Dave Grohl Unsure About Greatest Hits

Dave Grohl of Foo Fighters admits he has some reservations about releasing their 'Greatest Hits' collection, because it seems too early in their career.

Speaking to BBC Radio 1's Chris Moyles today (4th November), the rocker told the host: "It still seems premature because we're still a functioning, active band. Those things can look like an obituary."

Grohl explained the band were obligated to released the compilation, because of their record contract.

"We were asked to do this a long time ago. We wrote it into a deal a long time ago - that's how it works."

"They started asking about four years ago, and we said, 'Don't we need some hits?' I think there are better songs than some of those."

Thanks for the report to Angryape.com.

Comments

[_T_H_R_I_C_E_]

At least its not as bad as Fall Out Boy and their "Greatest Hits"

[KevVin]

He's always said that, that's why I was a bit upset when I found out about this.

[Comeback Kiddd]

The greatest hits forgot to include DOA or my personal favorite Last Song :[

[edinfang]

I think I agree Foofighters still have a lot to offer

[alkalineweeman]

I don't mind bands releasing greatest hits records mid career, it lets people (like me) who like the band but not enough to invest in a full discography to get the songs they like in one package.

Would maybe have been better calling it "Greatest Hits 1995-2007" if they plan on going on a few years yet, that way you dont get the misconception that its a final hoorah.

I'll probably pick this up for parties etc, some great pop songs on here that everyone knows.

[NittanyLion07]

Last Song was NOT a greatest hit.

[LesThanPaul]

Well it's good to hear he considers them a 'functioning active band', I was afraid the greatest hits would be about it for the foos since they've been on a break for a while.

[dausham]

thats because dave is drumming for them crooked vultures

[reignofrock]

Oh well, if they manage to keep going they can just do an Essential, then they'll have two disc with greatest hits he can be pleased with, and these others that people are now used to having them referred to as "Greatest Hits".

[BassFishin]

This article gave me some hope. I always thought it was wierd that Dave Grohl would make a greatest hits. Usually those kinds of things are just ways to make money, and Grohl is not about being in it for the money.

Also, the fact that this clearly was not their final stand. This collection album is more like an obstacle to them than an achievement.

Awesome.

[BassFishin]

(sorry to double)

One more thing, this article makes me think twice about the 2 new songs. Maybe they felt forced to make them, hence why they were a little weaker than most foo material.

Although, Word Forward is pretty catchy...

[ModestMelon]

The direction the foos seem to be going musically I can definitely see them being around a fair while yet. I can see why record labels like greatest hits - it's guaranteed reasonable sales - but this one really seemed too soon

[Dudeman5000]

_T_H_R_I_C_E_ wrote:

At least its not as bad as Fall Out Boy and their "Greatest Hits"

I'm not a fan of either, but Foo Fighters have released six studio albums, and Fall Out Boy have realeased five. I really don't see what you're getting at.

[barden1069]

I felt this way (and commented so) on the article they had about the Greatest Hits album a few days ago on the homepage. I'm glad to hear that I seem to feel the same as Dave that Foo Fighters has a lot more to offer and that it seems a little early for an album like this

[jonnyharris1]

I listened to this interview this mornign and this account of it sounds com-letely different and out of context.
First he did not say he was unsure, just that he wanted to do mroe albums before having to make a greatest hits, he was asked after the last few albums each time to do one and said no each time.
This article just makes it soudn negative when really ti was a very light hearted jokey interview

[.:!j.man!:.]

Geatist hits should always be a last release.

[DeadDerykk88]

Their new song is so awful...

[Guitar Newbie]

DeadDerykk88 wrote:

Their new song is so awful...

Which one? You know they released 2 with the record right?
I for one think they're pretty good...

[Ace5gt]

Nowadays any band with 3 albums gets a greatest hits record. It's kind of ridiculous. They used to be reserved for artist that truly deserved them (Tom Petty, etc). Not to say Foo's don't, but greatest hits albums should be reserved for artists that are retired or are long past their heyday.

