Foo Fighters

American rock band Foo Fighters was the brainchild of front man David Grohl. Beginning in 1995, they have released an impressive list of chart topping hits, massively successful albums, and they were even honored on VH1’s 100 Greatest Artists of Hard Rock, holding strong at number 72.

Before there was Foo Fighters, however, there was the seminal grunge band Nirvana. The members were Krist Novoselic, Kurt Cobain, and most important for the Foo Fighters, Dave Grohl on the drums. While Grohl found massive success with Nirvana, he was secretly recording songs he wrote but knew were wrong for Nirvana’s sound.

By 1992, he had enough recorded material to release the demo tape Pocketwatch under the false band name Late! With the tragic death of Cobain in 1994, Grohl was left to deal with the emotional and professional fallout.

He decided to throw his efforts into the studio with the help of longtime friend Barrett Jones. Taking the load on his shoulders, Grohl performed almost every part on every track from vocals to drums to guitar. After considerable mixing and backing by Capitol Records, the result was the Foo Fighter’s debut album. The unusual band name was derived from the World War II term for UFOs.

Acknowledging he couldn’t handle every position in the band, Grohl began formulating a band. The final lineup ended up being Nate Mendel, formerly of Sunny Day Real Estate, William Goldsmith at the drums, and Pat Smear who had worked on and off with Nirvana.

In the spring of 1995, Foo Fighters made their touring debut. With the singles “This Is a Call” and “Big Me,” the band was well on its way to widespread radio play as well as commercial visibility. Just two years later, tensions caused Goldsmith to leave the band and Grohl was forced to take over drums for their second album The Colour and the Shape. With more band shakeups, Taylor Hawkins was added at drums, while Smear was replaced by Franz Stahl. Additional tensions led to Stahl’s replacement by Chris Shiflett.

Their subsequent move to RCA was a success as was their next album, There Is Nothing Left to Lose. They received additional exposure by appearing on the Late Show with David Letterman where Letterman proclaimed them his favorite band. They performed their smash hit single “Everlong.”

After a complete retooling of the tracks, Foo Fighters released One by One in 2001. Their next album, however, didn’t hit the shelves until 2005. In Your Honor took four year seeing as it was their first double-disc. The following year saw the release of their first live album, Skin and Bones. Echoes, Silence, Patience & Grace followed in September 2007, featuring a departure from the typical Foo sound.

The band has plans for an ambitious tour in 2008.

Foo Fighters has won a lot of critical acclaim culminating in the Grammy Award for Best Rock Album with There Is Nothing Left to Lose as well as One by One.

Their songs can be heard on numerous soundtracks of both television and film, most notably Orange County with Jack Black and Colin Hanks as well as the horror thriller Identity with John Cusack, Ray Liotta, Amanda Peet, Alfred Molina, Clea DuVall, and Jake Busey.