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From Led Zeppelin To The Beatles: Dave Grohl's 10 Favourite Albums Of All Time

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Sun 28 April 2024 20:38, UK

Some time ago, Foo Fighters frontman Dave Grohl sat down with the British music magazine Melody Maker for one of its final issues before being absorbed into the NME. Grohl was asked to name his ten favourite albums of all time, and his responses show a more eclectic side to the punk-inspired rocker. It's the kind of list that shows exactly who the drummer, singer and all-around nice guy is.

Two decades on, it's funny to see the everlasting effects of some of his picks. Throughout his memoir The Storyteller, Grohl gives a shoutout to the legendary Athens alternative rock band the B-52's for introducing him to what he described both in the book and the interview as "weird music". Grohl saw the band perform on Saturday Night Live as an 11-year-old and had his mind blown by the wild sounds of 'Rock Lobster' and 'Dance This Mess Around'. It was a game-changing moment that would shape the entirety of Grohl's career with Nirvana and on to the Foo Fighters.

Some of the classic foundational acts well known to the stories of Nirvana and Foo Fighters are here: Pixies, Melvins, and Bad Brains — all punk-forward groups that would help provide cultural touchstones for a generation of rock acts. But Grohl also finds some remarkable expanses in his taste by naming perhaps the least acclaimed Led Zeppelin album and giving a shout-out to legendary rap pioneers Public Enemy.

Dave Grohl is a man with legendarily eclectic tastes. The Foo Fighters leader and former Nirvana drummer might have punk rock in his blood, but that genre of music only came to him in his teenage years. There was a full decade and change before Grohl's cousin took him to a Naked Raygun concert in Chicago, kicking off his love affair with everything loud and aggressive. Before that, you could catch Grohl listening to just about anything.

You still can, in fact. Recent revelations like Grohl admitting that the opening to 'Smells Like Teen Spirit' comes from legendary R&B/disco group the Gap Band are just the tip of the iceberg. Grohl and company put out an entire EP of Bee Gees covers, for God's sake. Taylor Hawkins' bass drum at his recent tribute concert in London was adorned with the face of Olivia Newton-John. Eagle-eyed viewers would have seen Grohl wear an ABBA shirt during the filming of Sonic Highways.

Grohl's ability to take in just about any music style isn't confined to his listening habits. As he's proven during the Hawkins tribute shows, Dave can play almost any genre of music, too, whether it's picking up the bass to join The Pretenders or laying down the groove on classic Van Halen songs. He'll back up Dave Chappelle when he wants to cover Radiohead, and he'll even record a rough cover of Kim Wilde's 'Kids in America', which you can find on the very first Foo Fighters demo recordings.

Check out Grohl's full list, plus some of his commentary on his picks, own below.

1. The Beatles – The Beatles

Grohl starts right at the beginning with an album that predates his own existence: The Beatles, better known as The White Album. Everyone has their own personal favourite Beatles LP, but Grohl's appreciation stems from the massive variety shown on the classic double album. As we'll see, Grohl appreciates a solid amount of variety when it comes to music. But, like many other acts, The Beatles have been a foundational stone for Grohl.

"What year did this come out? I think I was a glimpse of hope in my parents' eyes, but this has some of my favourite Beatles songs on it: 'Blackbird', 'Revolution #9', 'Revolution', 'Helter Skelter'. It's funny to imagine those four cute little Beatles years later on LSD. Where did they go wrong, writing something like 'Helter Skelter' and influencing Charles Manson? I'd call this timeless."

2. The B-52's – The B-52's

The elastic queer new wave sensibilities of The B-52's might not seem to have a direct connection to the walloping drums and buzzsaw guitars that Grohl favours in his own music, but it was the spirit of the album that spoke most to Grohl. The idea of being different and being able to make music that wasn't just pop or rock was a revelation to a young Grohl.

"I remember seeing the B-52's on Saturday Night Live, and this introduced me to the world of weird music," Grohl said about the life-changing moment. "I was young; my parents were asleep. Songs like '52 Girls', 'Rock Lobster', of course, they definitely opened up a whole new world to me."

3. Coda – Led Zeppelin

Grohl's love of Led Zeppelin, and specifically drummer John Bonham, is well known. The man has multiple tattoos depicting Bonham's 'Three Rings' symbol from Led Zeppelin IV, and his own style of drumming largely takes after Bonham's thunderous technique. So it shouldn't be any surprise that Grohl favours the Led Zeppelin album with Bonham's biggest showcase, even if it is one of their lesser-loved records.

"Led Zeppelin completely moulded the way I play the drums," the Foo Fighters frontman said. "No one can deny that band anything. All their albums are great. I prefer Houses Of The Holy and In Through The Out Door to their first two, but Coda was the best, 'cos 'Bonzo's Montreux' was on it – John Bonham's one drum symphony. I stayed up many a night working on that one. I'll play it for you right now if you want!"

4. Rock for Light – Bad Brains

To the more casual rock fan, the seismic influence of D.C. Legends Bad Brains might come as a surprise. They're not in the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame, their songs never appear on compilations, and they mostly survive based on the testimonials of their admirers. But those admirers are legendary, and the fact remains that Bad Brains are indisputably one of the most pioneering and most important bands of all time, something that Grohl acknowledges both in his music and in his selection.

Explaining his selection, Grohl said: "This might be my all-time favourite record. It was the first time I'd heard a hardcore band that had that supreme musicianship but kept it kind of simple – four black guys from Washington DC who laid every other hardcore punk rock band to waste. They were amazing. They were Rastafarians, so they'd throw in a little bit of reggae just to mellow out the punks or something. And they were the most amazing live band in the world. They're just great. Really, really, really, really great."

5. Yo! Bum Rush the Show – Public Enemy

Who would have thought that Dave Grohl was into rap? For somebody who is so synonymous with rock and roll (so much so that he's basically the global cultural ambassador for the genre and even made fun of himself for it at the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame induction ceremony this year), Grohl makes a point to widen the scope of his musical tastes, including giving a shout out to New York's finest, Public Enemy.

"A total revolution in hip-hop. And the duality of Flavor Flav and Chuck D is just amazing, man," Grohl said when picking the landmark record. "It's necessary, almost, that someone as heavy and right on as Chuck D should have some sort of relief. The sounds on this record, and their lyrics about their 98 Oldsmobile's… they just seemed like this gang with their own scene. I went to see a Public Enemy show in Malcolm X Park one time and somebody heard a gunshot and everybody ran. DC was the murder capital back then. It got pretty spooky."

6. Gluey Porch Treatments – Melvins

Like Bad Brains, Melvins remain more revered and admired than they are commercially successful. They were in the wave of rock, punk, and metal bands that immediately presaged grunge, giving them immense influence. But anyone expecting Nirvana levels of punk and pop will probably be off-put by the sludge, which is the Melvins' music. But even if you're hesitant, Grohl makes a strong case for them.

Grohl said: "The Melvins started off as this fast, hardcore punk rock band, but then turned into this sludgy Black Sabbath metal militia that they knew everyone would hate. They started playing as slow as they could because everyone screamed for them to play faster – just to piss everyone off. They were the kings of that whole bratty nature of punk. It's kind of a basement production job, but it sounds heavier than any fuckin' Dio or Slayer record I ever heard."

7. Surfer Rosa – Pixies

If there's one band that is most commonly name-checked by critics and fans in relation to Nirvana, it would be Boston alt-rockers the Pixies. Kurt Cobain was never shy in declaring how blatantly the band were copying Pixies' soft-loud dynamic and pop-punk mashup. Grohl dutifully carries the torch to sing the praises of what just might be the band's masterpiece, Surfer Rosa and how it offered him a glimpse of his future.

"It was so necessary at that time for someone to incorporate elements of quirky, weird punk into sweet pop," Grohl commented. "It influenced a whole generation of bands, which then influenced a whole generation, so this album is probably one of the most influential albums of the last 15 years. It probably made Steve Albini most famous for his production, too. Nirvana always made sure everyone knew we were just ripping off the Pixies."

8. The Winding Sheet – Mark Lanegan

Screaming Trees singer Mark Lanegan is exactly one degree of separation from Grohl: Nirvana bandmates Kurt Cobain and Krist Novoselic contribute to The Winding Sheet, which became the template for how the band approached their own legendary MTV Unplugged concert. There's even a version of Lead Belly's 'Where Did You Sleep Last Night' that Cobain provides backing vocals for, laying the foundation for Nirvana's own stirring version.

Grohl said: "Oh man, it's the most beautiful record. It's a Sunday morning acoustic, soulful blues record. The guy has so much soul and the most beautiful voice." His praise continued as he noted just how potent the songs on the album were, emotionally rich and gracefully textured: "You imagine this is what your heart would sound like if it could sing, it's so fuckin' beautiful. This album came out just after I moved to Seattle, so to me it represents that whole time. Mark sang for the Screaming Trees, so he had his flipside, but there was also a lot of appreciation in Seattle at that time for the purity and truth of real music."

9. Frank Black – Frank Black

Grohl already gave a shout-out to Frank Black's original band, the Pixies, with one of his earlier picks. But his fandom extends far beyond the necessary shoutout to Surfer Rosa, and Grohl uses another pick to pay tribute to Black's unique blend of pop, rock, punk, and anything else that might crop up in his alternative stew.

