3. Giving The Keynote Speech At SXSW
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Efv0Y5Fs7m4 Upon making his directorial debut in the 'Sound City' film, Dave Grohl again became the center of attention in the music world. Documenting the legendary recording studio where he and the rest of Nirvana recorded 'Nevermind', he was thrust into the spotlight during some Foo Fighters downtime, and was therefore asked to give the keynote speech at that years South by Southwest festival. In a crowded room, talking to packed-in journalists, A&Rs, aspiring rock stars, and just regular punters, Grohl's speech was viewed around the world, and was received with unanimous praise from the music industry. Grohl spent almost an hour talking about how he first got into music ('Frankenstein' by The Edgar Winter Group was cited as making him want to learn to play guitar), his long and successful career, and his view on plenty of music-related subjects. On the idea of guilty pleasures and music critics, he said, I can truly say out loud that Gangnam Style is one of my favorite songs of the past decade. Is it any better or worse than the latest Atoms for Peace album? Hmmmpaging Pitchfork! We need you to help us determine the value of a song." He stated that "The musician comes first", and urged musicians to find their voice, saying, "There is no right or wrong there is only your voice. Your voice screaming through an old Neve 8028 recording console, your voice singing through a laptop, your voice echoing from a street corner. It doesnt matter. What matters most is that its your voice. Cherish it. Respect it. Nurture it. Challenge it. Respect it. Stretch it. And scream until its gone who knows how long it will last. Its there if you want it." The entire speech is worth your time, and you can watch the whole thing above.
Mark Riley
Contributor
Host of Keeping Up With The Kayfabe, Manchester United fan, and always looking for the WiFi password.
See more from
Mark