Today in History - Dave Grohl released Foo Fighters

Before they were the powerhouse band, selling out tours worldwide and hauling in Grammys like they are going out of fashion, Foo Fighters were just an experimental side project of Nirvana drummer Dave Grohl, their debut album released as a vehicle to channel his emotional energy after dealing with the devastating loss of his bandmate and close friend Kurt Cobain in 1994.

While the rest of the world banked on Grohl quietly receding into the background following the dissolution of Nirvana, the 25-year-old drummer pulled off one of the biggest second-acts in rock history starting with the release of the self-titled debut album, Foo Fighters on July 4, 1995.

Grohl decided to start his own label in order to start with a clean slate. Roswell was created and Grohl released the album without any names or photos and credited it to a mysterious new band called Foo Fighters, a nod to the nickname Allied aircraft pilots in World War II used for UFOs and aerial phenomena.

Grohl delivered an exceedingly fun album even with the deck stacked against him. Filled with punk-pop anthems and DIY sound that satiated post-grunge fans while hinting at the Hard Hitting arena-rock that was to come. But you’d struggle to play most rock venues regardless of size without a band and so Grohl quickly assembled a band to take Foo Fighters on tour. Having heard about the disbanding of Seattle-based rock band Sunny Day Real Estate, Grohl drafted the group’s bass player, Nate Mendel, and drummer, William Goldsmith, as well as Nirvana touring guitarist and former Germs member, Pat Smear to complete the line-up.

What’s your favourite song from the album?