[InMyHead_x]

DeadDerykk88 wrote:

Their new song is so awful...

Totally

[Drewdolph21]

They should've waited 5 more years.

[Gh.]

It still seems premature because we're still a functioning, active band. Those things can look like an obituary.

That's exactly how I feel about them. They're only understandable for me as 'ferwell-albums'.

[therudycometh]

"Wheels" is one of the most God-awful songs on modern rock radio. And coming from these guys, it makes me cringe even more. Wasn't Dave Grohl the drummer for freaking NIRVANA? What the hell is this radio-friendly crap he's putting out 15 years later?

checked

[nehpets5555]

I actually love Wheels. Good to see Dave saying theres lots more to come from foos

[StONE_ROdGEr]

_T_H_R_I_C_E_ wrote:

At least its not as bad as Fall Out Boy and their "Greatest Hits"

They have hits?

[DiabolusnMusica]

i checked the gh list and theres a lot of songs missing. dave says a gh would be premature but I feel like they need 2 cds to make it more acurate

[Bosco_Hogan]

therudycometh wrote:

"Wheels" is one of the most God-awful songs on modern rock radio. And coming from these guys, it makes me cringe even more. Wasn't Dave Grohl the drummer for freaking NIRVANA? What the hell is this radio-friendly crap he's putting out 15 years later?

personally i have to agree. i turned on the song and had to change it cuz 1) i thought i put on the country station and 2) it sucked. i expected better from them. maybe there will be more thats better

[DiabolusnMusica]

DiabolusnMusica wrote:

i checked the gh list and theres a lot of songs missing. dave says a gh would be premature but I feel like they need 2 cds to make it more acurate

this is a call, ill stick around, monkey wrench, hey jp, hero, everlong (not ac fcs), stackd ac, breakout, learn to fly, all my life, low, times like these, no way back, best of you, doa, resolve, pretender, long road to ruin; they just cant leave any of those out.

[weezergeek182]

they've had alot of hits.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Foo_Fighters_discograp hy

[xoguitarist95ox]

instead f calling it greatest hits to me sounds like there breakin up they should just call it hits

[weezergeek182]

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Foo_Fighters_discography

sor ry. here

[darkfire_storm]

i think it's funny that he said that they need hits first. the band is generally pretty awesome with many great songs, sold out arenas, etc. and yet, he's still so modest. dave grohl is my hero.

[GoToSleep]

Their best days are far behind them, so I think a Greatest hits record isn't a bad idea for the average fan who wants a lot of their good songs and doesn't want to buy their first couple albums. That being said, a lot of their best material is left off of it.

[BurntGerbil]

BassFishin wrote:

(sorry to double)

One more thing, this article makes me think twice about the 2 new songs. Maybe they felt forced to make them, hence why they were a little weaker than most foo material.

Although, Word Forward is pretty catchy...

There's often a stipulation in a record contract that requires a certain number of new tracks to be put on the (also contractually obligated) Greatest Hits album.

[cick13]

Fuck the music industry.

Glad to see Grohl is saying something about this kind of bull.

[SamXmas94]

Dudeman5000 wrote:

_T_H_R_I_C_E_ wrote:

At least its not as bad as Fall Out Boy and their "Greatest Hits"

I'm not a fan of either, but Foo Fighters have released six studio albums, and Fall Out Boy have realeased five. I really don't see what you're getting at.

Fall Out Boy aren't making anymore songs/albums, so that's why they're releasing the Greatist Hits album, probably for a bit more cash too or something.

[ptr362]

Dudeman5000 wrote:

_T_H_R_I_C_E_ wrote:

At least its not as bad as Fall Out Boy and their "Greatest Hits"

I'm not a fan of either, but Foo Fighters have released six studio albums, and Fall Out Boy have realeased five. I really don't see what you're getting at.

