David Grohl Caricature

David Grohl Caricature, illustrated here, age 28 in 1997.
Grohl is an American musician, singer, songwriter, record producer and film director. He was the longest serving drummer for the grunge band Nirvana and the front man and founder of the rock band Foo Fighters, of which he is the lead vocalist, rhythm and lead guitarist, and primary songwriter.

At the age of 12, Grohl began learning to play guitar. He grew tired of lessons and instead taught himself, and he eventually began playing in bands with friends. While in high school, Grohl played in several local bands, including a stint as guitarist in a band called Freak Baby. It was during this period that Grohl taught himself to play drums. During his developing years as a drummer, Grohl cited John Bonham as his greatest influence, and eventually had Bonham’s three-rings symbol tattooed on his wrist.

In 1990, Melvins’ band leader Buzz Osborne, informed Grohl that Nirvana was looking for a drummer and gave Grohl the phone numbers of Kurt Cobain and Krist Novoselic, who subsequently invited Grohl to Seattle to audition for Nirvana. Grohl soon joined the band full-time.

Following Cobain’s death in April 1994, Grohl retreated, unsure of where to go and what to do with himself. Eventually, he recruited other band members: former Germs and touring Nirvana guitarist Pat Smear and two members of the recently disbanded Sunny Day Real Estate, William Goldsmith (drums) and Nate Mendel (bass). Grohl’s demo was given a professional mix by Rob Schnapf and Tom Rothrock and was released in July 1995 as Foo Fighters’ debut album. One week later, “This Is a Call” became the band’s first commercial single.

Nirvana (Cobain, Novoselic, and Grohl) were inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame on April 10, 2014.

In 2012, Grohl was estimated to be the third wealthiest drummer in the world, behind Ringo Starr and Phil Collins, with a fortune of $260 million. Grohl dropped out of high school at the beginning of the 11th grade. He still does not know how to read sheet music and writes his music only by ear.