that happen in this book but it’s Micks way of tying it all together that kept me there to the end. I have to admit Mick has written better but also have to admit that despite this it’s a really compelling and addictive read.

[Tom Whalen · Rating 3 out of 5]

It was fine, nothing earth shattering. I was a big FF fan from 95-00, so it was good to get the truth behind the three band departures from that period. But I haven't cared about them since that third album really and didn't find much else in the book interesting. Thought his writing style was annoying most of the time; I don't need your fan-boy commentary throughout.

I loved the original lineup.

[James Doughty · Rating 3 out of 5]

If you're expecting a book on the Foo Fighters

This is not it. This is a biography of Dave Grohl. To his credit, Wall concedes this in the text, even though the admission does render the book's title a misnomer. Also there are several chapters on Nirvana, some of which are entirely about Kurt Cobain. Its almost like Wall proposed a book about Nirvana, got rejected, and then wrote one anyway but said it's about the Foo Fighters

[Neil Briscoe · Rating 4 out of 5]

One of the best musician biographies I have read as it tells a very detailed story without mentioning silly little things that don't matter. I have previous read a lot about Nirvana yet this book managed to surprise me with a few very important things about those days that weren't mentioned in Charles R. Cross's Kurt Cobain biography.

[Scott Butki · Rating 4 out of 5]

I have started doing music marathons, where I pick a band or artist and listen to all of its discography, using youtube and the library and, in this band's case, two books about them.

Both books were well done though it's always funny to see the author of one quoted in the other.

I learned a lot about Dave Grohl and the band reading this.

[Jay Gabler · Rating 2 out of 5]

A solid Foo 101. Not the most fascinating band, so the author didn't have a lot to work with. I reviewed Learning to Fly for The Current.

[Sandra Prosser · Rating 4 out of 5]

Definitely one for the fans.
Borrowed this off my husband, while he drove us to Perth (1500km round trip in Western Australia) for the Foo Fighters and Weezer concert while I read. Fair deal?! The book was excellent. As was the concert!

[Derik Hamby · Rating 5 out of 5]

I love Mick Walls books. If you love music and biographies each of his books give so much insight on the struggles and joys of rock. I have loved them all. This one is a bio of the FF but 100 plus pages is also a bio of Nirvana. I recommend highly!!!!

[Fernanda PazyPuente · Rating 5 out of 5]

A greatly written story of Dave Grohl and his journey from falling in love with music, Nirvana, the Foo Fighters and all things in between. A page turner and truly great book to read. Almodt wish it came with a playlist to go with it.

[Rhiannon Johnson · Rating 3 out of 5]

Half of this book is about Nirvana but I’m ok with that. It’s more a history of Dave Grohl.

[Patrick Moran · Rating 5 out of 5]

Keep in mind, this is not really a book about the Foos, but almost entirely a biography on Dave. However, it is a fantastic bio. I couldn’t put it down.

[Karen Whitney · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book starts with Dave's 1st band Nirvana and then in to how the Foo Fighters started. I highly recommend this book for any Foo Fighter or Nirvana fan.

[Mrs I M Walker · Rating 5 out of 5]

Loved it!

As a major fan of Dave's and the Foo's, it's been a brilliant read. Would definitely recommend to anyone who worships this guy as much as I do! 😁