The Storyteller - Dave Grohl

The Storyteller

By Dave Grohl

  • Release Date: 2021-10-05
  • Genre: Music
Score: 4.5
4.5
From 1,262 Ratings

Description

The #1 New York Times Bestseller * Named one of Variety's Best Music Books of 2021 * Included in Audible's Best of The Year list * A Business Insider Best Memoirs of 2021 * One of NME's Best Music Books of 2021

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. 

Reviews

  • What an amazing story!

    5
    By Scalinni
    He did what we all dream of doing. Told here in a fun to read story. I feel like I lived it with him.
  • Excellent

    5
    By kjsdent
    Fantastic book! Amazing stories and fabulous insight. Had me crying till my sides hurt. Sometimes had me crying so hard I had to stop reading! Beautifully written! It’s always a good thing when someone’s storytelling makes you appreciate your life and theirs. A must read!
  • Aptly named - Dave is a tremendous storyteller

    5
    By Ppjpay
    Seems like one of the good guys of Rock & Roll. He has a true appreciation for those that shaped him as an artist.
  • Generally good

    4
    By So great it's impossible!
    I thought the book was generally very good. He stayed very far away from the Nirvana years and Kurt Cobain. I thought there might be some more there.
  • What an incredible book! Love it!

    5
    By Engineerbroad
    Great and entertaining read with lot of music history, funny moments, stories of life and friendships.
  • That Rock Lifestyle

    3
    By Richard Bakare
    This memoir was good not great, despite its being on multiple must-read listicles. What is interesting about it is the opportunity to hear the behind the scenes stories behind some of the biggest bands of my teenage years. What was missing is more of the details and meaning behind each song a la Dolly Parton’s recent memoir. Though I do appreciate the transparency on his relationship with Kurt Cobain and that period which was fraught with craziness. One other disconcerting aspect is that Dave hops back and forth between periods a lot so you have to do some of the work to keep what’s happening straight. However, the book being non-linear may also be reflective of his personality as he tries to get across when he says he lets the universe have its way in his life. All in all, it added a lot of color to a high energy and interesting persona you only know from his music. The stories further highlight the eccentricities you would expect with a rock and roll lifestyle. What we ultimately learn is that Dave Grohl is like the rock equivalent of Dolly Parton in how he bridges genres and a who’s who of music and society titans. The root of this connective energy is found in the theme carried all throughout the book. That being the connective power of music itself. The shared experience of the chorus of a song blasting over our car radios as we navigate a scorching summer. Or the reminiscing that is triggered when long forgotten tune pops up on your playlist. If this memoir is anything, it’s a great example of how the stories of our lives are inextricably linked to music.
  • Outstanding

    5
    By Nonenow2222
    David Grohl lives his life like he is Forrest Gump and doesn’t realize what a great artist he is himself.
  • Don’t let it end.

    5
    By no nickname Jeanette
    To say I loved this book is an understatement. We need more Dave’s in the world today.
  • I’m not a reader, he’s not a writer.

    5
    By BreadBros
    Love Dave Grohl. Smart, Humble, Beer Drinking, Herb burning, Girl Dad RockStar. Thank you for sharing your life with us.
  • Enjoyed

    4
    By Ashleyviccy
    I enjoyed storyteller as it’s exactly what you’d expect. A collection of stories by an interesting and awesome artist. At first it felt all over the place but it was neat to read about all the connections you might not have known about. Like when I realized foo’s drummer was with Alanis on the Jagged little pill tour. (News to me maybe jot music die hards)

Comments