A-Z songs by Foo Fighters

About Foo Fighters

Foo Fighters is an American rock band formed in Seattle in 1994. Founded by the former Nirvana drummer Dave Grohl, the lineup now consists of Grohl (lead vocals, guitar), Nate Mendel (bass), Chris Shiflett and Pat Smear (guitars), Rami Jaffee (keyboards), and Josh Freese (drums). Former Foo Fighters members include drummers William Goldsmith and Taylor Hawkins, as well as guitarist Franz Stahl. Grohl and Mendel remain the only consistent members since the Foo Fighters' formation as a full band in 1995.

Grohl initially created Foo Fighters as a one-man project following the death of Kurt Cobain and the subsequent breakup of Nirvana in 1994. Prior to the release of Foo Fighters' 1995 eponymous debut album, Grohl recruited Mendel to play bass and William Goldsmith to play drums, both of whom were formerly of the band Sunny Day Real Estate. Smear, who was a touring guitarist for Nirvana, was also recruited. The band made their first public performance in February 1995 on the Late Show with David Letterman to promote their self-titled debut album. The album saw Grohl receive his first Grammy Award nomination for Best Alternative Music Performance. He was credited under the Foo Fighters name.

Goldsmith quit during the recording of their second album, The Colour and the Shape (1997). Most of the drum parts were re-recorded by Grohl. Smear departed soon afterward. Smear and Goldsmith were subsequently replaced by guitarist Franz Stahl and drummer Taylor Hawkins. However, Stahl was eventually fired. The Colour and the Shape landed Foo Fighters their first Grammy Award nominations as a full band, including Best Rock Album. It became one of the best-selling albums of 1997 and 1998, mostly due to the album's popularity on rock-oriented FM radio formats.

The group's third album, There Is Nothing Left to Lose (1999) was recorded with just three members: Grohl, Mendel and Hawkins. The band briefly continued as a trio until Shiflett joined after the release of the latter album, solidifying the core of their lineup. Much like their previous album, There Is Nothing Left to Lose was heavily promoted through FM rock radio and secured the band's first Grammy wins for Best Rock Album and Best Short Form Music Video.

Foo Fighters released their fourth album, One by One, in 2002. It was followed with the two-disc In Your Honor (2005), which was split between acoustic songs and heavier material. Foo Fighters released their sixth album, Echoes, Silence, Patience & Grace, in 2007.

For Foo Fighters' seventh studio album, Wasting Light (2011), produced by Butch Vig, Smear returned as a full member, after having appeared frequently with the band since 2005. Sonic Highways (2014) was released as the soundtrack to the television miniseries directed by Grohl. Concrete and Gold (2017) was the second Foo Fighters album to reach number one in the United States and the first to feature Jaffee, their longtime session and touring keyboardist, as a full member. Their tenth album, Medicine at Midnight (2021), was the last before Hawkins' death in March 2022. Freese was announced as the band's new drummer the following year. Their eleventh album, But Here We Are, was released in June 2023.

Foo Fighters have won 15 Grammy Awards, including Best Rock Album five times in eight total nominations, making them among the most successful rock acts in the history of the Grammy Awards. In 2021, the band was announced as recipients of the first-ever "Global Icon" award at the 2021 MTV Video Music Awards. They were inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 2021, their first year of eligibility.