Dain Bramage

Dave Grohl
Born	(1969-01-14) January 14, 1969 Warren, Ohio, U.S.
Occupation(s)	Musician, singer, songwriter, record producer, director
Years active	1986–present
Known for	Founder and lead vocalist of Foo Fighters; drummer for Nirvana; member of Them Crooked Vultures

David Eric Grohl (; born January 14, 1969) is an American artist and business figure in the music industry. He established the rock group Foo Fighters, where he acts as the lead vocalist, guitarist, chief songwriter, and the only permanent member. Between 1990 and 1994, he played drums for the seminal grunge band Nirvana.

At age 17, Grohl became the drummer for the punk rock ensemble Scream, taking over from Kent Stax. After Scream disbanded in 1990, he joined Nirvana as their drummer, contributing to their landmark album Nevermind (1991). Following the 1994 suicide of Kurt Cobain, Nirvana dissolved, prompting Grohl to initiate Foo Fighters initially as a solo endeavor. Upon releasing the debut album Foo Fighters in 1995, he assembled a full lineup to support touring and recording activities. Since then, Foo Fighters have produced 11 studio albums and secured a prominent position within the rock genre.

Grohl is also a founding member and drummer of the supergroup Them Crooked Vultures and has collaborated widely with acts like Queens of the Stone Age and Tenacious D. His additional projects include Late!, which released the album Pocketwatch, along with Probot. Expanding into visual media, Grohl began directing Foo Fighters' music videos in 1997 and later ventured into documentary filmmaking with works such as Sound City (2013), the series Sonic Highways (2014), and What Drives Us (2021). His memoir, The Storyteller: Tales of Life and Music, was published in 2021. In 2022, Grohl and Foo Fighters appeared in the comedy horror film Studio 666.

Acknowledged for his influence on rock music, Grohl was ranked as the 27th greatest drummer by Rolling Stone magazine in 2016. He has been inducted twice into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame, first with Nirvana in 2014 and later with Foo Fighters in 2021.

Early life

Born in Warren, Ohio, on January 14, 1969, Grohl is the son of Virginia Jean (née Hanlon), a teacher, and James Harper Grohl, a journalist. His heritage includes German and Slovak roots from his father's side and Irish and English ancestry from his mother’s lineage. His father worked as a journalist and served as a special assistant to U.S. Senator Robert Taft Jr., gaining recognition for precise election predictions. During his childhood, Grohl’s family relocated to Springfield, Virginia. After his parents divorced when he was seven years old, he was primarily raised by his mother. He began learning guitar at age 12 but quickly became self-taught, performing with friends in local bands. Grohl described his early musical preferences as "faster, louder, darker," contrasting with his sister’s taste for new wave music.

At age 13, Grohl spent a summer in Evanston, Illinois with his sister where their cousin Tracey introduced them to punk rock. His first live concert experience was seeing Naked Raygun at Chicago’s The Cubby Bear in 1982. While attending Thomas Jefferson High School in Virginia, he held the position of class vice president and played punk tracks over the school’s intercom system. Due to academic decline related to cannabis use, he transferred to Bishop Ireton High School in Alexandria for two years before moving again to Annandale High School. Throughout high school, he performed with local bands including Freak Baby and taught himself drumming; after a lineup change, this band was renamed Mission Impossible.

Grohl never received formal drum instruction but developed his skills by listening closely to bands like Rush and punk rock artists. Drummer Neil Peart of Rush was particularly influential; receiving Rush’s album 2112 at eight years old inspired him to pursue drumming. He later identified John Bonham as his foremost influence and has Bonham’s three-ring emblem tattooed on his right shoulder. After Mission Impossible transitioned to Fast before eventually dissolving, Grohl joined hardcore punk group Dain Bramage in December 1985. In March 1987, he abruptly left Dain Bramage to join Scream after producing their I Scream Not Coming Down LP. Many of Grohl’s formative influences stemmed from frequent visits during his teenage years to Washington D.C.’s renowned venue 9:30 Club—a place he credits with shaping his musical growth.

Scream (1986–1990)

During his teenage years in Washington, D.C., Grohl briefly contemplated joining Gwar, a shock rock ensemble searching for a drummer. At age 17, he auditioned for the local band Scream after their drummer's departure, misrepresenting his age to secure the role. Upon acceptance, Grohl left high school and embarked on extensive tours with the group. Over four years, he contributed to a live album and two studio releases, No More Censorship and Fumble, including writing the track "Gods Look Down". In 1987, he also performed as drummer for Iggy Pop during a show in Toronto. The band dissolved mid-tour in 1990 following the exit of their bassist.

