EARLY PRAISE FOR THE STORYTELLER:
“Grohl candidly shares his reverence for the enduring power of music…Reflecting on his fame, Grohl writes, ‘I have never taken a single moment of it for granted.’ Paired with his sparkling wit, this humility is what makes Grohl’s soulful story a cut above typical rock memoirs. There isn’t a dull moment here.” ─ Publishers Weekly, starred review
“Nirvana drummer and Foo Fighters frontman Grohl joyfully recounts his life in this memoir…Grohl bares his soul and shares his passion in this must-read memoir, which will resonate with music lovers and his fans.” ─ Library Journal, starred review
“Kinetic…Grohl writes with equal fervor about his path from ‘that guy from Nirvana’ to the leader of the uber famous Foo Fighters and his parenting experiences. An exciting read for fans and a remarkable perspective on the last 30 years of rock music.” ─ Booklist
Dey Street Books is thrilled to publish THE STORYTELLER by Grammy-winning musician, documentary filmmaker, and debut author Dave Grohl.
Dave Grohl has been one of the most beloved and respected figures on the international music scene since his recorded debut with Nirvana on 1991’s generation-defining Nevermind. Grohl took center stage with Foo Fighters’ 1995 self titled debut, the first of 10 albums in a massive 12-Grammy winning streak, most recently including the #1 album sales charting Medicine at Midnight. For more than three decades, Grohl has travelled the planet doing the thing he loves most playing rock n roll marathons for tens of thousands of ecstatic Foo Fighters fans. But when the pandemic necessitated going into lockdown, he took stock of how he might use this moment of pause. Channeling his creativity into writing and using his remarkable skill for storytelling, Grohl’s Instagram account @davestruestories was born. This new platform became a way for Dave to share his extraordinary stories with fans and fellow music nuts and now, he has written his first book.
THE STORYTELLER has finally provided Dave with the opportunity to shed some light on the fascinating life he has led while living out his dreams. From teaching himself to drum on pillows to leaving high school to tour European clubs and squats at 18 years old, his years in Nirvana and decades in Foo Fighters, playing with Tom Petty on Saturday Night Live, jamming with Iggy Pop, swing dancing with AC/DC and the Preservation Hall Jazz Band, having Paul McCartney over for a visit, bedtime stories with Joan Jett or a chance meeting with Little Richard, to the simple pleasures of family life…Dave shares his amazing world with readers while poignantly touching on the impact that his friends, bandmates, and family have had on him throughout the years.
THE STORYTELLER is as much a celebration of music as it is about the moments that have molded Dave into the man he is today. Dave says that every day is a blank page, waiting to write itself. THE STORYTELLER proves him a natural writer, with a life worthy of the 400 pages that make up this very special book. We are eager to share this book with fans and readers, and we can’t wait for this next chapter of Dave’s life, as an author, to begin.
“Since I was a child, I have always measured my life in musical increments rather than months or years. My mind faithfully relies on songs, albums, and bands to remember a particular time and place. From seventies AM radio to every microphone I’ve stood before, I could tell you who, what, where, and when from the first few notes of any song that has crept from a speaker to my soul. Or from my soul to your speakers. Some people’s reminiscence is triggered by taste, some people’s by sight or smell. Mine is triggered by sound, playing like an unfinished mixtape to be sent. Though I have never been one to collect ‘stuff,’ I do collect moments. So, in that respect, my life flashes before my eyes through my ears every single day. In this book, I’ve captured some of them, as best I can. These memories, from all over my life, are full of music, of course. And they can be loud at times. Turn it up. Listen with me.”
─ Dave Grohl from the Introduction of The Storyteller