Character Definition Essay

Dave Grohl once known as “that dude that played drums in Nirvana,” Dave Grohl, born in 1969, has made a made a name for himself as the one of the greatest rock stars of all time. Now the frontman of the Foo Fighters, Grohl’s riveting musical philosophy and history has led him to be the charismatic and fun loving person he is today. Dave Grohl is an inspiration all over the world, sharing his passion for music and his outlook on life with those who appreciate and admire him. His success has shaped the character of the man he is today. At the age of 15, Grohl dropped out of high school to play drums in his adolescent band “Scream.” In 1990, after the band split, Grohl traveled to Seattle in hopes of becoming Nirvana’s new drummer, joining the band members Kurt Cobain and Krist Novoselic. “All I really had was a suitcase and my drums. So I took them up to Seattle and hoped it would work,” Dave said describing his leap of faith into the music industry. Later that year, Grohl was accepted into the band and moved in with Cobain—he stayed there years after the band’s success. In 1994, Cobain, victim of fame and drugs, committed suicide. With the loss of a best friend and band member, Grohl was left confused and lonely with such a sudden pull from the world of music. Following Cobain’s death, Grohl appeared lost for words. He wrote:
"My soul went dead to music. It's like a defense mechanism. When music touches a place in you that's so deep that it can cause pain, you build walls around it and shut yourself off. In 1994 music represented everything to me. My relationships with people. My state of mind. My well-being. So when something like Kurt dying happens, the music reminds you of everything, and you've just gotta turn it off. It was just too... overwhelming. But then what happens is, music becomes healing. Still, to this day, one of the reasons why I do what I'm doing is because of all of that." Later that year, Grohl returned to music. What makes him different from the typical rock star is that he did not return to music for the money or fame, but for his honest and sincere love of music. In the course of 5 days, Grohl recorded 13 songs, playing each instrument and singing each song. He then distributed 100 copies to his friends involved in the music industry and within the next year had multiple rock hits. Today, the Foo Fighters band members consist of drummer Taylor Hawkins, guitarists Chris Shinflett and Pat Smear, and bass guitarists Nate Mendel and Grohl. himself. Being surrounded by friends explains Grohl’s humbleness. Grohl has always been more focused on the passion behind the music rather that the fame he gained from it. He said: "The most important thing is that we do what we do with the same integrity we had when we started 16 years ago. We're not a financially ambitious band—we're doing just fine. It comes down to how much do you really need?" Grohl married Jordyn Blum in 2003. They have two daughters—Violet, born in 2006, and Harber Willow, born in 2009. When asked about the effects being a dad took on his musical career, he responded- “I used to tour nine months out of the year. Now I don't like being away from my kids for more than 12 days. It's changed everything that I do. When you have kids, you see life through different eyes. You feel love more deeply and are maybe a little more compassionate. It's inevitable that that would make its way into your songwriting.”
Grohl’s success has shaped his character. He is a kind, humble, and a passionate artist. Without Nirvana’s triumph and demise, Grohl would not be where he is today. Despite hardships, such as the death of Cobain, Grohl found the strength to return to music through his everlong passion of it. “Through Kurt I saw the beauty of minimalism and the importance of music that's stripped down.” Dave said. He believes that music should be displayed in it’s purest form.
Dave Grohl found himself through his success, as a musician, as a songwriter, as a person. He is not that of oppressive behavior and autocratic music. He is that of loving and emotional music, inspiring and beautiful to all who listen.

Works Cited
"10 Questions for Dave Grohl." Time 14 Dec. 2009: 1-2. Time. Web. <http://www.time.com/time/magazine/article/0,9171,1945348-1,00.html>.

BrainyQuote. Xplore. Web. 28 Feb. 2012. <http://www.brainyquote.com/quotes/authors/d/dave_grohl.html>.

"Dave Grohl Biography." Bio.com. A&E Networks Television. Web. 28 Feb. 2012. <http://www.biography.com/people/dave-grohl-279081?page=2>.

Wilkinson, Carl. "How Did a Drummer Who Never Intended to Make Money from Music End up as One of the Biggest and Wealthiest Rock Stars?" Slate Magazine. 10 Apr. 2011. Web. 28 Feb. 2012. <http://www.slate.com/articles/life/ft/2011/04/dave_grohl_and_the_foo_fighters.3.html>.