Rock ‘n’ Roll legend and Hollywood star Dave Grohl is 53 years old today.
The musician, who was born on January 14 1969, rose to fame as the drummer in Nirvana and is known throughout the world as the frontman for The Foo Fighters.
He has also recently reflected on his epic musical career, as well as everything in between, in his book Dave Grohl: The Storyteller.
Talking to BBC News, the rock star revealed that he still cannot believe the life he has led, saying: “I can’t believe this has happened to me – whether it’s getting to jam with one of my all-time heroes, or just being able to jump on a plane, have a drink and fly to the next town to play to thousands of people.
“Every day I have these moments where I think ‘Oh, this is what I’m going to see just before I die.”
To celebrate Dave Grohl’s birthday, Daily Star takes a look at his life – from an unexpected encounter that led to romance, to a fall onstage and being challenged to a drum off by a 10 year old.
A life on the road
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Dave Grohl was already a huge rock star before Foo Fighters as many music fans know, having rose to fame as the drummer in Nirvana.
Before Nirvana however, he also played in punk band Scream and in 1994, recorded a number of songs with a band that featured his elder sister Lisa on bass.
Having been inducted into the Rock ‘n’ Roll Hall of Fame twice, first with Nirvana and then with The Foo Fighters, Dave Grohl has become one of music’s most legendary artists.
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He has also played with bands including Queens of The Stone Age and appeared in music videos for Jack Black’s band Tenacious D, as well as forming the super group Them Crooked Vultures.
It is no surprise then that Dave Grohl has amassed a huge estimated net worth of $320 million (£232 million) over his career.
Dave has also admitted that he has not fallen into the stereotype of drugs and rock ‘n’ roll, and that he has been kept grounded by his family and band.
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He told The Guardian: “I stopped doing drugs years ago. But I’ve watched a lot of my friends continue down that path. Watched them get f****d over by it.”
However, the years of playing live onstage have led to Dave Grohl suffering tinnitus, with the star saying to BBC news: “Oh my god, for the last 30 years. When I turn off the lights at night it’s like, “Eeeeeeeeeeee”.
He also revealed in a separate interview with The Guardian that he is deaf in his left ear.
Tragic loss
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In 1994, the music world was shocked when Nirvana frontman Kurt Cobain took his own life.
While promoting his 2021 memoir, Dave Grohl has since spoken about Kurt’s death and how it affected him, telling People Magazine: “It used to be that years ago that I would hear a Nirvana song on the radio and turn the channel.
“I don’t do that anymore. I’ll go driving with my kids in the car and they’ll put on Nirvana….We don’t really sit around the house, talking about Nirvana all day long, but every once in a while, they’ll ask me questions and I’ll explain that life to them.”
The musician also revealed that he thinks about Kurt Cobain everyday, adding: “I just had a dream about him two nights ago.
“I only knew Kurt for about three and a half years, but in that time we went through multiple lifetimes. Kurt’s songs touched the world.”
Onstage fall
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In 2015, Dave Grohl suffered a broken leg after he fell off stage during a Foo Fighters concert in Sweden, in front of a crowd of 60,000 fans.
Talking to Entertainment Weekly, the musician said: “When it happened, I didn’t feel a thing. I tried to get up and walk and my ankle collapsed under my weight.
“I just fell back to the ground and looked up at my road crew and said ‘It’s broken. It’s gone.”
He then told his band: “I’m going to go to hospital. I’m going to fix my leg. And then I’m going to come back.”
Despite having suffered the injury, Dave continued to delight fans and perform on tour while sitting in a gold throne.
(Image: Getty Images North America)
He later loaned the gold throne to Guns ‘n’ Roses frontman Axl Rose, who injured his foot during the band’s 2016 Not In This Lifetime tour.
Speaking about the now legendary throne, Dave told Classic Rock magazine: “Axl took it out with Guns ‘n’ Roses, then he took it out with AC/DC, and then all of a sudden I became the guy you come to if you break a limb on tour, like Thrones are Us.”