Fall Out Boy haven't been around for long and most people have only heard about them in the last 2 years when they actually started making some "hits". Foo Fighters have been around making classics for over a decade.

[sammo_boi]

the pretender = genius

[seifer_alamasy]

Hmm, sounds like something Oasis said a couple years ago. Fuck off Grohl.

[niel9802]

ptr362 wrote:

Dudeman5000 wrote:

_T_H_R_I_C_E_ wrote:

At least its not as bad as Fall Out Boy and their "Greatest Hits"

I'm not a fan of either, but Foo Fighters have released six studio albums, and Fall Out Boy have realeased five. I really don't see what you're getting at.

Fall Out Boy haven't been around for long and most people have only heard about them in the last 2 years when they actually started making some "hits". Foo Fighters have been around making classics for over a decade.

this.

[Msu_Man04]

SamXmas94 wrote:

Dudeman5000 wrote:

_T_H_R_I_C_E_ wrote:

At least its not as bad as Fall Out Boy and their "Greatest Hits"

I'm not a fan of either, but Foo Fighters have released six studio albums, and Fall Out Boy have realeased five. I really don't see what you're getting at.

Fall Out Boy aren't making anymore songs/albums, so that's why they're releasing the Greatist Hits album, probably for a bit more cash too or something.

Not right now they aren't, but they're still together, and they'll have new music (yay! ^_^)

therudycometh wrote:

"Wheels" is one of the most God-awful songs on modern rock radio. And coming from these guys, it makes me cringe even more. Wasn't Dave Grohl the drummer for freaking NIRVANA? What the hell is this radio-friendly crap he's putting out 15 years later?

Kurt Cobain wrote Nirvana's stuff, not Dave. You know what Dave wrote back then? "Marigold." "Friend of a Friend." Both pretty easy going, not Nirvana at all. (Although the Late! stuff was... just plain weird.)

He writes what he likes, fucking deal with it. I love "Wheels." I love every damned thing the Foos release. They can do anything and sound good, in my opinion. Did you guys bitch this much about Long Road to Ruin? (You probably did, but still)

Don't write them off just yet. You know how diverse their albums are. TINLTL had "Stacked Actors." Compare that to "Next Year," on the same album. Totally different. There'll be heavy stuff and light stuff on the record, just like every other record.

God love the Foos.

Checked.

[Plaeghdraeger]

They could easily fill a best off- album, but it's great they don't want to sell out and make money instead of music

[metal@hart11]

BassFishin :
(sorry to double)

One more thing, this article makes me think twice about the 2 new songs. Maybe they felt forced to make them, hence why they were a little weaker than most foo material.

Although, Word Forward is pretty catchy...

i completely agree with what you said. feels forced. I for one think that forward song is just wayyy toooo reppetitive though. FORWARD!! FORWRD!!! FORWARD

[misfit_lover]

edinfang wrote:

I think I agree Foofighters still have a lot to offer

agree

[The Chauffeur]

the greatest hits so far. what's the problem dave?

[Cobalt Blue]

Yeah didn't seem like something he'd be happy with. he's probably not thrilled about the whole cash grab throw 2 new songs on it to get the hard core fans to spend more money either.

I would have been happier if they released a First 10 Yeats Box Set, or something. special re-releases of the first 5 albums plus B-sides collection and a DVD something like that.

[Track-Runner]

If you are a band that is signed to a major label, and you sign a contract that says you have to release a greatest hits album or whatever, then you are contractually obligated, so it doesn't matter if he wanted to or not.

Blame the label if you don't like the greatest hits album.

Me personally i think that their success and the ammount of work they have done in their career justifies the release of the album.

But i still don't like Wheels.

[Ali-b912]

I'm interested in knowing what guitar neck he's holding in that picture. Looks like a weird ass ESP.

