Before hitting American highways and recording their new studio album in eight different cities across the country, Dave Grohl had a different idea for Foo Fighters’ eighth studio album. As Grohl revealed in a new interview with NME, he originally considered re-recording Foo Fighters’ landmark debut.

“At one point I thought, ‘You know what would be really funny? To re-record the first Foo Fighters record as the band we are now’ – ‘cos the first record isn’t the Foo Fighters, it’s just me. So what if, for the 20th anniversary, we went in and re-recorded the first record – same songs, same arrangements, in sequence – but as the Foo Fighters 2014?”



Grohl, of course, recorded Foo Fighters’ 1995 self-titled debut entirely solo, performing all the instruments himself. Made in just seven days, the record was rough around the edges and featured a patchwork of lyrics written by Grohl just minutes before he laid down each track. Yet, these imperfections sat well with grunge rock fans still coming to terms with the reality of a post-Nirvana world.

Fortunately, Foo Fighters drummer Taylor Hawkins thought better of Grohl’s idea. “Taylor was like, ‘Are you out of your fucking mind?!'” Grohl recounted. “‘That’s the worst idea ever! People would fucking hate it!’ And Pat [Smear, guitar] said, ‘That’s exactly why we should do it!'”

Foo Fighters’ new album, Sonic Highways, arrives November 10th. Below, watch an early performance from 1995.