Interesting RS interview with Dave Grohl

[jack99]

In his 1994 Rolling Stone interview, Kurt talked about your need for reassurance. You were popular in high school, played in all sorts of bands.... What was it about Nirvana, or Kurt, that made you so insecure?

When I joined Nirvana I was the fifth or sixth drummer -- I don't know if they'd ever had a drummer they were totally happy with. And they were strangers. There was never much of a deeper connection outside of the music.

Krist [Novoselic] and Kurt had a legendary lifetime connection. Those guys were soulmates. They'd been through so much together, from Aberdeen to the success of Nevermind. They fuckin' shared everything, and they were the kind of friends that didn't have to talk to each other -- they just knew. I never really shared that moment with them because I came from such a different place, and within eight months to a year of being in Nirvana, the band blew up into something that no one had expected. It was hard to connect with anybody when that happened.

I don't think I've ever told anyone this, but there were times when Kurt was really unhappy with the way I played drums. I could hear him talking about how much he thought I sucked. But he'd never say it to me. If I'd confront him about it -- "Is there a problem? If you want me to leave, just ask" -- he'd say, "No, no, no." Most of that happened later, around In Utero. That's when I think Kurt became unhappy with what was happening with the band.

Kurt was so many different things. He was funny or shy or this outgoing, larger-than-life persona. He could be sweet or he could be fucking wicked. He could be intimidating. I thought I was a decent drummer, but I didn't know if I was good enough to be doing this thing, this big deal. I didn't imagine myself a world-class drummer. I was the same fucking drummer that was in Scream, or playing on my bed. All the pressure....

I can't think of one show that I ever played with that band where we walked offstage and said, "That was great." Never one. Only two times did I get any reassurance from Kurt. Once when I joined the band, in 1990, we were drunk at some disco in England, and Kurt came up and said, "I'm so glad you're in this band. I'm so glad you're down-to-earth." I was like, "Wow!" The next time was in late '93 or early '94 when I came home and turned on my message machine and had a message from Kurt that said, "Y'know, I was just sitting here listening to In Utero, and your drumming is so awesome. You did such a great job!" I was like, "Wow!" Those two things were spread out by about four years [laughs].

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[Spoon87]

thanks, interesting read.

i dunno what more to write, i think i'll read it again. Kurt, Dave and Krist damn ruled.

[Ringo]

very interesting

[Yamisonic]

No denying: Kurt Cobain was crazy.

[matt_barker]

hmm.. im speechless..

i heard that kurt said dave was perfect for em because he has perfect timing or something..

[Rick]

Some people just don't show their appreciation for other people very much. Others do. It's just one of those things. Maybe Kurt didn't hate Dave, maybe he did. Surely someone of Kurt's intelligence and talent could recognise the awesomeness that is Dave Grohl.

R.

[New Rose]

It's easy for Kurt to say Dave sucked at drums, when he barely could play guitar.

[Is0tope]

It's easy for Kurt to say Dave sucked at drums, when he barely could play guitar.

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

agreed. eventhough i'm a Nirvana/Kurt fan.

[Maddergascar]

Every time i read interviews with him, dave grohl always comes across as a really great guy.