Arts & Literature
![Dave Grohl - [object Object] author](https://res.cloudinary.com/readsomnia/image/upload/authors/a_B091S2D6H2.jpg)
The Storyteller: Tales of Life and Music
The #1 New York Times Bestseller
So, I've written a book.
Having entertained the idea for years, and even offered a few questionable opportunities ("It's a piece of cake! Just do 4 hours of interviews, find someone else to write it, put your face on the cover, and voila!") I have decided to write these stories just as I have always done, in my own hand. The joy that I have felt from chronicling these tales is not unlike listening back to a song that I've recorded and can't wait to share with the world, or reading a primitive journal entry from a stained notebook, or even hearing my voice bounce between the Kiss posters on my wall as a child.
This certainly doesn't mean that I'm quitting my day job, but it does give me a place to shed a little light on what it's like to be a kid from Springfield, Virginia, walking through life while living out the crazy dreams I had as young musician. From hitting the road with Scream at 18 years old, to my time in Nirvana and the Foo Fighters, jamming with Iggy Pop or playing at the Academy Awards or dancing with AC/DC and the Preservation Hall Jazz Band, drumming for Tom Petty or meeting Sir Paul McCartney at Royal Albert Hall, bedtime stories with Joan Jett or a chance meeting with Little Richard, to flying halfway around the world for one epic night with my daughters…the list goes on. I look forward to focusing the lens through which I see these memories a little sharper for you with much excitement.
So, I've written a book.
Having entertained the idea for years, and even offered a few questionable opportunities ("It's a piece of cake! Just do 4 hours of interviews, find someone else to write it, put your face on the cover, and voila!") I have decided to write these stories just as I have always done, in my own hand. The joy that I have felt from chronicling these tales is not unlike listening back to a song that I've recorded and can't wait to share with the world, or reading a primitive journal entry from a stained notebook, or even hearing my voice bounce between the Kiss posters on my wall as a child.
This certainly doesn't mean that I'm quitting my day job, but it does give me a place to shed a little light on what it's like to be a kid from Springfield, Virginia, walking through life while living out the crazy dreams I had as young musician. From hitting the road with Scream at 18 years old, to my time in Nirvana and the Foo Fighters, jamming with Iggy Pop or playing at the Academy Awards or dancing with AC/DC and the Preservation Hall Jazz Band, drumming for Tom Petty or meeting Sir Paul McCartney at Royal Albert Hall, bedtime stories with Joan Jett or a chance meeting with Little Richard, to flying halfway around the world for one epic night with my daughters…the list goes on. I look forward to focusing the lens through which I see these memories a little sharper for you with much excitement.
Editorial Reviews
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)
Kinetic… Grohl writes with equal fervor about his path from "that guy from Nirvana" to the leader of the uberfamous Foo Fighters and his parenting experiences. An exciting read for fans and a remarkable perspective on the last 30 years of rock music." -- Booklist
Kinetic… Grohl writes with equal fervor about his path from "that guy from Nirvana" to the leader of the uberfamous Foo Fighters and his parenting experiences. An exciting read for fans and a remarkable perspective on the last 30 years of rock music." -- Booklist
Readers Top Reviews
Marcello Penna Roc
David Grohl é um exímio baterista, mas também é um monstro na arte de contar boas histórias. Mais do que uma simples biografia, esse livro é uma ode ao rock. Com uma escrita fluida, envolve o leitor da primeira a última página. Um gênio dos nossos tempos. Livro obrigatório para quem gosta de Rock.
Nicole FergusonTonyI
I feel terrible for writing this since I am a huge Dave Grohl fan and find him extremely gifted, authentic, generous, etc… The book felt a tad juvenile and over exuberant in describing seemingly basic stories. I’m only on page 50 and not sure I can muscle through the rest. I thoroughly enjoyed his interview with Howard Stern and his storytelling is far better when he breathes life into it through his verbal words rather than his written ones. I gave it 3 stars because he’s still God like in my eyes.
CGB
The other five-star reviews capture the eloquence, energy, and passion Dave Grohl leaves on the pages of this eminently readable memoir. I really couldn’t put it down, which is saying something for me as I don’t usually find biographies and autobiographies to be page-turners. Also, I really enjoyed his stories about his kids and his tributes to his mother. Loved it! But I want to mention something that, for me, was a big missing piece, which was a description of the beginning of putting the Foo Fighters band together. Dave leaps from the intermission between the end of Nirvana to suddenly the release of FFs’ second album and world tour. How did FF come together? He mentions the band members at the end, almost as a tribute (which moved my review from a 4- to a 5-star), but I really wanted more insight into the origins of the Foo Fighters. I guess that’s my own personal obsession, and shouldn’t distract from the joy of reading this wonderful memoir. Congrats, Dave. It’s a great read. If this rock star thing doesn’t work out, you have a career as a writer.
Tracy
So I may have a little thing for rock musician biographies. I’m kind of fascinated by their lives and inspirations, what moves them and influences their music… and there’s one memoir in particular I’ve been hoping to read for what seems like forever. Dave Grohl’s The Storyteller. I am a HUGE fan, and have been since the very first time I heard “Smells Like Teen Spirit” on MTV. And yes, I may have preordered “The Storyteller” before I finished reading the press release announcing it. So you might think that my review is a little bit prejudiced -- but truthfully, he has earned every one of these stars with this well-written, completely absorbing memoir. You’ll cheer for him as he realizes his dream of becoming a touring musician, cry with him as he loses friends, family, and bandmates, and share his wonder at the incredibly blessed life he has led. The Storyteller is jam-packed with non-stop story after incredible story, and yet will still leave you wanting more and more… just like a great Foo Fighters concert. Don’t miss it! “Someday I’ll have to tell you the rest.” Oh, Dave… Trust me, we’re going to hold you to that promise. 😉
Isaac Martinez
You wouldn't think a huge rock star/legend like Dave Grohl could write a book that you would read and nod your head to on every page turn, but Dave wasn't born into stardom. He grew up just like most of us in GenX and his stories are relatable because we've all been there. His take on life and what matters to him is inspirational and I have to think it's a big reason for his success. It's not what drove him (except to shove it in Sandy's face, and we all have had that dream growing up), but the passion for music and life. The best guitar is not the pristine one in the case but the worn one that has a story to tell because it was used in life. Dave is very much on his way to being the used guitar with the patina, but that's the one I would want in my collection every day because it outshines the one in the case in ways that aren't so obvious. Thanks for writing this story and I look forward to following all your next set of adventures in life! Thank you too for giving us all years of joy and emotion through your music. You make life worth getting out of bed for and living as we all write new pages in our own books with your tunes featuring prominently in the soundtrack of our lives.