Also, I'm not big on the foo fighters, but I lol'd because alot of bands put out 'best of' or 'greatest hits' cd's after 5 years or so.

[liquidsilver]

Ive got alot of respect for dave grohl. cant wait for some new foo music!

[gregshow]

grohl and foo fighters are great.
but he is right. it is too early to release a greatest hits. maybe they will not produce any bigger hits than those they already released, but it is too early too judge about the impact of single records or songs...

and I'm still looking for more...!

[Derrikb]

rhcp released what hits!? halfway through their career for example. a greatest hits calls for a band who is constantly changing

[Tag43]

A well deserved milestone for a great band.

[fiftysteps]

Dudeman5000 wrote:

_T_H_R_I_C_E_ wrote:

At least its not as bad as Fall Out Boy and their "Greatest Hits"

I'm not a fan of either, but Foo Fighters have released six studio albums, and Fall Out Boy have realeased five. I really don't see what you're getting at.

Foo Fighters have been around twice as long as Fall Out boy (atleast in relevance) and have done more meaning things. And even in the end, it shows the two different mentalities of the bands, Fall Out boy are ready to cash in on this Greatest Hits album, Foo Fighters are not. This article really makes me appreciate Grohl even more, really cool down to earth guy.

[voteforpedro36]

Wait even longer for a greatest hits? Hell I tried to fit all the songs I really like on a CD, and I ended up with 40 songs. I cut it down to 20 and am still missing most of the songs from TiNLTL.

[BassFishin]

BurntGerbil wrote:

BassFishin wrote:

(sorry to double)

One more thing, this article makes me think twice about the 2 new songs. Maybe they felt forced to make them, hence why they were a little weaker than most foo material.

Although, Word Forward is pretty catchy...

There's often a stipulation in a record contract that requires a certain number of new tracks to be put on the (also contractually obligated) Greatest Hits album.

Yea, i gotcha. That's what i was referring to, which i didn't consider until i saw this article.

checked

[dannydesktop]

Dudeman5000 wrote:

_T_H_R_I_C_E_ wrote:

At least its not as bad as Fall Out Boy and their "Greatest Hits"

I'm not a fan of either, but Foo Fighters have released six studio albums, and Fall Out Boy have realeased five. I really don't see what you're getting at.

If your not a big fan of either how do you know that lol

Fall out boy havn't had any real hits, and the ones that did make it are kind of embarassing, how could you compare them to the foo fighters? lol

[Slap-happy]

Let's clarify a few things from this article;

The Foo Fighters have been releasing material and gigging since 1995 - that's over 14 years worth of experience and material from which they have selected "greatest hits" (and that's something some people are going to have to get over as well since the "best" songs are subjective and just because one person thinks something is great doesn't mean it is a majority vote).

Secondly - someone stated that the only things by Nirvana written by Grohl were Marigold and Friend of a Friend - well, the latter has never been listed as a Nirvana song and first appeared on Pocketwatch. Grohl is also credited as a co-writer on Smells Like Teen Spirit and Scentless Apprentice (he wrote the riff - Cobain thought it too "cliche grunge" at the time).

This compilations seems a relatively fair way of getting some of the younger fans into the band who like some of their stuff - maybe even some of the older ones who never committed to buying an album - not sure about the international versions but the Australian one seems a little better value - it comes with a DVD of all of the singles that were filmed as a bonus disc.

Finally - to the person who enquired as to what the headstock Grohl is holding - it's from a severely battered Epiphone (Korina) Explorer.

[Andeexfactor]

Wheels made my ears bleed. It was horrible. Love the Foos though.

[Corner9]

Love the Foo's even though the Greatest Hits is still too "goodbye". Looking forward to a whole new album from them.