Nirvana (1990–1994)

While part of Scream, Grohl developed a friendship with the Melvins; their guitarist Buzz Osborne introduced him to Nirvana’s Kurt Cobain and Krist Novoselic after witnessing Scream’s performance. After Scream disbanded, Grohl reached out to Osborne, who informed him that Nirvana was seeking a drummer and provided Cobain and Novoselic’s contact information. Grohl auditioned successfully and became Nirvana’s drummer.

At that time, Nirvana had demoed material intended for the follow-up to their 1989 album Bleach and recorded with producer Butch Vig. Although initially slated for release via Sub Pop, the demos attracted attention from major labels, resulting in a contract with DGC Records. Early in 1991, Nirvana recorded Nevermind at Sound City Studios, which achieved worldwide commercial success. Meanwhile, Grohl released solo work under the alias "Late!" through the indie label Simple Machines.

Grohl’s role as a songwriter expanded during his tenure with Nirvana. He co-wrote "Color Pictures of a Marigold" alongside Cobain, which was later issued as "Marigold" on the B-side of the "Heart-Shaped Box" single. Additionally, he contributed the riff for "Scentless Apprentice" featured on In Utero. Cobain welcomed greater creative input from both Grohl and Novoselic.

In early 1994 sessions at Robert Lang Studios, Grohl and Novoselic developed demos that included future Foo Fighters songs such as "Exhausted" and "Big Me". Shortly before Cobain’s death in April 1994, Nirvana recorded "You Know You're Right". On April 10, 2014, Grohl was inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame as part of Nirvana.

Initial post-Nirvana activity

Following Cobain’s passing, Grohl withdrew from public life for several months, relocating to County Kerry, Ireland. Reflecting in a 2022 interview, he shared his experience during this period:

In October 1994, Grohl produced a fifteen-track demo at Robert Lang Studios, performing nearly all instruments himself except for one guitar contribution by Greg Dulli of the Afghan Whigs.

Grohl briefly collaborated with Tom Petty and the Heartbreakers in November 1994, including an appearance on Saturday Night Live, but ultimately declined to join the band permanently. He also performed temporarily with Pearl Jam during their March 1995 tour in Australia amid speculation he might replace drummer Dave Abbruzzese, though they eventually selected former Red Hot Chili Peppers drummer Jack Irons. Instead, Grohl concentrated on advancing his solo career.

1994–1996

Following the strong response to his demo, Grohl secured a contract through Gary Gersh, who had previously served as Nirvana's A&R representative and was then heading Capitol Records. To distance the project from being seen as a solo act, Grohl enlisted former Germs and touring Nirvana guitarist Pat Smear, along with ex-Sunny Day Real Estate members William Goldsmith on drums and Nate Mendel on bass. Both Grohl and Novoselic agreed that Novoselic would not join to reduce pressure on Grohl. The demo underwent remixing by Rob Schnapf and Tom Rothrock before its release in July 1995 as the Foo Fighters' eponymous debut album. During a break in touring, the group recorded a rendition of Gary Numan's "Down in the Park". In February 1996, Grohl and his then-wife appeared briefly on an episode of The X-Files.

After more than a year of touring to support the debut, Grohl returned home to produce the soundtrack for the 1997 film Touch. He performed nearly all instruments and vocals himself, with additional input from Louise Post, Barrett Jones, and John Doe. This recording process took two weeks before Grohl resumed work on Foo Fighters’ sophomore album.

Early sessions for the follow-up album were marked by friction between Grohl and drummer Goldsmith, who felt overwhelmed by numerous takes. Reports indicated that Capitol and producer Gil Norton favored Grohl handling drum duties. Unhappy with initial mixes, Grohl independently recorded new material—including the hit "Everlong"—in Washington, D.C., then relocated the band—without informing Goldsmith—to Los Angeles to re-record much of the album with Grohl on drums. Subsequently, Goldsmith departed and was replaced by former Alanis Morissette drummer Taylor Hawkins. Grohl later expressed ambivalence about this lineup change.

Released in May 1997, The Colour and the Shape featured singles such as "Everlong," "My Hero," and "Monkey Wrench," firmly establishing Foo Fighters’ presence on rock radio stations.

In September of that year, Smear left the band to focus on personal life after extensive touring; he was succeeded by Grohl’s former Scream colleague Franz Stahl. Stahl exited prior to recording their third album and was replaced by touring guitarist Chris Shiflett, who officially joined during the One by One era.

1999–2005

As Foo Fighters’ popularity surged, Grohl maintained a rigorous touring schedule. During downtime, he split his time between Seattle and Los Angeles before settling back in Alexandria, Virginia, where he transformed his basement into a recording studio for the 1999 release There Is Nothing Left to Lose. This album was created following the band’s departure from Capitol Records and its president Gary Gersh. Grohl described the experience as "intoxicating," highlighting the complete artistic freedom that resulted in an unfiltered creative output.

In 2000, Foo Fighters teamed up with Queen guitarist Brian May to cover Pink Floyd’s "Have a Cigar," initially released as a B-side. This collaboration paved the way for Grohl and Taylor Hawkins to induct Queen into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 2001. They performed "Tie Your Mother Down" alongside May and Queen drummer Roger Taylor, with Grohl handling vocals. May later contributed guitar parts to Foo Fighters’ "Tired of You" as well as an unreleased track titled "Knucklehead."

Towards late 2001, Foo Fighters commenced work on their fourth studio album. After four months of recording sessions, Grohl joined Queens of the Stone Age to contribute to their 2002 album Songs for the Deaf, also appearing in the music video for "No One Knows". Following tours across North America, the UK, and Japan, Grohl returned to his Virginia studio to re-record Foo Fighters’ album, culminating in One by One.

On November 23, 2002, Grohl achieved a rare feat by succeeding himself at number one on the Billboard Modern Rock chart: Nirvana's "You Know You're Right" was supplanted by Foo Fighters’ "All My Life". Afterward, Queens of the Stone Age’s "No One Knows" claimed the top position. Between October 26, 2002, and March 1, 2003, Grohl dominated the Modern Rock charts for 17 out of 18 weeks across three different bands.

2005–2009

On June 14, 2005, Grohl and the Foo Fighters unveiled their fifth studio album, In Your Honor. Prior to recording, the band moved Grohl's Virginia-based studio to a new location, Studio 606, situated near Los Angeles. The album featured collaborations with artists such as John Paul Jones, Josh Homme, and Norah Jones, and was distinctive for its dual-disc format—one disc focusing on rock tracks and the other on acoustic songs—signaling a departure from their earlier work.

The sixth Foo Fighters album, Echoes, Silence, Patience & Grace, was released on September 25, 2007. The recording process spanned three months, with the lead single "The Pretender" launching ahead of the album on September 17. Additional singles from this release included "Long Road to Ruin" and "Let It Die".

On November 3, 2009, the band issued their inaugural Greatest Hits compilation featuring sixteen tracks. This collection included an unreleased acoustic version of "Everlong" alongside two new songs produced by Butch Vig. Despite the release, Grohl expressed that it felt somewhat premature, believing the band had yet to reach their peak in producing standout hits.

2010–2014

Foo Fighters' seventh album, Wasting Light, debuted on April 12, 2011, marking their first album to reach number one in the U.S. charts. Although speculation about a hiatus surfaced, Grohl confirmed by January 2013 that writing for their next album had been completed.

Members of Foo Fighters occasionally perform under the cover band alias "Chevy Metal," including appearances such as at the May 2015 "Conejo Valley Days" festival in California.

Their eighth studio effort, Sonic Highways, was released on November 10, 2014, peaking at number two on U.S. charts. Each of its eight tracks drew inspiration from the musical heritage and culture of different American cities, a concept thoroughly researched by Grohl.

2015–present

During a concert in Gothenburg, Sweden on June 12, 2015, Grohl suffered a fall from the stage resulting in a broken leg. After briefly leaving the venue, he returned wearing a cast to complete the performance. Subsequently, Foo Fighters canceled their remaining European tour dates. To proceed with their upcoming North American tour despite his injury, Grohl engineered an "elevated throne" that allowed him to perform seated on stage. This throne made its debut at a July 4 concert in Washington, D.C., where video screens displayed footage of his fall alongside X-ray images of his leg. The band rebranded this leg-of-the-tour as the Broken Leg Tour and introduced related merchandise. In both 2016 and 2021, Grohl lent this throne to other musicians recovering from injuries, including Axl Rose and Darin Wall.

