No Drummer Jokes

Last night, Chris and I attended the launch party for Fallout 3, the third installment of Bethesda Softworks' massively popular Fallout video game franchise. We music supervised the game, including licensing a great collection of classic vocal jazz from the 40s and 50s. (Full disclosure: Chris did pretty much all the work on this one. Nice job, buddy.) Set against the post-apocalyptic carnage of the game, the music comes off as super spooky.

Anyway, the launch party was at LA Center Studios and it was pretty much off the chain. We're talking red carpet, tons of paparazzi, 15 open bars, and about 1500 mostly beautiful people, many of whom looked like they were trying desperately to get a part on The Hills. Oh, and the Foo Fighters played.

Now, I give Dave Grohl mad, insanely huge props. Not only is he one of the greatest rock musicians of all time, but if you want to zoom out a bit, he's also the living embodiment of the American Dream. The guy grew up poor with a single mom in Virginia, joined a punk band called Scream, spent years on the road, joined another band called Nirvana, buried his singer, then parlayed his fame and immense talent into a whole second career. Which brings us to the present, where Grohl and his fellow Foos are headlining Wembley Arena. Basically, they're one of the biggest bands in the world. Which makes me sad that I don't really like their music anymore.

By all accounts Grohl is an absolute sweetheart. Every person I've met who's had an interaction with him says the same thing: "Man, he was so nice and cool!!" And his musical prowess has been well established (the dude is one of the greatest drummers E-V-E-R). But I gotta say, I think Grohl and the Foos are done. I think they've reached the terminus of what they're capable of. It's all starting to sound the same to me and I kinda wish they'd stop.

And what's up with Dave looking like Lemmy these days? Dude has long stringy hair, a beard & 'stache, prominent tats and a little cross medallion/choker thing...just like Lemmy. My theory is that Dave really wants to be seen as part of the Continuum of Rock, a big dot in the straight line that goes from Pete Townshend to Jimmy Page to Ritchie Blackmore to Lemmy and on and on. And that's fine - part of the allure of rock 'n' roll is the ability to reinvent yourself. I just think he might be trying a little too hard.

But in Dave's defense, it's gotta be kinda tough to maintain your edge if you're him. I mean, what's left to accomplish? What's left to kick against? Courtney Love? I think that battle has been fought and won. It just seems like Dave is kinda treading water. I think he'd be much more creative if he was put into a situation where he can contribute, but he's not running the show (like playing drums for Queens of the Stone Age, which he did).

Anyway, something tells me Dave doesn't really care what I think (probably 'cause he'll never know I exist...[sob]). I still respect the hell outta the guy, and wish him nothing but the best.

I kinda hope some 14-year old Foos obsessive stumbles upon this post and lambasts me in the comments section. Have at it, kiddies. ~ Tim