The Storyteller

As a child of the late '80s and early '90s, I was heavily influenced in my own life by classic rock, hair metal, and eventually the Seattle scene (although I would argue the Minneapolis scene was as good, if not better than Seattle in some aspects in the early and mid-90s).

I was never a Nirvana “fan,” although I liked their stuff. I owned Nevermind, of course. (Who didn't?) And I always admired Dave's drumming ability. I also knew he was a little different. I remember the SNL promo commercial Nirvana did when they played SNL the first time. Dave, with his mousy hair and slight frame, stood stock-still and psycho-stared at the camera during the whole promo. I knew it was being done because they told him to just stand there and say nothing, and this was his way of complying, yet performing. I knew at that moment there was something more to Dave Grohl than met the eye.

When Nirvana ended, I saw the emergence of the Foo Fighters, and I hoped for the best for Dave. It seemed like he was doing the right things. Their videos on MTV were always great. The songs were catchy. I still wasn't a fan, though.

That came about over a course of time when Dave's undeniable charm and work ethic eventually wore more me down. Slowly, I started amazing Foo records now have the whole collection. I'm a booster. I'm a supporter. They're doing things the right way. When Dave came out with this book, I always knew I'd read it eventually, but like so many things of this nature, it just got put off for a while.

This book is written with the same high-energy charm that Dave exudes in interviews and on stage. There is no pretense with this guy. What you see is what you get, and that extends to writing. For a high school dropout with a manic sense of energy, this book comes across without any sort of writer bullshit. There's no fancy prose. There are no deep metaphors or similies. Dave delivers the goods with a straightforward approach. And, like the man himself, the prose is likable. It's easygoing. It's a good read.

It makes you wish you could be one of the guys in the band, and that's about the highest level of praise I can give it.

It's an enjoyable read, although it feels like it only scratches the surface of some things. It leaves you wanting more. When I hit the end, I realized I'd gladly read Volume 2 of this if Dave ever decided to write it, and if he does, I hope he goes into more detail and delivers some insight into some events. If there's a single knock against the book, it was written like he didn't want to offend anyone, and that makes for a superficial feeling tome.

Still, I enjoyed every word. I hope Dave writes more. More songs. More books. Just keep delivering, Dave. You've earned your accolades the old-fashioned way.