The “quintessential Beatles” song Dave Grohl calls his favourite
Without The Beatles, the world may never have been the same. It’s hard to think of a band as influential as the Fab Four, as generations of artists have since bowed down to their greatness. Across all genres, artists have paid homage to The Beatles as a major source of inspiration, with Dave Grohl even accounting his whole career to their influence.
“I can honestly say that if it wasn’t for The Beatles, I would not be a musician,” Grohl said. It’s high praise coming from the Nirvana drummer who helped redefine musical history in the 1990s. Even today, his role in Foo Fighters and his work throughout his career has cemented him as one of the most respected men in music.
But Grohl chalks it all up to the influence of The Beatles and their limitless and enduring inspiration. However, when it comes to his favourite Beatles song, his pick is an unexpected one. You might expect that Grohl would opt for a classic like ‘Come Together’ or ‘Hey Jude’, or that he might go for one of the band’s heavier cuts like ‘Helter Skelter’, in keeping with his grunge origins. But instead, his favourite comes in the form of a 1969 album track.
Released as the soundtrack to an animated film of the same name, Yellow Submarine was the peak of the band’s psychedelic experimentations. The songs on the album feel utterly uninhibited as the band were simply having fun and, more truthfully, absolutely tripping. But that intoxicated energy meant that the songs felt effortlessly and naturally made by them.
That’s what Grohl loves about ‘Hey Bulldog’ in particular. “To me, it’s a quintessential Beatles rocker,” he said, selecting the song for its classic energy. “Paul’s rolling bass line. The trademark Ringo drum fills. George’s gritty distorted guitar. And that sound that only the back of John Lennon’s throat could produce.”
Of all the songs on the album, ‘Hey Bulldog’ is the most classic rock and roll song. It sounds like four friends and musicians getting in a room to jam together, harking back to Grohl’s own early days playing in garages with his friends before they became world-famous. In this way, you can see why ‘Hey Bulldog’ is one of the tracks the drummer claims helped make him become a musician.
In 2013, Dave Grohl got to team up with one of his legends as he collaborated with Paul McCartney. As part of the documentary Sound City, the Nirvana drummer assembled a team of musical legends, including McCartney, Stevie Nicks and Rick Springfield, to honour the iconic Los Angeles studio. Their song ‘Cut Me Some Slack’ won ‘Best Rock Song’ at the 2013 Grammys. With it, not only did Grohl prove you should always meet your idols, but you might even win an award with them.
