Dave Grohl Speaks On the “Dysfunction” of Nirvana & the Tragedy

Looking back on Nirvana, Dave Grohl remembers there to be quite a bit of “dysfunction” inside the band. Though he profoundly mourns Kurt’s death, Dave claims that they wouldn’t have stuck together if they weren’t musically connected.  

They had blown up without much notice, creating classics and affecting the rock industry in the most beautiful way possible. However, as Dave goes back in time, he titles Kurt Cobain as someone he didn’t know. It’s proven that the band didn’t have a deep personal connection. 

“Of course, we loved each other. We were friends. But, you know, there was a dysfunction in Nirvana that a band like Foo Fighters doesn’t have,” he described. “You also have to realize, from the time I joined Nirvana to the time it was over was only about four years. It wasn’t a long period of time. Was I close to Kurt as I am to Taylor Hawkins? No.”

While playing the comparison game, later band members had more of a brotherly connection to Dave as well as a musical connection. The relationship with Nirvana was seemingly spiritual. 

“I truly believe there’s some people you can only communicate with musically. And that seems that’s an even greater, deeper communication. There are people that I might feel a little awkward talking to, but once we strap on instruments, they’re the love of my life,” remarked Dave.

Though they didn’t have a personal relationship, Dave was still distraught after Kurt’s death. The tragedy of it all left him wondering if he was ever going to play music again. Especially anything by The Beatles, who were Kurt’s favorite band. 

“Once it was over, I couldn’t imagine stepping on stage or sitting down at a drum stool and playing music anymore. It would just bring me back to the heartbreaking place of losing Kurt.” 

When a part of the band Foo Fighters, Dave wrote a single song about Kurt. He broke his silence with his work titled ‘Friend of A Friend’ after refusing to open up for so long. The lyrics go on to say, “He plays an old guitar/ With a coin found by the phone/ it was his friend’s guitar/ That he played.” 

They even go on to touch the topic of Kurt’s addictions, “He drinks too much/ ‘Cause when he tells his two best friends/ I think I drink too much/ No one speaks.”