Kammys Musing

Finished this book on the first day of 2024. Woohoo!

If you have been following Dave Grohl career for a while, this book is his view on some of the background happenings. His childhood – how he got into music, his passion, learning the instruments. His influences in music and how it was meeting them in real life. (You realise that your “hero”, also has other hero/es and they would have the same reaction when meeting their heroes, elevated heart rate, dry mouth etc. Just like normal people)

Your so-called heroes are human after all – unless they are Homelander. Which in this case would make the term “Never meet your heroes” so true.

There are stories about the bands he has played in (Scream, Nirvana). Oh, there’s definitely things about Kurt.

Dave tells about the privilege of sharing his passion with his kids. The joy of meeting and collaborating with other musicians, as well as performing at big stages as well as small stages ( but with super VIPs).

If you don’t know who Dave is, fret not. The book is simple to digest. It is not written in order (year by year), but instead on memories, intertwined with other memories, here and there.

Dave (to me) is someone who has a profound love of music, went deep in understanding, enjoying, playing it; and when the opportunity presented itself, decided to grab it. He just let life plays it course.

Would anyone has the chance to do so? Only a very few out of 8 billion people, definitely. He didn’t enter music because he wanted to be rich (like the majority of us when we start a business); it just came along and allowed him the freedom to do other things freely.

At times, reading this feels like a friend sharing some stories around a campfire. I never felt like he was gloating when he talks about some of his wealth (buying a house or farmland).

At this age, I don’t think I would enjoy their lifestyle – jet-setting around the globe for months to end, performing, city after city.

I rate this autobiography at 7.5/10.

Until then, stay hungry, stay safe.