This Is a Call: The Life and Times of Dave Grohl - Softcover

Brannigan, Paul

Softcover

ISBN 10: 0306821427 ISBN 13: 9780306821424

Publisher: Da Capo Press, 2013

Synopsis

The biography of the extraordinary career of Dave Grohl, drummer of Nirvana, front man of the Foo Fighters, based on original and exclusive interviews ("A rich history"--New York Times Book Review)
This Is a Call, the first in-depth, definitive biography of Dave Grohl, tells the epic story of a singular career that includes Nirvana, Foo Fighters, Queens of the Stone Age, and Them Crooked Vultures. Based on ten years of original, exclusive interviews with the man himself and conversations with a legion of musical associates like Queens of the Stone Age frontman Josh Homme, DC punk legend Ian MacKaye, and Nevermind producer Butch Vig, this is Grohl's story. He speaks candidly and honestly about Kurt Cobain, the arguments that almost tore Nirvana apart, the feuds that threatened to derail the Foo Fighters's global success, and the dark days that almost caused him to quit music for good.Dave Grohl has emerged as one of the most recognizable and respected musicians in the world. He is the last true hero to emerge from the American underground. This Is a Call vividly recounts this incredible rock 'n' roll journey.

About this title

Review:

[An] engaging and insightful bio...Brannigan puts Grohl's influences, inspirations, and early musical career into context...Those who want to get a better understanding of the musician will find this an entertaining and perhaps educational read."--Publishers Weekly

"A rich history of recent pop music as it moves from punk and hard-core to grunge to indie bands...Students of that period will find much to dwell on here."
--New York Times Book Review

"Brannigan salutes a musician who's surfaced, prosperous and sane, from the perils of an extended punk-rock adolescence that not all of his friends survived. Reverent and informative."--Kirkus Reviews

"Brannigan not only offers a penetrating portrait of Grohl the man but also presents an indelible portrait of the American underground-rock scene."
--Booklist

"Offers a thorough--if unauthorized--biography touching on all aspects of Grohl's career, and paints a fully detailed portrait of the man. Brannigan's knowledge of his subject is encyclopedic, based on his own interviews, and worth celebrating simply for the manner in which he is able to place Grohl's work in the context of post-punk history."
--Buffalo News

"Grohl and his groups [are] dissected with gumption."--Mojo

"[A] well-researched bio...A fascinating read, This Is a Call doesn't skimp on entertaining anecdotes, juicy gossip or evidence of Grohl's immense songwriting talent."
--Alternative Press

The leader of the Foo Fighters comes off as music's most affable man, but it turns out there's more turmoil in the ranks than it seems."--New York Daily News

"Quite an achievement...Brannigan draws on his own interviews with Grohl, among others, to plot a compelling journey...A big-hearted, fascinating read."
--Q Magazine

"There is a lot to like about this book in which Brannigan gives us a real insider's view of Grohl and his rise to the top...The stories are interesting in that they show Grohl as not just a rock hero but as a huge admirer of music who basically just wanted to join the scene that moved him so. There are also more than a share of personal stories that humanize Grohl and his various band mates exposing their vulnerabilities perhaps more than ever before."--Loudwire.com

About the Author:

Paul Brannigan is the author of This Is A Call: The Life And Times Of Dave Grohl and the co-author (alongside Ian Winwood) of the two-volume Metallica history Birth School Metallica Death and Into the Black. A former editor of Kerrang!--the world's biggest weekly music magazine--Brannigan's writing has also appeared in Mojo, Rolling Stone, Q, Classic Rock, and Metal Hammer magazines. He lives in London.

About this edition

• Publisher: Da Capo Press
• Publication date: 2013
• ISBN 10: 0306821427
• ISBN 13: 9780306821424
• Binding: Paperback
• Number of pages: 416