Dave Grohl on the iconic rock song he considers to be “the most classic riff of all time”
Despite being a drummer first, Dave Grohl evolved into a respected guitarist and songwriter in his own right. Nirvana may have given him his foundation and introduced him to the fickle nature of the music industry, but Grohl blossomed when he launched Foo Fighters, enabling him to explore musical territories he likely never deemed possible.
Grohl spent most of his early career behind the drum kit, emulating his favourites, ranging from Rush and Led Zeppelin to Kiss. When he finally picked up a guitar, however, he gravitated towards the innovative sounds of The Beatles, who showed him how to craft simple yet intricate melodies and arrangements, which he would continue to filter into his work for years to come.
Grohl’s eclectic musical tastes formed a solid basis for the sound of Foo Fighters, which combined post-punk with classic rock ‘n’ roll to create an energetic and fresher sound in the early days. His pick ‘n’ mix approach to musical creation helped him reframe some of his all-time musical favourites and repurpose cherished sounds for a new generation. Although an avid appreciator of melody, it’s clear that instrumental parts are just as crucial to Grohl as vocals.
Grohl wasted no time discussing classic favourites on The Celebrity Playlist Podcast, mentioning Edgar Winter Group and their iconic prog rock instrumental piece ‘Frankenstein’. The musician first encountered this masterpiece on one of the compilation albums he would listen to with his mother on the weekends when he was younger. Each time, they would discover something new to enjoy, and ‘Frankenstein’ immediately captivated his attention.
Discussing the appeal, Grohl went so far as to name it “the most classic riff of all time”, adding: “I think I was maybe six or seven years old, and hearing that, I thought, ‘Oh my god, I want to be a musician’. I just thought, ‘this rocks!'”
‘Frankenstein’ gained its name after the track was spliced together from various edits from the original recording. Of course, its “monster-like, lumbering beat”, as Edgar Winter described it, also played a big part in the appropriateness of the title.
Although Grohl often ventured into new musical territories when exploring what he liked the most, he usually returned to his rock roots. Along with the Edgar Winter Group, Led Zeppelin was never far from his mind when asked about all-time greats. He once named his “favourite guitar riff of all time” as ‘Black Dog’, primarily because it “drips, it’s so smooth”.
Almost any musician can create a good guitar riff, but Grohl claimed the song took this element to new heights because of their innate ability to intertwine all aspects of the song, resulting in something pure hard rock. “It has these wicked turnarounds where John Bonham stays in 4/4 time, but John Paul Jones and Jimmy turn the riff over,” he explained, saying that all of these moving parts resulted in an intense groove and pulse that “sounds easy enough, but when you actually wrap your hands around a guitar, you realise that it takes a little more than what you got”.
‘Frankenstein’ and ‘Black Dog’ may appear straightforward at first listen, but it’s this deceptive simplicity that Dave Grohl finds most impressive. He believes that when something sounds basic but is actually complex, it’s a genuine testament to artistic intuition and skill. Perhaps this is also why Foo Fighters skyrocketed to success: Grohl took everything he learned from the greats and applied his talent, sharing his little secret to creating great rock ‘n’ roll with others.
