How Dave Grohl’s Childhood Home and High School Buddies Helped Him Stay “Grounded” During Nirvana’s Booming Success

When Nirvana‘s booming success transpired, Dave Grohl was only 21 years old. Being a 21-year-old is difficult enough, so imagine being a 21-year-old international superstar. Unsurprisingly, Grohl was not only very surprised by this success, but also, incredibly taken aback by it. His life shifted on a dime in what seemed like the quarter of a second; hence, he had a difficult time processing it. However, amid this success, Grohl had a strategy, a strategy that would help him stay grounded and connected to his past, and ultimately, who he was as a person.

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For context, Nirvana popped off after the release of their infamous 1991 album, Smells Like Teen Spirit. While talking with NPR, Dave Grohl noted that Nirvana’s climb to the top “happened at a frightening speed.” That being said, Grohl needed to find a way to adapt to the elements of his new life, and he did so merely by going back home.

Dave Grohl Just Went Back Home When He Needed a Reset

Regarding Nirvana’s swift journey to success, Grohl told NPR, “When Nirvana first became popular, I was 21 or 22 years old. And, you know, I was a kid. Before that, all I wanted to do was to survive playing music. Really, my biggest aspiration was, you know, to have an apartment! … I never imagined that things would turn out the way they did. I never imagined Nirvana would become so popular.”

Dave Grohl did not divulge how fame exactly changed his life, but per his comments, it certainly did. Consequently, when Grohl felt overwhelmed or out of touch with his core beliefs and self, he said that he “would just go back to Virginia.”

“I’d go back to the house where I grew up, and I would go hang out with my friends from high school and stay in my neighborhood until I felt grounded again,” he added. “And then I would go back to Nirvana.”

Dave Grohl was a youngster when Nirvana launched. However, this action suggests that he was wise beyond his years, as he had the self-awareness and discipline to step away from the limelight to find reconnection. Other than his phenomenal music talents, this self-awareness and discipline are likely two other reasons Grohl has had such a long and fruitful career in an industry not particularly designed for long and fruitful careers.

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