On July 31, 2015, Grohl publicly acknowledged Fabio Zaffagnini, Marco Sabiu, and the thousand participants involved in Italy’s "Rockin' 1000" project based in Cesena for their collective rendition of Foo Fighters' "Learn to Fly". He pledged that the band would visit them in the future. True to his word, Foo Fighters performed in Cesena on November 3 and invited several members of "Rockin' 1000" to join them on stage.

Their ninth studio album, Concrete and Gold, was released on September 15, 2017, becoming their second album to debut at number one on the Billboard 200. Following the Concrete and Gold Tour, Grohl announced that the band would take a break. The tenth album titled Medicine at Midnight arrived on February 5, 2021 after delays caused by the COVID-19 pandemic and debuted at number three on the Billboard 200 chart. Unfortunately, the Medicine at Midnight tour was canceled following drummer Taylor Hawkins' death in March 2022.

The band’s eleventh studio release, But Here We Are, came out on June 2, 2023. This album serves as a tribute to both Hawkins and Grohl's mother Virginia, who passed away during 2022.

Musical projects and contributions

Beyond his primary bands, Grohl often participates in diverse musical endeavors. In 1992, he played drums on Buzz Osborne's Kiss-inspired solo EP King Buzzo, using the alias "Dale Nixon," a name previously adopted by Greg Ginn. Additionally, he issued the cassette Pocketwatch under the moniker Late! through the independent label Simple Machines.

In 1993, Grohl took part in recreating early Beatles songs for the film Backbeat, performing drums with the Backbeat Band—a supergroup featuring Greg Dulli, Don Fleming, Mike Mills, Thurston Moore, and Dave Pirner. The following year, he contributed drum tracks to two songs on Mike Watt's album Ball-Hog or Tugboat? and toured alongside Watt and Foo Fighters in early 1995.

Grohl appeared with David Bowie at Bowie's 50th birthday celebration in 1997. Entering the early 2000s, he launched Probot, a heavy metal project spotlighting notable vocalists from the 1980s metal scene; their album debuted in 2004.

In 2003, despite previous plagiarism controversies involving Nirvana, Grohl played drums on Killing Joke's self-titled album. Foo Fighters later covered Killing Joke's "Requiem," and Grohl performed live with their frontman Jaz Coleman in New Zealand. That same year, he joined a supergroup tribute honoring Joe Strummer at the Grammy Awards.

Throughout the early 2000s, Grohl contributed both drums and vocals to Tony Iommi's Iommi (2000), appeared on Tenacious D’s first album (2001), and featured in their music videos and films. He collaborated with Chan Marshall (Cat Power) on You Are Free (2002) and worked with Queens of the Stone Age on Songs for the Deaf, touring with them and causing a delay to Foo Fighters' One by One. His drumming is present on six tracks of Nine Inch Nails' With Teeth (2005) and later on their EP Not the Actual Events (2016). Grohl also provided drums for Garbage's Bleed Like Me (2005), Juliette and the Licks' Four on the Floor (2006), and Pete Yorn's Nightcrawler (2006). Furthermore, he lent guitar work to a Neil Young cover on David Bowie's 2002 album Heathen.

In June 2008, Grohl joined Paul McCartney at Liverpool’s Anfield stadium during European Capital of Culture festivities, playing both guitar and drums. He also shared stages with McCartney at the Grammy Awards and Kennedy Center Honors, including a duet performance with Norah Jones.

Grohl contributed drumming to The Prodigy's 2009 release Invaders Must Die. That year, he co-founded the supergroup Them Crooked Vultures alongside Josh Homme and John Paul Jones; their debut album was launched in November 2009 following shows in Chicago and London.

In October 2010, Grohl served as drummer for Tenacious D at BlizzCon and returned in 2011 performing with Foo Fighters. He co-wrote and played drums on Slash’s self-titled record (2010). During a 2011 tour, he temporarily filled in as drummer for Cage the Elephant.

Grohl directed the documentary film Sound City (2013), focusing on the renowned Van Nuys recording studio where Nirvana's Nevermind was produced before its closure in 2011.

After Joey Castillo left Queens of the Stone Age, Grohl recorded drum parts for their 2013 album ...Like Clockwork. At the 12-12-12 Sandy Relief concert, he reunited with surviving Nirvana members and Paul McCartney to perform "Cut Me Some Slack," marking their first joint appearance in eighteen years.

