In a recent interview for Mojo magazine, Dave Grohl has revealed the one album he uses as a “gauge” of greatness. Foo Fighters frontman and Nirvana drummer explained how he used to measure every Foo Fighters LP against Brazilian heavy metal band Sepultura’s 1996 album ‘Roots’.
Sepultura in the 90s. Left to right: Andreas Kisser, Igor Cavalera, Max Cavalera, Paulo Jr
“That record became the gauge for every studio album Foo Fighters did for ten years,” he said. “That sounds pretty good, but see how it stands up to that Sepultura record… There’s no way we ever got anywhere close. But it gave you perspective – this is heavy. What you’re doing? It’s okay, but this is heavy. ‘Roots’ is sonically the most powerful album I had ever heard. It made everything else sound like a flea fart.”
“The first time they played Seattle, they were just ferocious. It wasn’t that groomed heavy metal aesthetic; there were dreadlocks everywhere and the guitars were tuned down to Z. [Krist] Novoselic started getting into them too, and at one point we entertained the idea of having them open up for Nirvana. It never happened.”
