Foo Fighters Forge Ahead Despite Tragic Losses: New Album and Touring Plans Revealed
Navigating the aftermath of losing a bandmate is an arduous journey, and Foo Fighters’ frontman Dave Grohl is intimately acquainted with this struggle, having endured it twice before.
Having spoken openly about how his passion for music revived him following the tragic passing of Nirvana’s frontman Kurt Cobain in 1994, Grohl channeled his emotions into recording the inaugural Foo Fighters album. Fast forward nearly two decades later, Grohl and his fellow bandmates find solace in rock ‘n’ roll again as they grapple with grief.
Their latest album, “But Here We Are,” released on June 2, arrives 15 months after the untimely death of their beloved drummer Taylor Hawkins, who passed away while on tour in Colombia. Compounding the heartache, Grohl’s mother, Virginia Hanlon Grohl, also departed in August of the previous year. Consequently, “But Here We Are” reflects the profound impact of losing these influential figures within the Foo Fighters family.
The band describes the album as a “brutally honest and emotionally raw response to everything Foo Fighters endured…a year of staggering losses, personal introspection, and bittersweet remembrances.” Comprising ten tracks, the album encapsulates many emotions, from rage and sorrow to serenity and acceptance, traversing the intricate tapestry of human experience.
Produced by Greg Kurstin, who has collaborated with Grohl on the band’s two previous albums and their acclaimed Hanukkah Sessions, “But Here We Are” amalgamates the naiveté of Foo Fighters’ 1995 debut with decades of maturity and depth. The music media has showered the record with praise, with NME awarding it a perfect five-star rating, hailing it as “a beautiful, noisy celebration of brotherhood and a stark, painful exploration of loss.” Kerrang! Calls it an “extraordinary” masterpiece that uncovers beauty amidst unimaginable suffering. Meanwhile, TheMusic.com describes it as a pop-rock opus that takes listeners on an emotionally intense journey. Consequence Of Sound asserts that Foo Fighters have achieved greatness through their grief, delivering their most captivating and innovative album in over two decades.
Overflowing with the raw sentiment, the album oscillates between sadness and numbness before weaving in hope and love, all interlaced with the anthemic, stadium-ready choruses that have become the Foo Fighters’ signature. The culmination arrives in a 15-minute closing sequence, unlike anything the band has ever undertaken. It begins with “The Teacher,” a poignant 10-minute tribute to Grohl’s late mother, followed by “Rest,” a track that commences as a sparsely recorded demo before erupting into a cathartic, tear-inducing farewell.
Amidst online speculation, Foo Fighters ended the curiosity surrounding their future drummer, revealing that Josh Freese would be taking over the kit for upcoming performances. This revelation was delivered in a characteristically playful video featuring cameos from Red Hot Chili Peppers’ Chad Smith, Motley Crue’s Tommy Lee, and Tool’s Danny Carey. Notably, while Freese is not part of “But Here We Are,” Grohl himself assumes the drumming duties on the album. Renowned for his multi-instrumental prowess, Grohl played every instrument on the Foo Fighters’ eponymous debut and replaced most of Will Goldsmith’s drum parts on their second album, “The Colour & The Shape.” However, in subsequent years, Grohl made way for Hawkins to assume the role of the band’s drummer.
Although the Foo Fighters organized two monumental tribute concerts for Taylor
