Q&A: Dave Grohl Reflects on Inducting Rush Into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame

Sacado de // From: http://www.rollingstone.com – http://portalternativo.com

Dave Grohl charló con Rolling Stone momentos después de dar entrada a Rush en el Salón de la Fama del Rock And Roll ayer en Nokia Theater de Los Angeles. Grohl y su compañero Taylor Hawkins estuvieron sobre el escenario con la legendaria canadiense.

Es alucinante tocar la canción de tu banda favorita delante de tu banda favorita. Una cosa es estar en el sótano aporreando “2112″ y otra estar delante de Rush vistiendo un puto kimono y una peluca tratando de tocar con plataformas el pedal wah-wah. Ha sido maravilloso. Esta noche ha sido una de las noches más especiales de mi vida.

Cuando me hice con “2112″ tenía ocho años; cambió la dirección de mi vida. Oí la batería. Hizo que me quisiera convertir en batería. En los ensayos el otro día, no conocía a Neil Part. Alex (Lifeson) y Geddy (Lee) son los tíos más amables del mundo. Iba a los ensayos e iba a conocer a Neil siendo ese tío tan influyente como cualquier religión o héroe o persona para cualquiera. Me dijo, “Qué bueno conocerte. ¿Puedo hacerte un café?” Y me hizo un café, tío. Y más tarde, fui a cenar y me tomé un par de copas de vino y empecé a llorar porque mi héroe me había hecho un puto café. Fue increíble. Así ha sido toda esta experiencia.

El otro día en los ensayos me senté con ellos para almorzar -estaba yo, ellos tres y mi colega Nick (Raskulinecz)- y esos tíos se conocen desde hace más de 40 años y yo ahí en esa pequeña habitación de catering, como si estuviera sentado en la cafetería del instituto. Siguen pareciendo chavales y tuve que pellizcarme.

Geddy Lee contó historias de lo que fue crecer con Alex y los consejos de su madre, y la razón por la que Neil tiene el mote que tiene y, sabes, mierda que nunca te imaginarías que fueses a hablar con Rush, cosas simples. Son la gente más amable. Sinceramente creo que es la banda más amable del mundo. Sin duda. Están unidos por 40 años de historia así que tocan como si fuesen familia. Es jodidamente increíbles.

En lugar de subir sin más al escenario, optaron por hacerlo disfrazados:

Cuando nos enterábamos que nos encargábamos de anunciar su entrada en el Salón, normalmente tienes que tocar una de las canciones del que entra y estaba aterrorizado. ¿Qué? ¿Voy a cantar como Geddy Lee? De ninguna manera iba a cantar una canción de Rush y Taylor es un gran batería y puede tocar todas esas canciones de Rush pero Dios, las canciones de Rush son difíciles. Se nos ocurrió hacer la intro instrumental de “2112″ y ellos continuarían. Fue nuestra idea – “Vale, más que solo hacer eso, pongámonos los kimonos que llevaron en aquella gira”.

Una de las razones por las que han aguantado tanto tiempo es porque tienen un gran sentido del humor. Su música se la toman realmente en serio pero el resto es mucho más ligero.

Lo cierto es que el año que viene Nirvana podrá pasar a formar parte del museo.

Guau, no lo sabía. Interesante. Bueno, con suerte nos harán esperar tanto como a Rush porque ¿viste a todos sus putos fans ahí esta noche?

IN ENGLISH

After inducting Rush into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame and rocking with them onstage, Dave Grohl and fellow Foo Fighter Taylor Hawkins reflected on the experience with Rolling Stone backstage at L.A.’s Nokia Theatre.

What was it like to actually play with Rush?
It’s terrifying to play your favorite band’s song in front of your favorite band. It’s one thing to sit in the basement and woodshed 2112, and its another to stand in front of Rush in a fucking kimono and a wig and try to use a wah-wah pedal in your platform shoes. It was amazing. Tonight was one of the most special nights of my life.

Really?
Absolutely. When I got 2112 when I was eight years old; it fucking changed the direction of my life. I heard the drums. It made me want to become a drummer. At rehearsals the other day, I had never met Neil Peart before. Alex [Lifeson] and Geddy [Lee] are the nicest people in the world. I was coming to rehearsal and I was meeting Neil for the first time, and this man was as influential as any religion or any hero or any person in someone’s life. He said, «So nice to meet you. Can I make you a coffee?» And he made me a coffee, man. And later on that night, I went to dinner and had a couple glasses of wine and I started fucking crying because my hero made me a fucking coffee. It was unbelievable, man. So that’s kind of how this whole experience has been.

Rock and Roll Hall of Fame Induction: Rush (And Their Fans) Fight the Power

The other day at rehearsal I sat with them having lunch – it was me and the three of them and my buddy Nick [Nick Raskulinecz] – and these guys have known each other for 40-something years, and I’m sitting with them in a little catering room, like sitting with them in the cafeteria in high school. They still look like kids, and so I have to pinch myself.

What did you talk to them about?
Oh, God. Geddy Lee had stories about growing up with Alex and his mother’s advice, and the reason why Neil has his nickname, and you know, just shit that you would never imagine talking to Rush about, simple things. They’re the sweetest people. I honestly think they are the nicest band in the world. There’s no question. They are bound with 40 years of history so they play like they are related to each other. It’s fucking awesome.

Why did you want to dress up?
Well because when we found out we were inducting, typically you have to perform one of the inductee’s songs, and I was terrified. What, am I going to sing Geddy Lee? No way I was going to sing a Rush song, and Taylor’s a great drummer and can play all those Rush songs, but God, the Rush songs are hard. We came up with the idea to do the instrumental intro to 2112 and they would take over. It was our idea – «OK, rather than just do it, we’ll fuckin’ dress in the kimonos they wore on tour.»

[Taylor Hawkins: Because you’re in character.]

One of the reasons they survived as long is they have a great sense of humor. They take their music really seriously, but everything else is kind of lighthearted.

[Hawkins: As you saw from Alex.]

EXACTLY.

What did you think of his speech?
We were backstage; I couldn’t hear it. I was like, «Wow, he’s killing it.» Then I asked him afterwards, «What’d you say?» And he said, «Blah, blah, blah, blah, blah.»

[Hawkins: Geddy was like (makes sour face)]

Those guys are fuckin’ awesome. I love Rush more now than I did when I was 10 years old. Now I’m going to be obsessed.

At the end you were onstage with John Fogerty, Heart –
It’s like a musical Hollywood Squares. It was too weird.

A lot of people are talking about you for next year.
Who?

Nirvana.
We’ll be eligible?

Yeah.
Wow. I didn’t even know that. Interesting. Well, hopefully they make us wait as long as Rush did, because did you see all their fucking fans out there tonight?

The mere mention of Toronto made them go nuts.
They didn’t even say the name and the place went fucking crazy. That says it all. Honestly what’s most important is that you survive 45 years of your life playing music. Surely its not the trophy or the plaque, but the fact that Rush finally were . . . I feel like their fans felt liberated. It was pretty awesome tonight to see Jann say, «And from Toronto,» and the fans just went, «FUCK YEAHHH.» Everyone at the tables were just like, Jesus! It was amazing. That’s what it’s all about.

So you had a good time.
I’m still having a good time, man! I’m keeping the kimono!