FOR THE RECORD - Foo Fighters 'Foo Fighters' (1995)

“A formidable band lurks in the shadows…” – Rolling Stone, 1995.

What an apt prediction from Rolling Stone upon first hearing Foo Fighters’ self titled debut back in 1995. Eighteen years and nine albums on and they are one of the biggest bands in history and Dave Grohl continues to carry the title of ‘the nicest man in rock’ and deservedly so. However, when the casual fan lists their favourite Foo Fighters albums, this first, single-handed, creation of Grohl’s tends to get overlooked.

Admittedly, ‘The Colour And The Shape’ will always, predictably, be my favourite Foo Fighters album. But that’s not to say its predecessor was not a monumental, pivotal work of art; a phenomenally enjoyable listen, without which there would be no Foo Fighters as we know them today and that would be tragic, to say the least. Although I was a mere nine years of age when Dave Grohl released ‘Foo Fighters’, it has been a loyal companion to me over the years. It will always be there for me, to switch on and blast out of my dated speakers like a breath of fresh air. Unlike ‘The Colour And The Shape’ which bears the burden of a very personal, emotional attachment, I can listen to ‘Foo Fighters’ anytime, anywhere, and feel instantly refreshed. As it was for Dave Grohl writing it, listening to it – eighteen years on – is a cathartic experience that uplifts and energises.

When Kurt Cobain died in 1994, the world lost one of its most iconic rock stars, and Dave Grohl lost not only his band mate, but his best friend. However, that wasn’t going to stop him making music. Far from it. Not only did he decide to create his own musical project, but he went the extra mile, shocking any critics, by making the move from drums to lead guitar and vocals. Not simply a ‘Grunge Ringo’ after all… It’s true, the list of great drummers turned monumental singer/songwriters is somewhat short (even if you do decide to include Phil Collins). Going solo so soon after the tragic demise of his former band, therefore, was a brave move for Grohl, leaving himself open to incessant questioning and criticism – he was indeed ‘Alone And An Easy Target’. Yet his creation remains a modestly remarkable triumph.

Singing and playing virtually every note on the album, bar one song (‘X-Static’ in which Greg Dulli of Afghan Wings features on guitar), ‘Foo Fighters’ is basically the work of a one man band with other band members only added later, for live shows. Contrary to assumption, it wasn’t the result of a sudden burst of writing from Grohl, but rather a culmination of songs he had been squirreling away at from as far back as 1987. And with lyrics such as ‘Crazy TV dreams might be true/Not what it seems…’ it is tempting for one to try to link what has been written to the life and times of Nirvana.

It would be fair to say that Dave Grohl’s previous exploits and influences clearly do shine through on this album: the more angsty, punk-rock driven tracks resembling early Nirvana, whilst the frazzled aggression and spark-fused guitars on the likes of ‘Good Grief’ take one back to the days of Cheap Trick and the ‘80s hardcore scene that Grohl was so actively involved in. However, ‘Foo Fighters’ is much more than merely an accumulative display of Grohl’s past, it is a musical delight, immaculately crafted, filled with carefully constructed melodies and expansive harmonies (‘Exhausted’) juxtaposed with raucous rock, grinding guitars and driving drums. It is undoubtedly a standalone masterpiece, showcasing the never-heard-before talent of someone who had previously be known merely as the drummer in Kurt Cobain’s band.

With graceful, raw emotion, as well as a touch of romanticism – ‘It’s you I fell into…” (‘Big Me’) – sitting alongside flirty, bluesy refrains such as those found in (my personal favourite) ‘For All The Cows’, interwoven between thrashing, aggressive riffs and pounding punk-infused blasts of sound (‘This Is A Call’, ‘Weenie Beenie’), Dave Grohl’s solo debut is a perfectly timeless, musical mish-mash.

As Grohl repeatedly screams ‘I don’t owe you anything…’ (‘I’ll Stick Around’), I can’t help but feel like I do indeed owe him a great deal. He has created the soundtrack to my life, his music has held my hand through the tough times as well as accompanied me through the good; he has been responsible for a dozen magnificent and memorable concerts I have been lucky enough to attend, and a whole lot of my most happy memories. My first festival experience, for instance, at V Festival back in 2001 when – as a result of passing out during a lively rendition of ‘For All The Cows’ – I was able to be in extremely close proximity to the man himself as I was carried over the barriers and I maintain to this day that our eyes met, and that I was the reason why ‘the nicest man in rock’ then announced that ‘the band will be toning it down now as people are getting hurt out there…’

And it’s all thanks to this, often overlooked, album; for which I am eternally grateful. Without ‘Foo Fighters’, Dave Grohl may never have had the confidence or inspiration to create this formidable band as we know them today and the world really would be missing out on some of its best rock music.