In 2013, Grohl delivered a keynote address at South by Southwest emphasizing musical individuality. Later that year, he played drums for Zac Brown Band at the Country Music Association Awards and produced their EP titled The Grohl Sessions, Vol. 1.

He collaborated with indie hip-hop group RDGLDGRN on their EP by providing drums for most tracks while simultaneously filming Sound City. Grohl also produced Swedish metal band Ghost’s EP If You Have Ghost, contributing guitar and drums; he has performed live with them donning their signature costumes.

In 2015, Grohl played drums on Hollywood Vampires’ covers album led by Alice Cooper. On August 10, 2018, he released his solo EP titled Play, accompanied by a short documentary. That same year, he invited ten-year-old Collier Cash Rule onstage during a Foo Fighters show to perform Metallica songs together.

Between August and November 2020, Grohl engaged in an online drum battle with ten-year-old Nandi Bushell that amassed tens of millions of views; he later invited her to join Foo Fighters live in August 2021.

During Hanukkah seasons from 2020 through 2022, Grohl partnered with Greg Kurstin to release nightly covers of songs by Jewish artists under the name The Hanukkah Sessions.

On October 5, 2021, Grohl published his memoir titled The Storyteller: Tales of Life and Music. Concurrently, he developed a thrash metal album for the fictional band Dream Widow linked to the horror-comedy film Studio 666, releasing an eight-track digital EP in March 2022 featuring collaborators Rami Jaffee, Jim Rota, and Oliver Roman.

On June 25, 2022, Grohl performed a duet with Paul McCartney at Glastonbury Festival—his first appearance since Taylor Hawkins’ passing earlier that year.

Television

Since 1992, Grohl has made 15 appearances as a musical guest on Saturday Night Live, a record number for any musician. His performances have included collaborations with Nirvana, Foo Fighters, Them Crooked Vultures, Mick Jagger, and Tom Petty and the Heartbreakers.

Beyond musical performances, Grohl has participated in multiple SNL comedic sketches. On October 13, 2007, he featured in the SNL Digital Short titled "People Getting Punched Just Before Eating." On February 6, 2010, he portrayed a middle-aged punk drummer reuniting the fictional band "Crisis of Conformity," fronted by Fred Armisen, after a 25-year hiatus. Later, on April 9, 2011, he appeared in the SNL Digital Short "Helen Mirren's Magical Bosom" as well as the sketch "Bongo's Clown Room."

In mid-2010, Grohl lent his voice to the character of Syrian dictator Abdule Malik in the season three finale of Cartoon Network's heavy metal parody series Metalocalypse.

Grohl served as guest host on Chelsea Lately for a week in February 2013, welcoming guests such as Elton John, who disclosed plans to collaborate with Grohl on an upcoming Queens of the Stone Age record. He had previously taken on hosting duties during December 2012's "Celebrity Guest Host Week."

On May 20, 2015, Grohl and the Foo Fighters were chosen by David Letterman to perform "Everlong" as the final musical act on the concluding episode of Late Show with David Letterman. Later that year, on December 1, Grohl appeared on The Muppets, engaging in a drum battle with Animal.

In February 2019, Grohl took part in the 50th anniversary season of Sesame Street. It was announced on January 28 that the inaugural authorized documentary about Dave Grohl would be released through The Coda Collection. Additionally, on October 8, he was featured as a guest storyteller on CBeebies Bedtime Story, narrating a tale inspired by the Beatles' song "Octopus's Garden".

Filmmaking

Grohl has directed numerous Foo Fighters music videos including "Monkey Wrench" (1997), "My Hero" (1998), "All My Life" (2002), "White Limo" (2011), and "Rope" (2011), along with all videos from the Sonic Highways and Concrete and Gold albums. He also directed Soundgarden’s video for "By Crooked Steps" in 2014.

In 2013, Grohl made his feature-length directorial debut with Sound City, a documentary highlighting the history of Sound City Studios located in Van Nuys. This film premiered at the Sundance Film Festival that same year.

To complement the release of Sonic Highways, Grohl directed an eight-episode HBO documentary series that detailed the album’s production across eight different American cities. The series debuted on October 17, 2014.

In 2021, he directed What Drives Us, a full-length documentary focusing on van touring culture, which was released on Amazon Prime on April 30.