"I listened to this far too much," Grohl explained. "I thought for a moment that he would be this huge pop star and finally get his due. There are some great songs on this, but his music is just quirky enough that it will never translate to a huge audience. A long time had passed since Surfer Rosa and this was probably his most cohesive pop album yet. There's Bowie in there, all sorts of influences and sometimes it was more raw and fucked-up than ever. As a lyricist, he was truly great. So witty and weird."

10. Blues for the Red Sun – Kyuss

This is a pick that wound up ageing well for Grohl, as his admiration of Kyuss guitarist Josh Homme also extended to his next project, Queens of the Stone Age. Eventually, when Homme was in need of a drummer, Grohl got the call to play on the 2002 album Songs for the Deaf, two years after proclaiming his fandom for Homme's style of desert-scorched metal. Grohl would even label the band one of his favourite live acts of all time.

"Oh my God! This album changed my life," exclaimed Grohl. "I was 24 and something about the grooves and the guitar sounds and the drums and the bass made this new noise that kinda sounded familiar, like you'd heard it in the early Seventies, but you'd never heard it that good. They reinvented this genre of music, Seventies hard rock."

Related Topics

Topic: Dave Chappelle

David Khari Webber "Dave" Chappelle (pronounced /ʃəˈpɛl/; born August 24, 1973) is an American comedian, screenwriter, television/film producer, actor, artist, and skateboarder. Chappelle began his film career in the film Robin Hood: Men in Tights in 1993 and continued to star in minor roles in the films The Nutty Professor, Con Air, and Blue Streak. His first lead role in a film was in Half Baked in 1998. In 2003, he became widely known for his popular sketch comedy television series, Chappelle's Show, which ran until 2006. Comedy Central ranked him forty-third in its list of the 100 greatest stand-up comedians.

Chappelle was born in Washington D.C. His father, William David Chappelle III, was a professor at Antioch College in Yellow Springs, Ohio. His mother, Yvonne (née Reed), was a professor at Howard University, Prince George's Community College, and the University of Maryland and is also a Unitarian Universalist minister. Chappelle has stated in his stand-up performances that his mother is half-white. Chappelle grew up in Silver Spring, Maryland and attended Woodlin Elementary School. During young Chappelle's formative years, his comic inspiration came from various comedians, particularly Eddie Murphy and Richard Pryor.

After his parents separated, Chappelle stayed in Washington with his mother while spending summers with his father in Ohio. In 1991, he graduated from Washington's Duke Ellington School of the Arts where he studied theatre arts.

What Is Dave Chappelle's Net Worth And Salary?

What Is Dave Chappelle's Net Worth and Salary?

Dave Chappelle is an American comedian, actor, screenwriter, and producer who has a net worth of $70 million. Over the years, Dave Chappelle has appeared in dozens of films and TV shows, but he is most well-known for his standup specials. His Netflix standup specials, in particular, are the source of the majority of Dave's fortune. As we explain in the next section, Netflix essentially has an open policy to pay Dave $20 million whenever he chooses to deliver them a special. As of this writing, he has done that four times (including his December 2023 special "The Dreamer.")

Dave gained fame in the early 2000s with "Chappelle's Show," a sketch comedy series on Comedy Central that was both a critical and commercial success. Known for his fearless approach to sensitive topics like race, culture, and politics, Chappelle's style combines sharp wit with a relaxed, conversational delivery. Despite reaching significant heights with his show, he unexpectedly left during the third season, citing the stress of the show's demands and discomfort with its direction. After a hiatus, he made a triumphant return to stand-up comedy, releasing several acclaimed specials on Netflix, further solidifying his status as one of the greatest comedians of his generation. His work has earned him numerous accolades, including Emmy and Grammy awards, and he remains a significant and influential figure in the world of comedy.

Netflix Deal

In November 2016, it was announced that Dave had signed a deal with Netflix to deliver three standup specials to the streaming service. He was reportedly paid $60 million for the specials, one of the largest deals ever paid to a comedian for any medium. He earned another $20 million for his special "The Dreamer," which was released on December 31, 2023. As of this writing, Dave has earned $80 million from Netflix for his specials.

Early Life

Dave Chappelle was born David Khari Webber Chappelle on August 24, 1973, in Washington, D.C. His parents, Yvonne Chappelle Seon and William David Chappelle III, were professors. His great-grandfather, Bishop D. Chappelle, was the president of Allen University. Chappelle was raised in Silver Spring, Maryland. He grew up idolizing Eddie Murphy and Richard Pryor, and family friends, regaled with Dave's humorous antics and monologues, often commented that Chappelle would likely grow up to be a comedian. Dave's parents separated when he was young, and he primarily lived with his mother while spending summers in Ohio with his dad. He graduated in 1991 from Duke Ellington School of the Art, where he studied theater.

