FOO FIGHTERS play the Air Canada Centre on Tuesday (August 9). See listing Rating: NN
One of the strangest member changes in the history of rock happens midway through this 140-minute Foo Fighters documentary. The band is playing the 1997 MTV Video Music Awards on the roof at Radio City Music Hall when, in between songs, guitarist Pat Smear both announces his departure and introduces his replacement. As Smear awkwardly waves goodbye, Franz Stahl jumps out, straps on, and the band plays the next song like they just fixed a broken guitar string.
This bizarre moment reflects the complexity of Dave Grohl’s character. He’s the gum-chewing nice guy of rock who navigated his against-all-odds post-Nirvana solo project into a Wembley Stadium-filling superpower. But he’s also ruthless with band members, keeping them in fear of being dumped while dictating every aspect and direction of the group. Unfortunately, director James Moll isn’t brave enough to take on Grohl’s conflicts and instead opts for a celluloid fan letter, spending a questionable amount of time on the seemingly perfect experience of recording their new album.
