Dear Dave:

An Open Letter to Dave Grohl and My Top 15 Foo Fighter Songs

Dave, Where to begin. You are such a huge aspect of my life, and you don't even know it! Creepy? Inspirational? Who knows! You turn 50 today, and I simply can't believe how much you've accomplished not only musically, but personally as well. I won't sit here acting like I know you because in all actuality, I don't. You could be a real asshole for all I know. Fame hungry, and a complete jackass. I laugh as I type that because if that were the case, we'd all know this by now. You inspire me every day, and rather than keep those emotions bottled up, I decided to write a little letter for you that I hope you one day read. I've grown up with your music, but I never really got as invested as I did until my Sophomore year of high school in my Photography class. I half-assed the class until the very last day because I was too busy reading a Kurt Cobain biography and learning every single pause and inhale to each song on every record. I finally felt validated. I finally felt like I found something I could be passionate about and felt confidence in every single CELL of my being. You showed me the power of music. Years passed, hobbies changes, friends came and went, you were always constant. Flash forward to 2014. Your docu-series Sonic Highways premiered and that was my first glimpse into who you were outside of being a musician. You seemed personable, knowledgeable, real. I felt like I was watching a friend, and man the KNOWLEDGE I gained from that show...I can't even begin to tell you. 2015, I wrote an English essay on your song "Feast and the Famine" which I earned an A on, sooooo yeah thanks for that. That was also the very first time I saw you and the band live! September 16, 2015 my hometown hero (my father) and I drove to Mountain View, CA 12 HOURS before the show. We were the tiny specks to the left of you on stage. It's okay, I won't take it personally if you don't remember. That night changed my life forever. It was my first concert tickets I bought with my own money, and my first show seeing a headliner; not one of those radio concerts, ya know? My dad and I shared so many unforgettable moments that night. "My Hero" is my song with my dad, we shared such a raw moment that night, it will always be the first memory I think about when it comes to you.

I won't go through every single moment or detail in this letter because quite frankly, it'd be incredibly long winded and probably way too intense to share.

I mostly just want to say thank you. Thank you for saving my life (no pressure). Thank you for introducing me to artists ranging from Gary Clark Jr. to The Struts to Greta Van Fleet. I've been lucky enough to see you three different times in three different settings, and all surpassed my expectations. You are an incredible musician, but an even better mentor. I've learned it's okay to be unapologetically myself. I've gained an immense amount of self confidence and inspiration to do what makes me happy. You are why I created this blog. You are and always have been an important constant in my life. "No one is you, and that is your power".

With Love,

Mary Jane

15. Wheels

Album: Greatest Hits