Foos Files: A Foo Fighters Podcast

There are thousands of podcasts that focus on a band or musician. Like TV rewatch podcasts, they make sense from a monetary perspective, because the podcaster has a built-in audience. In the course of this search, I’ve discovered Adele podcasts, Drake podcasts, numerous Beyonce podcasts, and even a podcast about Insane Clown Posse.

Many of these podcasts are driven by a group’s fan clubs, with uneven results. Often, fan clubs have the enthusiasm but not the technical skill to pull off an ear worthy podcast.

That’s not the case at all with Foos Files: A Foo Fighters Podcast. The podcast is hosted and produced by UK-based media professional Dan Harrison.

Harrison explains: “Untold stories and encounters from the career of the Foo Fighters are documented in this new independent podcast series.”

Harrison is an experienced media pro, so the podcast is in excellent hands with him. Harrison is the Head of Media & Communications at Greater Birmingham Chambers of Commerce (U.K.)

He has enjoyed a successful career in public relations, media, and journalism, once having the coolest job ever — Writing and editing news/features for the award-winning Villa News & