The Beatles

Dave Grohl: The Beatles Were A ‘Huge Influence’ On Kurt Cobain & I

 
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  • Jordyn Blum and Dave Grohl arrive at the 2012 MusiCares Person of the Year Tribute to Paul McCartney at the Los Angeles Convention Center on February 10, 2012

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    Jordyn Blum and Dave Grohl arrive at the 2012 MusiCares Person of the Year Tribute to Paul McCartney at the Los Angeles Convention Center on February 10, 2012

FIRST PUBLISHED: February 11, 2012 5:04 PM EST

LOS ANGELES, Calif. --

Dave Grohl is a multi-talented musician — boasting incredible guitar, drum and vocal skill — and the former Nirvana drummer says he owes it all to The Beatles.

“When I was young, that’s how I learned how to play music — I had a guitar and a Beatles songbook,” Dave told Access Hollywood at the 2012 MusiCares Person of the Year Tribute to Paul McCartney in Los Angeles on Friday. “I would listen to the records and play along. Of course, it didn’t sound like The Beatles, but it got me to understand song structure and melody and harmony and arrangement.

“So, I never had a teacher — I just had these Beatles records,” he added.

The Foo Fighters frontman also revealed the British band’s influence continued from his childhood into his years with Nirvana alongside the late Kurt Cobain.

“Even in Nirvana — the Beatles [were] such a huge influence,” he said. “Kurt loved The Beatles because it was just so simple.

“Well, it seemed simple… they sound easy to play, but you know what? They’re [expletive] hard!” he added.

Watch Dave rock the stage with the Foo Fighters – along with David Guetta, Lil Wayne, Deadmau5 and more – during a tribute to electronic music at the 54th Grammy Awards on Sunday at 8/7c on CBS.

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