Dave Grohl recently shared surprising details about his Foo Fighters bandmate Pat Smear’s musical preferences. He revealed an unexpected favorite artist during an appearance on the Broken Record Podcast.
The Foo Fighters frontman discussed Pat Smear’s favorite artists. He highlighted how his top choice defies expectations given his rock and roll background.
“Who do you think Pat’s favorite band is? Favorite artist. You’re just not gonna get it,” Grohl said. “You would think it would be like maybe some rock and roll, maybe some glitter from the 70s, right? Maybe some punk rock. Maybe some prog. Number one is Mariah Carey.”
Grohl emphasized the contrast between Smear’s punk rock history and his musical preferences.
“So you think like, you know, Pat saw the Sex Pistols at Winterland, or whatever it was, and you look at his history and past and all those things,” he continued. “Mariah, number one.”
The revelation showcases an unexpected side of the guitarist. He has been a member of influential punk and rock bands throughout his career.
This surprising musical preference becomes even more intriguing when considering Pat Smear’s extensive background in the punk and alternative rock scenes. Last.fm reported that Smear was born August 5, 1959, in Los Angeles and became a founding member of the legendary punk band the Germs. He established himself as a legend in the California punk scene.
Smear’s journey to Foo Fighters began through his connection with Nirvana. He served as touring guitarist from 1993 to 1994. Far Out Magazine noted that the band even considered promoting him to a full-time member. Kurt Cobain’s tragic death prevented this from happening. Following Nirvana’s disbandment, Dave Grohl invited Smear to join Foo Fighters when the band formed in late October 1994.
Grohl has consistently praised Smear’s contributions to the band. He described him as his “number one choice” for guitarist. Far Out Magazine revealed that Grohl noted they had bonded during their time in Nirvana. Smear’s easy-going nature made him ideal for keeping the band drama-free. This relationship has proven enduring, despite some interruptions in Smear’s tenure with the group.
Smear’s history with Foo Fighters has been substantial but not without breaks. Last.fm documented that while he did not appear on their first album (a collection of demos recorded solely by Grohl), he joined from the band’s inception and first appeared on “The Colour and the Shape” in 1997. After leaving in 1997 to allow guitarist Nate Stahl to take the main guitar role, Smear returned in 2005 for select performances. He was fully reinstated as a full-time member in 2010, participating in the recording of “Wasting Light.”
The contrast between Smear’s punk rock credentials and his love for Mariah Carey highlights the diverse musical tastes that can exist within rock musicians. This challenges assumptions about genre preferences based on an artist’s public persona and musical history.
