Editing Dave Grohl (section)

====1994–1996====
After his demo received interest from major labels, Grohl was signed by [[Gary Gersh]], Nirvana's [[Artists and repertoire|A&R]] rep-turned-president of [[Capitol Records]]. Grohl did not want the effort to be considered the start of a solo career, so he recruited other band members: former Germs and touring Nirvana guitarist [[Pat Smear]] and two members of the recently disbanded [[Sunny Day Real Estate]]: [[William Goldsmith]] (drums) and [[Nate Mendel]] (bass).<ref>{{Cite news |last=MILLMAN |first=ZOSHA |title=Origin stories of the Seattle area's iconic bands |url=https://www.seattlepi.com/seattlenews/article/Origin-stories-of-the-Seattle-area-s-iconic-bands-12162323.php |access-date=June 7, 2024 |work=Seattle Post-Intelligencer |language=en}}</ref> He and Novoselic decided against Novoselic joining; Grohl said it would have felt "really natural" for them to work together again, but would have been uncomfortable for the other band members and placed more pressure on Grohl.<ref>{{cite magazine |last=Mundy |first=Chris |date=October 5, 1995 |title=Invasion of the Foo Fighters |url=https://www.rollingstone.com/music/news/invasion-of-the-foo-fighers-19951005 |url-status=live |magazine=Rolling Stone |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20141220011937/http://www.rollingstone.com/music/news/invasion-of-the-foo-fighers-19951005 |archive-date=December 20, 2014 |access-date=November 18, 2014}} Excerpt only; subscription required for full article.</ref> Grohl's demo was remixed by [[Rob Schnapf]] and [[Tom Rothrock]] and released in July 1995 as Foo Fighters' [[Foo Fighters (album)|self-titled debut album]].<ref>{{Cite web |last=Stavropoulos |first=Laura |date=July 4, 2022 |title=reDiscover Foo Fighters' Debut Album |url=https://www.udiscovermusic.com/stories/rediscover-foo-fighters-debut-album/ |access-date=June 7, 2024 |website=uDiscover Music |language=en-US}}</ref> During a break between tours, the band entered the studio and recorded a cover of [[Gary Numan]]'s "[[Down in the Park]]". In February 1996, Grohl and his then-wife Jennifer Youngblood made a brief [[cameo appearance]] on ''[[The X-Files]]'' third-season episode "[[Pusher (The X-Files)|Pusher]]".<ref>{{Cite book | year=1996 | last=Lowry | first=Brian | title=Trust No One: The Official Guide to the X-Files | url=https://archive.org/details/trustnooneoffici00lowr | url-access=registration | isbn=0061053538 | publisher=Harper Prism |page=176}}</ref>

After touring for the self-titled album for more than a year, Grohl returned home and began work on the soundtrack to the 1997 movie ''[[Touch (1997 film)|Touch]]''. Grohl performed all of the instruments and vocals himself, save for vocals from [[Veruca Salt]] singer [[Louise Post]] on the title track, keyboards by Barrett Jones (who also co-produced the record) on one track, and vocals and guitar by [[X (American band)|X's]] [[John Doe (musician)|John Doe]] on "This Loving Thing (Lynn's Song)". Grohl completed the recording in two weeks, and immediately joined Foo Fighters to work on their follow-up.

During the initial sessions for Foo Fighters' second album, tension emerged between Grohl and drummer Goldsmith. Goldsmith said, "Dave had me do 96 takes of one song, and I had to do 13 hours' worth of takes on another one...It just seemed that everything I did wasn't good enough for him, or anyone else". Goldsmith also believed that Capitol and producer [[Gil Norton]] wanted Grohl to drum on the album.<ref name="roberts">Roberts, Michael. [http://bestof.miaminewtimes.com/1998-12-03/music/bring-back-that-sunny-day "Bring Back that Sunny Day"]. {{Webarchive|url=https://archive.today/20090825182828/http://bestof.miaminewtimes.com/1998-12-03/music/bring-back-that-sunny-day |date=August 25, 2009 }} ''[[Miami New Times]]''. December 3, 1998.</ref> With the album seemingly complete, Grohl headed home to Virginia with a copy of the rough mixes and found himself unhappy with the results. He wrote and recorded a few new songs, "[[Walking After You]]" and the hit single "[[Everlong]]", alone at a studio in Washington, D.C. Inspired by the session, Grohl opted to move the band, without Goldsmith's knowledge,<ref name="roberts" /> to Los Angeles to re-record most of the album with Grohl on drums. After the sessions were complete, Goldsmith announced his departure from the band, and was replaced by Former [[Alanis Morissette]] drummer [[Taylor Hawkins]].<ref>{{Cite web |date=October 26, 2021 |title=The Real Reason Foo Fighters' Former Drummer Quit The Band Is Revealed |url=https://uproxx.com/indie/dave-grohl-foo-figthers-william-goldsmith-drummer-quit/ |access-date=June 7, 2024 |website=UPROXX |language=en-US}}</ref> Grohl later expressed regret, and said, "There were a lot of reasons it didn't work out, but there was also a part of me that was like, you know, I don't know if I'm finished playing the drums yet".<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WWhsYINKcKM#t=2m56s| archive-url=https://ghostarchive.org/varchive/youtube/20211211/WWhsYINKcKM| archive-date=December 11, 2021 | url-status=live|title=Oxegen 2011 – Foo Fighters Dave Grohl|publisher=YouTube|date=July 10, 2011|access-date=November 4, 2011}}{{cbignore}}</ref>

The album was released in May 1997 as ''[[The Colour and the Shape]]''. It produced several singles, including "Everlong", "[[My Hero (song)|My Hero]]", and "[[Monkey Wrench (song)|Monkey Wrench]]", and cemented Foo Fighters as a staple of rock radio.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Irwin |first=Corey|date=2022-05-20 |title=How Foo Fighters Became a Band on 'The Colour and the Shape' |url=https://ultimateclassicrock.com/foo-fighters-the-colour-and-the-shape/ |access-date=2025-03-05 |website=Ultimate Classic Rock |language=en}}</ref>

The following September, Smear left the band, citing a need to settle down after a lifetime of touring.<ref name="guardian" /> Smear was replaced by Grohl's former [[Scream (band)|Scream]] bandmate [[Franz Stahl]]. Stahl departed before the band recorded its third album<ref name="guardian" /> and was replaced by touring guitarist [[Chris Shiflett]], who later became a full-fledged member during the recording of ''[[One by One (Foo Fighters album)|One by One]]''.