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In 2002, Dave Grohl worked with his greatest musical love. It nearly tore Foo Fighters apart
Dave Grohl’s 2002 work with Queens of the Stone Age, whom he joined to play drums on *Songs for the Deaf*, brought him together with Josh Homme, a musician he described as his “musical love”. The project also deepened tensions within Foo Fighters and came close to breaking up the band.
Taylor Hawkins felt abandoned after a heroin overdose had sidelined him on tour, and resented Grohl playing with another group while he was recovering. Grohl and Hawkins later performed with both bands at some shows, and Foo Fighters eventually reunited and continued, despite an awkward period around the making of *One by One*.
In short
- Grohl joined Queens of the Stone Age for *Songs for the Deaf*.
- Hawkins saw the move as a betrayal while recovering from an overdose.
- Foo Fighters weathered the conflict and carried on.
Steelman: both sides, in good faith
The strongest fair case each way — we don't pick a winner.
The case for
Grohl’s work with Queens of the Stone Age was a meaningful creative collaboration, letting him pursue a musical connection he valued and contribute to an album that mattered to him. Hawkins’s recovery and the strain on Foo Fighters were serious, but the band later found a way to perform together and continue, suggesting the outside project need not define or end their partnership.
The case against
Grohl’s commitment to another band could reasonably have felt like abandonment to Hawkins, especially while Hawkins was recovering from an overdose and may have needed support from his bandmates. The resulting tensions nearly broke up Foo Fighters, so pursuing the collaboration at that moment may have put Grohl’s personal creative ambitions ahead of responsibilities to the band and a close friend.
Explained simply
Foo Fighters are a rock band formed by Dave Grohl, who had been the drummer for Nirvana. Taylor Hawkins was Foo Fighters’ drummer, while Josh Homme led Queens of the Stone Age, another rock band.
In 2002, Grohl played drums on Queens of the Stone Age’s album Songs for the Deaf. Hawkins was recovering after a heroin overdose had taken him off tour, and Grohl’s work with another band added to tensions between the two Foo Fighters members.
Grohl and Hawkins later played with both bands at some shows, and Foo Fighters carried on after a difficult period. The episode matters because it put pressure on the band while Grohl pursued a musical partnership he greatly valued.