The Storyteller by Dave Grohl
Was it him?
Several years ago, as my husband and I walked with our kids through a parking garage we passed a man with a young girl walking in the opposite direction. He looked at us, smiled shyly and nodded. Several feet later my husband elbowed me, “Do you know who that was?” I didn’t and I didn’t think that he was someone famous. The way he carried himself, the nod. It was all very neighborly. I looked back to see if I could place him but only caught a glimpse of his hair blowing when he pulled open the stairwell door.
“That was Dave Grohl.” My husband said excitedly as we made our way onto M street in Georgetown.
“Really?” I wasn’t convinced that guy holding the hand of that young girl was who my husband said he was. I mean if that was Dave Grohl, where was his entourage? Surely, the drummer for Nirvana, one of the best-selling bands of all time and the lead singer, guitarist and songwriter for the immensely popular rock band, The Foo Fighters would have security detail or a posse. Dave Grohl wouldn’t just be walking through a parking lot like he was an average joe, would he?
Why I bought the book.
This experience and the much-debated sighting (“It was!”, “It wasn’t.”) between my husband and I is why I purchased and read this memoir. The Storyteller by Dave Grohl takes the reader on the whole journey allowing us to feel the passion Grohl had for music at a young age and the intensity at which he pursued it. The reader gets to hear how Grohl learns how to drum (and hold the sticks the right way) and how the many encounters and life experiences he had along the way helped shape him into the iconic musician he is today.
Grohl never fails to mention the bands and musicians that had an impact on his development not only as a musician but also as a person. His recollection of seeing the B-52’s on Saturday Night Live in 1980 is particularly moving because of the impression it made on him. The B-52 performance, with all its quirky weirdness was seen by Grohl as “a rallying cry to all those people suffocating in conventionality, afraid to let their freak flag fly.” Those three minutes of entertainment were a turning point for him, one that encouraged a young Grohl to pursue his dreams in music. A dream that became a reality, a reality that continues to be a gift that he shares with the world.
Despite the numerous accolades, connections, and collaborations with some of the best-known musicians of our time, (AC/DC, Paul McCartney, Joan Jett, David Bowie and Tom Petty to name only a very few) Dave Grohl lives a life of gratitude, taking nothing for granted. He cherishes and celebrates his friends. The deaths of both Kurt Cobain and his best friend Jimmy Swanson affected him deeply and even though Storyteller was published before the death of Taylor Hawkins (a man Grohl referred to as a brother from another mother) we know from this outward love he demonstrates for his friends that this loss was enormous.
Perhaps the only thing that surpasses Grohl’s love, and passion for music is his love for his family. When you read about his insane trip from Australia to Los Angeles and then back to Australia (in time for a concert) just so that he could attend the father-daughter dance you begin to get a glimpse of how important he takes his role as dad. It’s no surprise really, that he takes this job as parent so seriously. He never wastes and opportunity to thank his own mom for her sacrifices, support, and encouragement, acknowledging this in the last few words of this memoir, “oh, and hey mom. Thanks. For everything.”
Before reading The Storyteller, I wasn’t convinced that the man we saw in the parking lot that day was Dave Grohl. I couldn’t imagine someone so insanely world famous just casually walking by me in jeans and a t-shirt. But now, I know, that was most definitely him, because that is Dave Grohl, exceptionally talented musician, and extraordinarily down to earth human.
As far as books go, this is a gem. Not only is the book itself of exceptional quality, (the pages are a booklovers dream) the story itself is an uplifting and most enjoyable read for fans of music and life.
Don’t Miss:
page 63 “The universe creates for you what your mind focuses on.”
page 163 Grohls recollection at watching the B-52’s on SNL
page 277 “Coffee, just writing the word makes me want some.” His battle and love affair with coffee.
page 297 his gratitude
page 354 his most important gig of his life
page 368 his life’s greatest achievement
Dave Grohl’s book can be purchased here Bookshop.org (where I am an affiliate and may earn a percentage so that I may purchase and review more books.)