Dave Grohl on Neil Young: “I Listened in Secret—He Spoke to My Soul”
Los Angeles, CA — Foo Fighters frontman and former Nirvana drummer Dave Grohl has long been seen as a torchbearer of rock authenticity — but in a recent reflection, Grohl opened up about an early influence that might surprise some: Neil Young. Speaking about his teenage years immersed in hardcore punk, Grohl revealed that he used to secretly listen to Neil Young records borrowed from his sister — a quiet ritual that left a lasting impact on his musical DNA.
“When I was listening to crazy hardcore punk rock, my sister was really into Neil Young,” Grohl said. “As a punk rocker, it wasn’t really cool to listen to Neil Young. So I would wait until she went to sleep or went to school, then I’d grab her records and listen to them.”
At the center of his obsession was Decade, Young’s acclaimed 3-LP compilation released in 1977, which spans his early work with Buffalo Springfield, Crosby, Stills, Nash & Young, and his solo career.
“She had the greatest hits collection, Decade, that compilation of all of his music, y’know,” Grohl recalled. “It blew my mind. The emotion, the simplicity, the fragility in his voice—it was totally different from what I was playing, but it hit me just as hard.”
A Punk Rocker’s Soft Spot
Grohl’s confession is telling. While punk was all about speed, aggression, and raw rebellion, Neil Young’s music offered something equally raw—but quieter, more introspective. For a kid raised on fast riffs and chaotic energy, Young’s stripped-down storytelling and vulnerable vocals represented a different kind of rebellion: one rooted in emotional honesty.
“Neil was punk in his own way,” Grohl once told another outlet. “He didn’t care what anyone thought. He just wrote what he felt. That’s as punk rock as it gets.”
From Secret Fan to Peer
In a beautiful twist of fate, Grohl would go on to share stages and conversations with Young years later. What started as secret late-night listens to “Heart of Gold” and “Old Man” evolved into a mutual respect between two generations of rock icons. Grohl even praised Young’s “keep-it-real” approach to music as something he’s tried to carry into his own work.
“Neil Young taught me that vulnerability is strength,” Grohl said. “You don’t have to scream to be heard.”
From the pit to the porch, Dave Grohl’s teenage connection with Neil Young is a reminder that the truest music crosses genres, generations, and expectations. Sometimes, all it takes is a turntable, a borrowed record, and a quiet room to find the artist that speaks to your soul.