Early Career

After high school, Dave moved to New York City to pursue a career in comedy. He performed at the Apollo Theater's Amateur Night (and was subsequently booed off stage) but soon made a name for himself anyway on the New York comedy circuit. He appeared on HBO's "Def Comedy Jam" in 1992 and won critical and popular acclaim for his performance. This was a turning point in his popularity, and he became a regular guest on the late-night circuit on shows like "Late Show with David Letterman," "The Howard Stern Show," and "Late Night with Conan O'Brien." At age 19, he landed a gig as the opening act for Aretha Franklin.

Chappelle made his film debut at the age of 20 in the 1993 Mel Brooks comedy "Robin Hood: Men in Tights." Dave landed a few other film roles, including a small part in the 1996 Eddie Murphy film "The Nutty Professor." In 1998, he starred in and co-wrote the stoner film "Half Baked."

"Chappelle's Show"

After several failed television pilots, in 2003, Dave launched the sketch comedy series "Chappelle's Show." The show was wildly popular and ran for two successful seasons and was nominated for three Emmy Awards.

One of the most iconic aspects of "Chappelle's Show" was its ability to create viral catchphrases and characters. Sketches like "The Racial Draft," "Charlie Murphy's True Hollywood Stories," and "The Wayne Brady Show" became cultural touchstones, widely quoted and referenced. The portrayal of celebrities, such as Rick James and Prince, in these sketches added to their legendary status.

Despite its comedic nature, "Chappelle's Show" was also a platform for social critique. It fearlessly tackled issues such as institutional racism, police brutality, and media stereotypes, often presenting them in a manner that was as thought-provoking as it was humorous. This blend of comedy and commentary resonated with a wide audience, making the show a critical and commercial success.

$50 Million Contract

Dave abruptly left during production of the third season, though Comedy Central later aired the episodes created without him. Chappelle cited the fact that he did not like the direction the show was going, that he was overworked with 20-hour workdays, and did not have time to devote to his stand-up career as reasons for leaving.

Walking away from the show meant the cancellation of a $50 million contract with Comedy Central.

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Comeback

In 2004, Michel Gondry directed "Dave Chappelle's Block Party," a documentary about a rap concert hosted by Chappelle in Bedford-Stuyvesant, Brooklyn, which featured a number of rap and hip-hop performances, including the reunion of The Fugees.

Between 2005 and 2013, Dave dabbled in various stand-up acts and TV show appearances before making a major career comeback in 2013. He returned to headlining his own stand-up tours. In June 2014, he returned to the New York City circuit for the first time in 11 years and performed ten nights at Radio City Music Hall. Chappelle hosted "Saturday Night Live" for the first time on November 12, 2016, the weekend after Donald Trump won the 2016 presidential election. His eloquent and biting opening monologue and subsequent sketch performances were critically acclaimed and loved by audiences, and he received an Emmy Award for Outstanding Guest Actor in a Comedy Series for his performance. He donated his Emmy to his former high school.

(Photo by Kevin Winter/Getty Images)

Continued Success and Accolades

Chappelle has continued to reap the rewards of his long, sometimes hard-fought-for career. He has won five Grammy Awards for Best Comedy Album, and "Equanimity" and "Sticks & Stones" each won an Emmy for Outstanding Variety Special.

Dave made a big return to the movie world when he appeared in "A Star is Born," playing Noodles, the best friend of Bradley Cooper's character. The movie was a massive success and went on to garner numerous prestigious nominations and awards, including an Academy Award nomination for Best Picture. Jon Stewart and Chappelle joined forces on a comedy tour in 2018, and he appeared with Aziz Ansari for three standup shows in Austin, Texas. In 2019, he was given the annual Mark Twain Prize for American Humor, presented by the Kennedy Center. In November 2022, Chappelle hosted "Saturday Night Live" for the third time.

(Photo by Eugene Gologursky/Getty Images for Bombay Sapphire Gin)

Personal Life

Chappelle has been married to Elaine Mendoza Erfe since 2001. They have three children together: sons, Sulayman and Ibrahim, and a daughter, Sanaa. The family lives on a 65-acre farm near Yellow Springs, Ohio. Chappelle also owns several houses in Xenia, Ohio.

Dave converted to Islam in 1998. He threw his support behind Andrew Yang in the 2020 presidential election. Dave donates his time to Seeds of Peace International Camp in Maine. The organization brings young leaders together from communities in conflict. He organized the Gem City Shine Charity concert in August 2019 in Dayton, Ohio, with a star-studded lineup consisting of artists like Stevie Wonder and Chance the Rapper. The benefit concert was held in honor of the victim of the August 4, 2019, Dayton shooting and raised nearly $70,000 for the Oregon District Tragedy Fund.

All net worths are calculated using data drawn from public sources. When provided, we also incorporate private tips and feedback received from the celebrities or their representatives. While we work diligently to ensure that our numbers are as accurate as possible, unless otherwise indicated they are only estimates. We welcome all corrections and feedback using the button below.

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