WATCH DAVE GROHL’S AMAZING SXSW KEYNOTE SPEECH

It seems that some people in life are bestowed with a magic and talents that transcend the norm.  Dave Grohl is one of those people; love him or envy him,  it cannot be denied that he has become the unofficial Ambassador of Rock.  

Although only 44, Grohl is entering into his third decade in the music business since forming his first band at 17.  He’s won an arsenal of Grammy’s between such iconic bands as Nirvana, Foo Fighters and Them Crooked Vultures, and most recently shared his passion for the artistry of music making in the critically acclaimed documentary Sound City:  Reel to Reel.  

Dave gave an incredibly inspiring Keynote Speech at the SXSW 2013 Conference yesterday. Sharing stories from his entry into this world to the applause of medical students, which his mother swears is what made him crave attention, to the destruction of Nirvana.  Grohl is articulate and passionate as he speaks of his early days in the punk scene, the changes in the music industry that he’s observed – both good and abysmal and the challenges that today’s musicians face.

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With ease and the familiarity of an old friend, Grohl manages to always make us feel that even though he is a mega-star, that he really is just a geeky kid on the inside who fell in love with music the first time he heard Edgar Winter’s Frankenstein on a compilation album that he and his sister bought at the drugstore.   It was a moment that changed his life forever (and he’s quite demonstrative about it).  “I gave it all up for a fucking riff…There were no vocals….I heard the voices of each musician, their sound and technique of playing music with other people and it made me want to play.”  

If you want to laugh, cry and feel good about loving music or making music, then spend the 45 minutes and watch the fantastic oratory wonderland of Dave Grohl.  Bravo!