The musician also added that Axl Rose bought him a guitar as a thank you for lending him the throne.
World record breaker
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In 2012, Dave Grohl’s hometown of Warren, Ohio honoured him with a huge 902lb (64 stone) statue of a pair of drumsticks.
They then found a permanent home in ‘Dave Grohl Alley’, which was named after the rockstar in 2009.
The statue was so big, that they even broke a Guinness World Record for the biggest pair of drumsticks ever.
(Image: Getty Images for The Rock and Roll Hall of Fame)
After being honoured with the statue, Dave Grohl thanked his hometown in a tweet, saying: “To the wonderful city of Warren, from the bottom of my heart I’d like to thank you all so much.
“For the childhood memories. For my family. For my very own alley. For the world’s largest drumsticks! And for all of your support.
“But most of all for being such a great community. One that makes me proud to say I am from Warren, Ohio!”
The ‘nicest man in rock’
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Dave Grohl has a reputation for being ‘the nicest man in rock’, but as to be expected, he is very humble about it, telling BBC News: “I’m just being polite, come on!”
He added: “It doesn’t matter if it’s Rihanna or Sting – I’ll walk backstage at a festival and go banging on doors with a bottle of whiskey in my hand, just so I can say hello to everyone.”
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This friendly personality and kindness even extends to his personal life, with numerous reports of generous tips left by the rock star after he has dined out.
In 2012, The Philadelphia Enquirer reported that Dave Grohl left a $1000 (£728) tip for bar staff at the Smith and Wollensky Bar at Rittenhouse Hotel, not just once, but two nights in a row.
If that wasn’t enough, Kerrang Magazine also reported that he rounded up a $333 (£242) bar bill at The Rainbow Bar and Grill in Los Angeles to nearly $700 (£509) with his tip.
Unexpected romance
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Dave Grohl married his first wife Jennifer Youngblood in 1994, but the couple split three years later, with the musician telling Melody Maker magazine in 1999: “I was 25, my wife was even younger. We weren’t ready to get married.
“I miss her a tonne, she’s the funniest goddamn weirdo you ever met in your life. Absolutely adorable. It would have been better had we not got married. But you live and you learn.”
However, Dave soon found love from an unexpected encounter while out with The Foo Fighters drummer Taylor Hawkins.
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Dave accompanied Taylor on a date in 2001 at the Sunset Marquis Hotel in Los Angeles, where he fell in love with the friend of Taylor’s date, Jordyn Blum.
That evening it is reported that Dave passed her a note saying “you’re my future wife,” and the rest as they say history.
The couple have been married since 2003 and have three daughters together, Violet, Harper and Willow.
Inspiring the next generation of rock stars
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Dave Grohl made headlines around the world after he was challenged to an epic drum off by 10 year old Nandi Bushell in 2020.
After saying that watching her play the drums was “the true meaning of rock ‘n’ roll”, he even invited her to perform onstage with him.
His own talent for music has also been passed onto his children, with daughter Violet performing onstage with her dad and The Foo Fighters at Lollapalooza festival.
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She also delighted audiences when she performed a cover of the song Nausea, showing that she has the same vocal talents as her famous father.
Talking about his own upbringing in his new memoir, Dave Grohl revealed that his father initially did not approve of him leaving school to play in the punk band Scream.
However, now that he has children of his own, he can understand why his father was unsure of Dave’s decision at first.
(Image: Getty Images for DG)
Talking about his eldest daughter in his book, he said: “I have a 15-year-old that wants tattoos and piercings and s*** but I keep telling her just to wait. Hold off. Don’t do it now. Just wait. You have got nothing but time.
“So I understand the concern that he had when I told him I’m leaving school to jump in a s***** band and travel.”
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Source: Celebrities - dailystar.co.uk
