A BAND like the Foo Fighters reminds me why the 90’s was such a memorable and exciting period to be in if you are a music aficionado. If you got to live through that time you just can’t help but look back every now and then to those glorious years of rock music which will never ever happen again as it was in that decade.
One of my memories during that period was the event when Dave Grohl made it official that he was indeed moving forward with the Foo Fighters as his new band. I first got to learn about that breaking news via MTV from our side of the globe.
After Dave Grohl’s time with Nirvana came to a screeching halt when his good friend and former bandmate Kurt Cobain committed suicide, that sad news not only shocked the whole world but it brought with it the demise of the Grunge Movement as well because Kurt Cobain was their anointed leader. Naturally, it did take some time for Dave Grohl to recover and even consider being in a band again after such a horrific tragedy like that.
So, I think the formation of the Foo Fighters in those Post-Grunge years was something that was so essential because the “light” from a true musical genius was extinguished with the death of Kurt Cobain… an emptiness enveloped the music industry… and it was such a crushing, crushing blow to the surviving members of Nirvana to abruptly stop everything at the very time when the band had reached another echelon artistically with their studio-release of ‘In Utero’ … only for their artistic growth to be stumped permanently ! And yet, somehow, out of all that darkness, sadness, and uncertainty with Kurt Cobain’s sudden passing, the Foo Fighters came to be.
Certainly, Dave Grohl had the “intestinal fortitude” to go on after such a devastating loss because no one in his right mind would have blamed him any way had he decided to quit making music after Kurt Cobain’s death.
On a brighter note, when the Foo Fighters achieved the rock status they have been enjoying, it cannot be said that they have achieved this stature only because their lead vocalist was the former drummer of the legendary Nirvana.
I honestly think the Foo Fighters continue to be in that stratospheric plane for the following reasons: all of them have a shared passion; they know their individual roles within the band; and they are acutely aware that they must continually live up to the expectations of their loyal fans. Plus, it is as simple as this… if their music “sucked”, do you think the Foo Fighters would have lasted this long ? The answer to that question is a big and emphatic NO !
In closing, let me end with this… when it comes to this band, there will always be a thought lingering at the back of my head. It is this, I just wonder if the Foo Fighters will ever hold a concert here in the Philippines? They have so many fans here and the rock community will surely want to see them live performing the hits, the classics, the songs which have become staples of modern rock.
Will they ever hold a concert here ? I don’t know. Only time will tell. In the meantime, there are always their records to keep us preoccupied. Plus, their music videos are available to be viewed online and a handful of their best concerts as well.
Long live the Foo Fighters for helping keep the “flame” of rock alive !