Dave Grohl: I’d love to play drums in AC/DC
During an interview with Forbes about the midterm elections, Grohl was asked if there was a dream act he’d love to play drums for, and he promptly answered, “AC/DC. That’s the last one. Phil Rudd is back, though.”
It’s always got to be fun when you get to play drums for someone else’s band. So who is the dream person to play drums for?
Dave Grohl: AC/DC. That’s my last one, that’s it. Phil Rudd is back though. If you dive back into their back catalog, that early shit, there was a little bit more dynamic, then they settled into the groove. That’s the thing. And it’s because of Phil Rudd. It’s AC/DC, but that guy holds the key.
What made you come out to this tonight?
Grohl: Growing up outside of Washington, DC, the underground music scene there was always very political. So from the Dischord bands to a lot of the bands from the suburbs if there was an event or a protest that involved music it was usually one of our bands. So I played Amnesty International, I’ve marched with drums and stood outside of the South African Embassy, these punk percussion protests against Apartheid.
Baltin: Talk about how inspiring it is for you to see this next generation of musicians get involved.
Grohl: I remember when we played the Live Earth benefit 10 years ago, long time ago, more than anyone I was thinking of my daughters. She was in the forefront of my mind taking her generation into consideration. And so a lot of the issues everyone’s talking about here apply to not only us, but my children. So as a father there is some responsibility to help.
Baltin: Talk about the discourse that exists today.
Grohl: You do [have to fight back], but at the same time I do believe in when they go low you go high. I do believe in that. And I think about that every day. First thing I do when I wake up in the morning is check the f**king news. I don’t just check one news agent. I go through about six of them, just to see what’s going on. And that in itself is a little bit of a pickle. And I look and see what’s happening on the other side and there are times I think, “Oh god, I hope we give it to them.” But then I think someone has to hold a little bit of civility. I honestly think there is some currency to when they go low you go high cause otherwise we’re so f**ked. I remember when my father was working on Capitol Hill that on Sunday’s he would take me to this bar in Georgetown called Nathan’s and it’s sort of where a lot of the writers and PR guys and some politicians would come just to drink scotch. And they would all talk and get along, people from both sides of the aisle could step outside of the office and come down to Nathan’s and actually talk about stuff. I miss those days when people could sit down and really talk with each other. I think it’s still possible.
Dave Grohl, Beck, and Yeah Yeah Yeahs all participated in a get-out-the-vote event put on by Swing Left and held in Los Angeles on Thursday night.
Grohl, playing drums, backed Beck for a performance of “Where It’s At”, which included a snippet of Chic’s “Good Times”. Later, Grohl accompanied Yeah Yeah Yeahs’ Karen O and Nick Zinner as they ran through “Heads Will Roll”.