Cal Jam

Drawing inspiration from California Jam, Cal Jam 17 was organized by Grohl and Foo Fighters to mark their ninth studio album Concrete and Gold and to kick off their North American tour. The event took place from October 6–7, 2017 at Glen Helen Amphitheater and attracted an audience of 27,800 attendees along with 3,100 campers.

Cal Jam 18 followed on October 5–6, 2018 in San Bernardino, California. The festival featured performances by Foo Fighters and included a highly publicized Nirvana reunion.

Musicianship and Equipment

Grohl is a self-taught artist who relies on playing by ear, as he does not read musical notation. His Drum Workshop setup features five tom-toms ranging from 5x8 to 16x18 inches, accompanied by a 19-inch crash cymbal, two 20-inch crash cymbals, an 18-inch China cymbal, and a 24-inch ride cymbal, along with the standard snare, kick drum, and hi-hat components.

For recording purposes, his preferred guitar is a cherry red Gibson Trini Lopez Standard from the early 1990s, notable for its distinctive headstock and diamond-shaped sound holes. During the initial Foo Fighters tours, Gibson Les Paul guitars were commonly used, which were later replaced by black Gibson Explorers on tours supporting The Colour and the Shape, There is Nothing Left to Lose, and One by One.

Since 2017, Grohl’s signature Pelham Blue Gibson DG-335 has been his main guitar on stage. This model was developed by Gibson drawing inspiration from the Trini Lopez design but features unique colors, a stop tailpiece, and PAF-style "Burstbucker" pickups. In Foo Fighters’ 2023 comeback, he introduced a white DG-335 that complements the album But Here We Are. His principal acoustic instrument is a black Gibson Dove model associated with Elvis Presley.

Advocacy, Philanthropy and Views

In May 2006, Grohl expressed solidarity with miners trapped during the Beaconsfield mine collapse in Tasmania by providing them with the Foo Fighters’ album In Your Honor. One of these miners later shared a drink with Grohl following an acoustic show at the Sydney Opera House. Grohl also wrote "Ballad of the Beaconsfield Miners," an instrumental track included on the 2007 album Echoes, Silence, Patience & Grace, featuring guitarist Kaki King.

Grohl has been a vocal advocate for same-sex marriage, often seen wearing a White Knot ribbon as a symbol of equality. His support for LGBTQ+ rights dates back to Nirvana’s early 1990s efforts opposing Oregon Ballot Measure 9. He actively opposed the Westboro Baptist Church’s anti-gay demonstrations in both 2011 and 2015 through performances and creative acts like Rickrolling.

Although raised in an environment familiar with firearms, Grohl champions gun control initiatives. He has abstained from substances such as cocaine, heroin, speed, and cannabis since age 20. In 2009, he participated in a BBC anti-drug campaign video. A noted coffee enthusiast, Grohl consumes approximately six cups daily but experienced hospitalization that year due to caffeine overdose.

Politically, Grohl endorsed Barack Obama’s re-election bid in 2012 and performed "My Hero" at the Democratic National Convention. The Foo Fighters supported Joe Biden’s presidential campaign in 2020 and performed at his inauguration concert in 2021. Conversely, Grohl openly criticized Donald Trump in 2018 as "a massive jerk." When Trump used "My Hero" without authorization during a 2024 rally, the band committed to donating any resulting royalties to Kamala Harris’ presidential campaign.

Personal Life

Grohl married photographer Jennifer Leigh Youngblood from Grosse Pointe, Michigan in 1994. Their marriage ended following separation in December 1996 and divorce in 1997; Grohl acknowledged his role in infidelity. After this divorce, he briefly dated snowboarder Tina Basich, who ended their relationship due to his unfaithfulness. Between 1999 and 2001, Grohl was involved with former Hole bassist Melissa Auf der Maur. In 2003, he wed Jordyn Blum after meeting her at the Sunset Marquis Whiskey Bar in West Hollywood, California. The couple resides in Los Angeles and has three daughters born in 2006, 2009, and 2014. In September 2024, Grohl publicly revealed fathering a daughter outside his marriage and asked for forgiveness; by March 2025, Blum reportedly expressed willingness to work toward reconciliation.

In a June 2011 interview, Grohl disclosed progressive hearing loss in his left ear attributed to years of performing live. On The Howard Stern Show in February 2022, he discussed his struggles with hearing impairment and tinnitus that have necessitated lip reading for around two decades—a difficulty exacerbated by face masks during the COVID-19 pandemic. Despite these challenges, he chooses not to use in-ear monitors on stage as he feels they disconnect him from the natural ambient sound.

