When Foo Fighters released their first album in 1995, almost no one could believe that Dave Grohl had written and recorded the entire thing by himself. Before then, Grohl was mainly known as the loud, energetic drummer of Nirvana. He was the guy behind the kit, not the one writing the songs. But that first Foo Fighters record proved something important: Grohl wasn’t just a great drummer — he was a natural songwriter.
Over the years, Grohl has grown into one of rock’s most reliable and respected writers. With the Foo Fighters, he has created huge, anthemic songs that have become part of modern rock history. His music blends classic rock, punk power, and emotional storytelling. Bands like The Beatles, Led Zeppelin, and Rush influenced him, and you can hear pieces of all of them in Foo Fighters songs.
But one influence stands out more than people realize: Bob Mould, the singer, guitarist, and songwriter from the legendary punk band Hüsker Dü.
Grohl has talked a lot about how important Hüsker Dü was to him when he was young. He grew up loving punk rock, especially the fast, loud, chaotic kind. But Hüsker Dü grabbed him in a different way. They were still loud and powerful, but they mixed those qualities with real melody — something rare in punk at the time. Grohl once said the band sounded like “a punk rock group playing Byrds songs,” meaning they were both fierce and tuneful.
This combination had a huge impact on the way Grohl eventually wrote songs. He has said that, when it comes to things like guitar playing and song structure, Bob Mould might be his biggest influence of all. Even after years of listening to bands like The Beatles and Led Zeppelin, it was Hüsker Dü that helped him understand how to mix punk energy with memorable hooks and emotional depth.
One album that especially inspired Grohl was Zen Arcade, Hüsker Dü’s ambitious double record. It jumped from fast, distorted songs to quiet acoustic ones, something Grohl loved because it reminded him of The Beatles’ White Album. That wide range of sounds made him realize that a rock band didn’t need to stay in one box. Foo Fighters would later use this same kind of variety in their own albums.
Even though Grohl became famous for heavy drumming in Nirvana, early Foo Fighters songs showed a surprising sense of melody and sensitivity. Looking back, it’s clear that this side of his music came from Bob Mould. Grohl has even referenced Hüsker Dü directly in some of his lyrics, and he finally got to meet Mould years later — a moment he described with excitement and gratitude.
Grohl once said that Bob Mould deserves to be ranked with America’s greatest songwriters, right alongside people like Tom Petty. That’s a big statement, but it shows how deeply Mould’s music affected him.
Today, when you listen to Foo Fighters, you’re not just hearing Grohl’s talent — you’re hearing the sound of his musical heroes shaping the way he writes and plays. And at the top of that list is Bob Mould, the punk songwriter who helped Grohl discover his own voice.