The Storyteller: Tales of Life and Music

Such a good read, I'm not much of a reader but this was an enjoyable one whilst sat on a beach in the Maldives on our honeymoon.

Was really interested to read this book but wasn’t sure if i would get into it or not……..absolutely loved it!

First impression:👀 I am a Dave Grohl fan so this book is not going to be an uphill read for me. This book takes you from his early and formative years, right up to before Taylor’s untimely passing. Don’t expect this to be a fly on the wall warts and all expose of life in the Foo Fighters or Nirvana as there is hardly a bad word said about anyone, although it stops short of becoming anodyne by being a fascinating read nonetheless.What I liked:✔️ Easy to read and you just know it is going to be full of stories about his life in music.✔️ The namechecks were unconscious and always in the context of the story being told and not just for their own sake.Anything I didn’t like so much:❌ I just wanted more. This is a book of highlights and lowlights, with snapshots taken at important times with all of life’s repetition taken out. However, if this was another 100 pages long, I probably would have lapped it all up.❌ I am not a fan of the parts of the book about his experiences with UFOs, except for the genesis of the Foo’s band name, as I don’t believe in them at all. If you do believe then this might be fight up your street.Conclusion:✅ I read the Kindle edition of this book over a couple of days, dipping in and out, but I could have easily got through the lot in one day if I chose. I enjoyed the stories very much, but I get the impression that a lot more went on that didn’t make the cut. It’s a great fan book and a recommended holiday read.Thanks for taking the time to read my review, I hope you found it helpful.

I like Dave Grohl a lot, I love his work as a member of Nirvana, QOTSA, Them Crooked Vultures and as a lead in Foo Fighters. Now I like him as a writer too, though I was a bit disappointed with Storyteller. The parts about his childhood and times in struggling bands were wellwritten and cool to read but I wanted to know more about Nirvana, sometimes difficult relationship with Kurt Cobain, problems with fame. The book dedicates only a small part to that time in his life, also without much insight on either Nirvana, QOTSA or FF music, songs and spends many more pages on happy recent family life and celebrity friends which is good to know but may not be as interesting for music lovers who are the ones who will likely buy the book. Perhaps we should wait for Storyteller 2?

Loved this book, added bonus is it’s Dave who narrates. This man is a legend. Highly recommend

Now, I love Dave Grohl. Not just the drumming, the songwriting, the Foos, Who Dave Is, all of it. He's a real package. I started reading and I knew I wouldn't be disappointed.But right near the beginning of this book he said some stuff that made me sad. And worried.Here's the thing. I am, and have been for fifty years, a part time musician (yes I drum a bit too.) My main professional job is psychotherapist.And I want people to know this. So far, there is absolutely ZERO evidence that character, talent, or preferences are present in your DNA.This is simply wrong. We are interested in things as small children because it is a developmental Truth that little kids want to please their parents. So they often - although not always - want to copy them.Or, as in my case, there are subtle messages, or even overt ones.People get good at stuff because they want to do it, and because they put in the hours. Genius is 99% effort, 1% support. It's not a mystery.It's so obvious if you think about it. Well, I've played violin since I was five, that's 66 years now. It's never been my career, I did 20 years as a journo then switched to therapy. But my Mum, a working class person, loved music. She loved opera. She had an old piano which she played pub style. I also knew that her grandad built his own violin in the early 1900s and played it round pubs for coins. And, her first job was selling pianos, aged 14, in the Army & Navy Stores in Kensington.My Mum knew the Five Ways Out Of The Ghetto. She knew one was The Arts. So when the state primary school invited a violin teacher in to see if culture could be brought to the masses, I was encouraged to get on board. And I did. I went to the Guildhall and was really advanced. I was pleasing Mummy.I still earn money from playing. But since I acquired a drum kit and had some lessons, looking back, I wish more women had played drums in the 1960s as I'd probably have chosen that. And nobody in my family had the remotest idea of banging tubs.Please stop saying these things are in our DNA. Because if they are, then you simply rule out everyone else who has an aspiration or wants to develop an ability. Other than that, Dave's book is as lovely as him.

He's taken being a Rock icon to a whole new level not only does he rock out on stage he rocks out on the page by showing us he is just the same as his fans that he's a huge musical nerd who nerdgasms when he sees his heros! Awesome read

Great book - bought it for husband for Christmas and he read it in two days...he loved it!