Fuelled by some of the dirtiest rock riffs to date, and backed by five superbly talented blokes that know how to shake your world, the Foo Fighters stand as one of the most legendary rock post-grunge bands of all time. They really were born to do it – and if they haven’t changed enough lives already in the past 20 years, then their recent Sonic Highways tour has surely topped it off.
For every fan that rocked out to their show in Perth last weekend, and all those Foo’s lovers that have been influenced by their distinct sound – it’s pretty safe to say that the Foo Fighters are one of the coolest bands of all time. As a whole, their attitude and approach to music is driven by a passion that’s seen (and felt) much less in today’s music scene – and they don’t seem to be slowing down in the near future either.
With all the hype surrounding the Foo’s tour, and the endless reviews circulating of just how incredible they are to see live, here’s six reasons why I believe Foo Fighters really have made history as one of the greatest rock bands of all time.
1. They Prove Rock is Not Actually Dead
Since the 80’s, there have been a lot of claims that rock n’ roll is dead. Being an 87’ baby myself I know that this is simply just a matter of opinion, but I can comfortably say that I truly believe I was born in the wrong generation! For me, a lot of the greatest rock bands were truly exceptional around the 60’s. Real rock – I’m talking The Doors, The Beatles, The Rolling Stones, Led Zeppelin, Jimi Hendrix, Pink Floyd, The Kinks and oh… the list goes on – is dead.
There’s been a huge influx of freakin’ amazing bands since then, mind you. But if you compare the music of the 60’s-80’s, to what’s around now, there’s a lot of elements in the music and the passion behind it that just feels missing. One of the greatest things I love about the Foo Fighters is they prove that rock isn’t actually dead. They are one of just a handful of bands that truly do this in today’s music scene.
With 20 years’ worth of great albums and songs under their belt, they are still going strong with a huge following that includes many of their original fans too. Lead singer and guitarist, Dave Grohl, lives and breathes rock and post-grunge music. He’s always been on a mission to keep the band’s classic sound, whilst still experimenting with new things – and as long as he’s around – real rock may just keep going.
2. They Experiment With Other Sounds, and Nail it too!
The Foo’s latest album, Sonic Highways proves they’re not afraid to experiment with new sounds. They definitely aren’t your run of the mill band that sit back with their music and play things safe. But Grohl is still true to the Foo Fighters sound, constantly maintaining it and refining it to continuously generate great music – and this is evident in every single album the band has released.
Sonic Highways is unquestionably their most exploratory album to date. Whilst it’s consistent with the depth and power of Grohl’s voice and the characteristic element of the band’s classic rock n’ roll sound, it’s weaved into a new direction that’s bold enough to explore a different avenue. And the best part of it? They still sound and feel like the Foo Fighters we know and love – just with a slight twist that’s been welcomed with open arms by both old and new fans.
3. They’re a Multi-Award Winning Band
Adding to the record of the greatest classic rock bands of all time, Foo Fighters have a long list of awards that sit comfortably against their name. From The Best Rock Album (GRAMMY award) four times, to the Best Rock Performance, the Best Hard Rock / Metal Performance, right through to multiple Best Rock Song awards, these guys certainly know what they’re doing – and most of the general public strongly agrees!
Foo Fighters haven’t just dominated the GRAMMY awards though; they’ve also been awarded nominations and winner in the American Music Awards, the Billboard Music Awards, the Brit Awards, Kerrang! Awards, MTV Awards, NME Awards and so many more.
4. Dave Grohl is a Musical Inspiration
Lyrically, musically and vocally, Dave Grohl is the Swiss army knife of rock. Legendary for his extraordinary drumming skills in grunge band Nirvana and the depth and rawness of his voice and guitar playing in Them Crooked Vultures and Foo Fighters, Grohl has influenced millions.
And it’s not all just fans either. Grohl has worked along side and collaborated with the likes of Queens of the Stone Age and Tenacious D, just to name a few. His character as a musician, passion for authentic rock music and dedication to what he does is a musical inspiration to pretty much everyone.
Regardless of whether you’ve seen Grohl perform live, watched YouTube videos, interviews and documentaries, or simply read about him in the media hype – his stand up comedian material, charming personality and rock n’ roll attitude is well respected, loved and renowned. Let’s face it; he’s just pretty damn awesome!