According to Stereogum estimates from 2012, Grohl ranked as the third wealthiest drummer after Ringo Starr and Phil Collins, with an estimated net worth of $260 million. Between 1993 and 1997, he owned property in Shoreline, Washington. In 2015, he sold his beachfront residence in Oxnard, California for $2.9 million.

Honors

In August 2009, Grohl was awarded the key to the city of Warren, Ohio, his hometown, where he delivered performances of "Everlong," "Times Like These," and "My Hero." A street in downtown Warren, named "David Grohl Alley," is adorned with murals celebrating his legacy.

In 2012, the city of Warren introduced giant drumsticks recognized by the Guinness Book of World Records as the largest worldwide, showcased during a concert at the Warren Amphitheater. Grohl's inaugural solo cover feature in Rolling Stone magazine was published on December 4, 2014. By 2016, he was ranked 27th on Rolling Stone's list of the greatest drummers ever. In 2024, he was honored with the George and Ira Gershwin Award.

Film

Year	Film	Role	Notes
1992	1991: The Year Punk Broke	Himself	Documentary
2000	Is It Fall Yet?	Daniel Dotson	Voice role only
2005	Classic Albums: Nirvana – Nevermind	Himself	Documentary
2006	Tenacious D in The Pick of Destiny	Satan	Performed drums, guitar, and vocals
2007	Runnin' Down a Dream	Himself	Documentary
2010	Lemmy	Himself	Rockumentary
2011	The Muppets	Animool	Cameo appearance
2011	Foo Fighters: Back and Forth	Himself	Rockumentary
2012	See a Little Light: A Celebration of the Music and Legacy of Bob Mould		Performed guitar, vocals, and drums
2012	Bad Brains: A Band in DC		Documentary
2013	Sound City	Director
2013	The Death and Resurrection Show	Himself
2013	Filmage: The Story of Descendents/All
2014	Salad Days
2014	'Rye Coalition: The Story of the Hard Luck 5'
2015	'Kurt Cobain: Montage of Heck'	'Himself (Archival Footage)'
2015	All Things Must Pass: The Rise and Fall of Tower Records	Himself
2016	Desert Age: A Rock and Roll Scene History
2016	The Smart Studios Story
2018	Industrial Accident: The Story of Wax Trax! Records
2020	Bill & Ted Face the Music		Cameo appearance
2021	I'm in the Band		Documentary
2021	What Drives Us	Director
2022	Studio 666	Himself	Horror film; also credited for story

Television

Year	Series	Role	Notes
1996	'The X-Files'	'Man walking down hallway'	'Uncredited cameo; Episode: "Pusher"'
1996	Space Ghost Coast to Coast	Himself	Episode: "Late Show"
2004	Viva La Bam		Episode: "Drive-Way Skate Park"
2005	Classic Albums		Episode: "Nirvana: Nevermind"
2006	The West Wing		Episode: "Election Day Part II"
2008	Top Chef: New York		Episode: "A Foo Fighters Thanksgiving"
2010	Metalocalypse	Abdule Malik	Voice role; Episode: "Doublebookedklok"
2013	Behind the Music: Remastered	Himself	Episode: "Motörhead"
2013–16	Drunk History	\Memphis Mafia Member / American Congressman\	2 episodes
2013	The High Fructose Adventures of Annoying Orange	Himself	Episode: "Meet Banana Monocle"
2013	Chelsea Lately		Guest host
2014	’’"Sonic Highways"’’		8 episodes
2014	’’Off Camera’’
2015	’’The Muppets’’		Episode: "Going, Going, Gonzo"
2017	’’Jimmy Kimmel Live!’’		Guest host
2019	’‘Sesame Street’’		Provided vocals and guitar
2021	’‘"CBeebies Bedtime Story"’’		Performed vocals and guitar
2021	’‘From Cradle to Stage’’	Host; featured in six episodes
2021	Biography: KISStory	Himself; appeared in two episodes
2022	’‘Hot Ones’’	Himself; Webisode titled "Dave Grohl Makes a New Friend While Eating Spicy Wings"

External links

• (Foo Fighters)
• Dave Grohl's Equipment Overview
• Comprehensive Dave Grohl Band Discography
• Concert Review at ArtistDirect.com