“Has to happen”: The band Dave Grohl wants to reform
Whether or not you’re a fan of Dave Grohl, it’s hard to deny his productivity. I’m guessing if you’ve clicked on this article, you’re probably a fan. But if you’re not, maybe you’re hoping this story will change your mind. If you aren’t hoping to have your mind changed, then seriously, what are you doing here?
One of the projects that has many fans eagerly hoping for a return is Them Crooked Vultures, the supergroup formed by Grohl, Josh Homme of Queens of the Stone Age, and legendary Led Zeppelin bassist John Paul Jones. While the band’s self-titled debut album released in 2009 remains a classic, fans have been left waiting for the next chapter. Homme recently shared his enthusiasm for reuniting the band:
“I feel very comfortable speaking for everyone: there has to be another Vultures record,” Homme said. “Part of why I love doing this is because there’s absolutely no rulebook.” Clearly the appeal for Homme lies in the collaborative freedom shared between these three titans. “The Vultures has to happen, because we have too much of a good time doing it. What we need is to come together the same way we did the first time. And I think that requires a little bit of air. The mystery and magic – the surprise element – is what I love in music.”
For once, here was a supergroup which actually made sonic sense. It wasn’t the clashing egos of The Dirty Mac (no one puts Keith Richards on the bass guitar), or the dreadfully cheesy Travelling Wilburys (sorry, not sorry). Instead, the Vultures sounded like a band with palpable chemistry. Their record wasn’t structured like a typical supergroup album, where each A-list musician gets a verse to shine. Instead, the Vultures showcased a seamless blend of three like-minded players who complemented, rather than competed with, each other.
In an interview with the Guardian in 2019, Dave Grohl fondly remembers the period: “Them Crooked Vultures was just a dream come true for me. For years Josh and I had talked about doing some side project. Something that wasn’t Queens of the Stone Age, something that wasn’t Foo Fighters.” Grohl also speaks about how he felt blessed to have shared the studio with a member of Led Zeppelin too: “John Paul Jones is the greatest rock and roll bass player in the history of music.” Sorry, Keith. “When we sat down to start playing, it was about 30 seconds to a minute, and we realised this is a real band. This is the real deal.”
He continues, “We would walk into the studio every day with no ideas. We would sit down, we’d have tea, we’d have coffee, we’d start jamming. By the end of that night, we’d have an eight minute-long opus. Just a rock masterpiece. It was incredibly inspiring. It was a really incredible time. I hope that someday we do it again.” Well Dave, we hope you do too. The raw spontaneity and effortless chemistry that fuelled Them Crooked Vultures is something us rock enthusiasts need another dose of.