[Stratocaster_21]

They definately shouldnt release a greatest hits album... I think all greatest hits albums suck anyways. But like the chili's brought out there greatest hits album and it was like their obituary... dont think they have been the same since

[Msu_Man04]

Slap-happy wrote:

Let's clarify a few things from this article;

The Foo Fighters have been releasing material and gigging since 1995 - that's over 14 years worth of experience and material from which they have selected "greatest hits" (and that's something some people are going to have to get over as well since the "best" songs are subjective and just because one person thinks something is great doesn't mean it is a majority vote).

Secondly - someone stated that the only things by Nirvana written by Grohl were Marigold and Friend of a Friend - well, the latter has never been listed as a Nirvana song and first appeared on Pocketwatch. Grohl is also credited as a co-writer on Smells Like Teen Spirit and Scentless Apprentice (he wrote the riff - Cobain thought it too "cliche grunge" at the time).

This compilations seems a relatively fair way of getting some of the younger fans into the band who like some of their stuff - maybe even some of the older ones who never committed to buying an album - not sure about the international versions but the Australian one seems a little better value - it comes with a DVD of all of the singles that were filmed as a bonus disc.

Finally - to the person who enquired as to what the headstock Grohl is holding - it's from a severely battered Epiphone (Korina) Explorer.

I didn't say "Friend of a Friend" was by Nirvana. I said that Dave wrote it "back then," i.e. while he was IN Nirvana. Which, he did. Late! was released while Nirvana was on top of the world, and both songs were on it.

[zStaG]

I understand his reservations. It won't be detrimental to their status if they keep up with the tunes. Personally I think its too soon to release one, everyone still has their first album at the back of their mind. I feel as though Greatest hits compilations are for bands who have forgotten a lot of their tunes. Take Rush for example, they've 30+ years of albums behind theirs. I support Grohl, but its too soon. I like Wheels, though!

[Ironpriest]

Greatest Hits 1995-2007"

Yah The Living End did that after about 3 albums and some ep's, it's a much better idea.

[zAg1619]

I have always felt that a band should not release a greatest hits album, until they have decided to call it quits on the band. A band that releases one when they are clearly not at the end of the bands career, are either money hungry, or don't really have that much faith in themselves to release any more hits. After they have been a round for a few decades, then release the greatest hits.. And, like every other band, a few years later, release another greatest hits, and so on..

[fretman5000]

Comeback Kiddd wrote:

The greatest hits forgot to include DOA or my personal favorite Last Song :[

buy the in yout honour album

[jean_genie]

As Grohl mentioned, a Greatest Hits record is usually a requirement of the record companies. The Rolling Stones, Johnny Cash, Elvis, and David Bowie all have several Greatest Hit records, some just a couple years after the last and with most of the same material. Every time they go to a new record company (assuming they own their catalogue and can take it with them), there's bound to be another Greatest Hits disc within a couple years. In almost every case, the track listing is determined by record company execs.

Tori Amos' Tales of a Librarian is the only one I can think of offhand where the musician picked their favourite songs, rather than a committee picking the ones that are the most well-known.

Every Iron Maiden Hits collection leaves off at least one of my favourites - and not always the same ones.

[Slap-happy]

Grohl pretty much says that it's the rec ord company's desicion to release this. To put things into perspective - Madness have somewhere in the region of 12 types of "hits" albums available. I'm pretty sure they don't need the money that much.
Quite often it can be an "easy" way of getting out of a contract a little sooner.

[iloveashley]

I like wheels!

Checked...

[dollyDagger]

this is lame. greedy record companies. wheels is a crap song. im ashamed of foo fighters and their record co.

[zeroordie6868]

StONE_ROdGEr wrote:

_T_H_R_I_C_E_ wrote:

At least its not as bad as Fall Out Boy and their "Greatest Hits"

They have hits?

haha WIN!

