Foo Fighters

USA, 1994–now

Formed in 1994 by Dave Grohl after Nirvana, initially as a one-man project. Fusing Beatles melody with punk and hardcore drive, The Colour and the Shape and later stadium anthems ('Everlong', 'The Pretender') made them one of the biggest rock bands in the world.

MusicRoots documents 3 artists who influenced Foo Fighters and 1 artist Foo Fighters influenced in turn. Every connection cites a published source.

Who influenced Foo Fighters?

• Hüsker Dü — Dave Grohl calls Hüsker Dü his biggest songwriting influence — the loud-quiet dynamics and melody-in-noise of Zen Arcade are foundational to the Foo Fighters.
• The Beatles — Grohl was raised on the Beatles and the White Album — that melodic grounding sits under the Foo Fighters' punk drive.
• Bad Brains — Bad Brains' ferocious hardcore is part of the punk lineage Grohl wove into the Foo Fighters' heavier moments.

Which artists did Foo Fighters influence?

• Flyleaf — Cited by the band among their influences, alongside Rage Against the Machine and the Smashing Pumpkins.