![]() ![]() Webb and his wife attended the band's acoustic gig at Sydney Opera House last year as guests of the band, and they played an early version of the ballad. "Our goal in a way is to write music that does something special for people and takes them away from whatever they are doing - and if it gives some guy strength and comfort to get through, then that's very meaningful." "When you hear that someone's fighting for their life and one of the things they need besides food and water to get them through is our music, that's very touching. The story touched the band, says Hawkins. Included on the album is the instrumental Ballad of the Beaconsfield Miners, a tribute to Australian miners Brant Webb and Todd Russell, who requested an iPod with Foo Fighters music on it when they were trapped 1km underground in April 2006. So I think Dave knew it was time to shake up our vibe." And even the feeling in the studio will be the same when you go to make a record, so it's always nice to have someone else, and a different voice in there to mix it up a little bit. You just do, or else you'll start making the same-sounding records over and over. ![]() Every couple of records you have to get out of your comfort zone. So he was very involved, from the arrangements, and even the drum parts, and in the end I think it was a good thing because it freed Dave up to work on other things. "Dave definitely put things more in Gil's hands than he has previously. According to Hawkins, Norton - who has a knack for the loud vs quiet dynamic - had a lot to do with the overall sound of the album. On Echoes Grohl felt the need for a change and called in producer Gil Norton, who did the band's 1997 album The Colour and the Shape and has produced albums for the Pixies, among many others, in the past. ![]() We trust him and his judgments," says Hawkins dryly. "He knows what's right and what direction to go. Grohl is the leader of the Foos - both musically and professionally. I mean I'll always be proud of the last record but I can look back and say, 'How can we better that?"' I liked the last record but I like this one more. "In some areas it's very laid back and mellow and in it's heavier, sometimes in one song and that's kind of a newer thing for us, like on Come Alive or Let It Die. This time round the loud vs mellow sides of the Foo Fighters come together on 12 tight songs making it their best album since 1999's There Is Nothing Left to Lose. Last album, In Your Honour, was a double album made up of one loud record and one "not so loud" acoustic disc with singer Norah Jones guesting on one song. Right from the start, with songs like Big Me and I'll Stick Around, from 1995's self titled debut, Grohl conjured up big arena rock songs with melodic and heavy outbursts and softer, reflective moments. Following some changes in the early years, the current line-up of Grohl, Hawkins, bass player Nate Mendell and guitarist Chris Shiflett, have been together since 1999. Grohl, the former powerhouse drummer for Nirvana, formed the band in 1995, a year or so after Kurt Cobain committed suicide. They are one of - if not the - biggest drawcards in rock at London's Live Earth concert at Wembley Stadium this year they played second fiddle only to Madonna and appeared above the Red Hot Chili Peppers and Metallica. "And maybe it has in that way, but we're not concerned with staying close to the bone and fresh in that way, we just like making music and we're lucky enough that people still want to hear it." It sounds like the Foo Fighters have got boring," he chuckles again. "We kind of know how to run the band better. It's definitely still dysfunctional at times, but as a band we operate a lot cleaner than we did before," says Hawkins who has battled alcohol and drug addiction in the past. We're finally turning into adults and it probably took us a little bit longer than most people. So there's much more of a family friendship vibe than ever before in the band. ![]() You grow up, you become a little more responsible, you have a bigger picture in mind and that includes family. Once the traffic chaos eases, the 35-year-old admits life is pretty good being a Foo Fighter nowadays and in the last couple of years they've even grown up a little. Luckily I'm in my Mustang GT," he laughs. Argh, these people are not being cool at all. There are more long, loud toots as he mutters to himself. "I'm really pissing people off right now. For the first few minutes of this phone interview Hawkins curses and swears as he tries to negotiate the Los Angeles traffic. He's in his muscle car and, judging by the violent horn-tooting in the background, the blond drummer sounds like he's driving in a scene from that video already. Taylor Hawkins has just left the recording studio where he and Foo Fighters' leader Dave Grohl have been brainstorming ideas for the band's new video for Long Road To Ruin, off new album, Echoes, Silence, Patience & Grace. ![]()
0 Comments
Leave a Reply. |
Details
AuthorWrite something about yourself. No need to be fancy, just an overview. ArchivesCategories |