Foo Fighters – Interview

It’s November 1st 11:28 p.m. I’ve been in New York City now for about five and a half hours and the crowd gathered outside the HMV record store has increased substantially in the past hour. Security finally let some of them in. The people don’t seem to stop coming and they’re getting restless. A yell in the back of the crowd suggests that Foo Fighters are on their way to the stage, but as everyone strains to see, it’s only Gus Brandt, their tour manager. There is an announcement that it will be “a few more seconds” until Foo goes on.

In the background, to settle the crowd, There is Nothing Left to Lose is playing. Everyone in the crowd studies their copy carefully, and takes comfort in the fact that in a little over an hour it will be signed.

It’s now past 11:30. If you look closely, you can see a door open in the back of the store. Dave Grohl, Nate Mendel, Taylor Hawkins, and newcomer Chris Shifflet approach the stage. Dave, as usual, has a huge grin on his face. After a few words to the crowd, the band goes right into their set, ending with “I’ll Stick Around”. Foo Fighters had better stick around, because right now they are the best they’ve ever been. There may be nothing left to lose for Foo Fighters, but there is so much more to gain.

Hey, Taylor.

Hey, how are you doing?

I’m okay. How are you?

Oh, I’m good.

Alright, did you write or help write any of the songs on the new cd? Or was it all up to Dave?

Most of it was up to Dave, I helped out with little bits here and there. I helped out with “Aurora”.

Oh, really?

Yeah.

That’s my favorite.

Was that your favorite one?

Yeah.

Was it really?

Yeah, that and “Live-in Skin”.

Oh, you like “Live-in Skin”. Huh.

You sing on one of the songs on the b-sides right, “Have a Cigar”?

Yes, I do, I do.

Do you think you’re going to continue this on any of the other songs?

Uh, you know, I don’t know. We’ll have to talk Dave into that, won’t we?

Yeah.

Do you like it?

I haven’t heard it yet; it was on one of the b-sides that wasn’t released yet.

Well, you know who does the original version of “Have a Cigar”?

That was Pink Floyd?

Yeah. Yeah. Yeah.

I’m anxious to hear it.

Well, I don’t sing that good.

I bet you’re not bad.

Did you enjoy the show last night?

It was amazing.

Was it really? I wasn’t sure.

Oh, that was the fifteenth time I’ve seen you guys live and it was probably one of the best.

Cause it was kind of close. How has the band changed since I’ve joined the band? I’m being self-centered.

Actually, I never saw them with Will.

Oh, you never saw them with Will?

The first time I saw them was in ’97. So you were there already. Cause I’m a little young, you know.

Yeah, yeah.

But I’d say your place in the band is really secure because of Dave and everything. You guys just look like such cute friends.

That’s sweet.

It’s adorable. Um, okay, this is kinda cheesy but, if Foo Fighters were made into a movie, who would play you? I know people compare you to, well, Howard Stern compared you to Brad Pitt.

Hmm. Yea, I don’t think I look anything like Brad Pitt. I don’t, do I?

I can see the resemblance.

Um, it would probably be someone more like, uh, who would play me? Oh, I don’t know, you think of somebody. That’s so self-centered.

I don’t know.

Oh, I don’t know, who would play you in a movie?

Who would play me?

Yeah, who would play you?

I have no idea.

I don’t know who would play me.

I’d say Johnny Depp, if he dyed his hair.

Aw, you’re so sweet.

Have you ever had an embarrassing moment in front of fans?

Yeah, every time we get up on stage. (laughs)

None that stood out?

No, nothing catastrophic.

What’s something that you really want to do but haven’t done yet or tried yet?

Jumping out of an airplane by myself. I’ve jumped out with somebody, but I’ve never jumped out by myself.

That’s got to be really amazing.

Yeah, sky diving’s amazing, but I’ve only done it once. You know, I had some guy strapped to me.

Is there a moment that you wish you could relive?

Hmm. You know, I used to have moments like that, but now that I get older, you know, I think that you shouldn’t.

Did you see yourself going in this direction when you were a kid?

Oh yeah, most definitely. I mean, playing in a band, yeah. Being successful, I don’t know.

How old were you when you started playing?

I was ten years old.

Really?

Yeah.

Did you ever think this is where you’d end up or did you just think music would be a part of your life?

I don’t know. I mean, you hope that you get to play drums and don’t have to work too much for a living. But, you know, I’ve been lucky so far. Knock on wood.

Where do you see yourself twenty years from now?

Not doing this.

No?

Hopefully just chilling out at home.

Well, you’ll be able to. What’s the best and worst part of your job?

Uh, best and worst part of my job. The best part of my job is playing music. The worst part of my job is being away from home. Those are pretty typical answers, but I feel they ring true with most people. They really do.

Do you think that the state of popular music today will change or progressively get worse?

Oh, I think it will get better.

Really?

I have faith that it will.

I mean, the music on mtv and stuff.

I know what you mean. Yeah, it sucks right now. I think it will get better.

I think Foo Fighters are really refreshing to see. You guys, Verbena, bands like that. It’s hard to classify, I wouldn’t want to categorize it, but I guess it’s just rock.

Yeah, I hear you. You didn’t say the g word. That’s good.

If you could record with anybody living or dead that you haven’t recorded with yet, who would it be?

Probably Freddy Mercury. Yeah.

You guys thanked Queen in the new cd, right?

Yeah, we just thanked all the bands we listened to and love, you know? And we’re friends with a couple of the remaining members of Queen, the drummer and the guitar player, so…

Didn’t you play on one of their albums?

Yeah, I played on Brian, the guitar player’s, solo album. Yup.

In the cd, it says Jimmy Swanson is god. Who’s Jimmy Swanson?

Jimmy Swanson is our mentor. Jimmy Swanson is god. That’s all you need to know.

Ok. Are you gonna be clerking at Tower?

No, that’s just Dave. Okay, you have a good day, alright?

You too.

Okay, sweetheart. Bye!

+ steph palumbo