[link no1]

Dudeman5000 wrote:

_T_H_R_I_C_E_ wrote:

At least its not as bad as Fall Out Boy and their "Greatest Hits"

I'm not a fan of either, but Foo Fighters have released six studio albums, and Fall Out Boy have realeased five. I really don't see what you're getting at.

fall out boy have 4 studio albums, there evening out wity your girlfriend was considered an EP. it is also worth about £150 on ebay, and i have 4 copies that people gave me =D

[TheSilverBeatle]

This whole bands complaining about releasing a greatest hits thing is getting old...it's always the same thing "Were still a functioning band, we don't like greatest hits albums."

Like it or not greatest hits albums are how a lot of people get into a band and if they like them enough you can bet they will start going through all the other cd's.

[hamsteroceros]

seifer_alamasy wrote:

Hmm, sounds like something Oasis said a couple years ago. Fuck off Grohl.

Hmm, that may be. However, very few people in the states take anything those pudwhacks have to say seriously- that is, if they paid attention in the first place.

[Haustinj]

i think it should be good...i may even have to go pick it up.

[kill it]

the foos started to suck after the 2nd cd.

[deadlyMETAL]

BassFishin wrote:

(sorry to double)

One more thing, this article makes me think twice about the 2 new songs. Maybe they felt forced to make them, hence why they were a little weaker than most foo material.

That would be my guess too, that that's the reason Wheels sounds like a song made within the comforts of the typical Foo Fighters sound as opposed to being something different and unexpected like I'm used to.

I know "Halo" wasn't a hit (from One By One if you're curious), but it was a very great song from the Foos, as were several others off that album that I think never got the fair shake they deserved.

[Keemo_vibrato]

Msu_Man04 wrote:

SamXmas94 wrote:

Dudeman5000 wrote:

_T_H_R_I_C_E_ wrote:

At least its not as bad as Fall Out Boy and their "Greatest Hits"

I'm not a fan of either, but Foo Fighters have released six studio albums, and Fall Out Boy have realeased five. I really don't see what you're getting at.

Fall Out Boy aren't making anymore songs/albums, so that's why they're releasing the Greatist Hits album, probably for a bit more cash too or something.

Not right now they aren't, but they're still together, and they'll have new music (yay! ^_^)

therudycometh wrote:

"Wheels" is one of the most God-awful songs on modern rock radio. And coming from these guys, it makes me cringe even more. Wasn't Dave Grohl the drummer for freaking NIRVANA? What the hell is this radio-friendly crap he's putting out 15 years later?

Kurt Cobain wrote Nirvana's stuff, not Dave. You know what Dave wrote back then? "Marigold." "Friend of a Friend." Both pretty easy going, not Nirvana at all. (Although the Late! stuff was... just plain weird.)

He writes what he likes, ****ing deal with it. I love "Wheels." I love every damned thing the Foos release. They can do anything and sound good, in my opinion. Did you guys bitch this much about Long Road to Ruin? (You probably did, but still)

Don't write them off just yet. You know how diverse their albums are. TINLTL had "Stacked Actors." Compare that to "Next Year," on the same album. Totally different. There'll be heavy stuff and light stuff on the record, just like every other record.

God love the Foos.

Hell yeah the Foos can be diverse and still kick ass im not one for country and i don't think wheels was, but i thought it was f~in awesome. And to give the foo fighters and specific genre in the first place is nearly impossible... the are they're own genre yes NIRVANA was amazing and one of the most epic bands i've ever heard but i think listing to both NIRVANA and Foo Fighters makes you more of a musically rounded person.

[Keemo_vibrato]

kill it wrote:

the foos started to suck after the 2nd cd.

take your name for advice

[droctogonapus93]

Dave has a good point but this doesn't mean there done. case and point, Green Day.

[IRISH_PUNK13]

edinfang wrote:

I think I agree Foofighters still have a lot to offer

yeah i couldnt agree more...
the foos have put out alot of great shit in the past 15 yrs. but i dont think theyve written there best songs yet. but atleast dave has however long left to write his best shit.
i say we should wait about 10 yrs them songs he'll write in the future are sure to beat the classics by a landslide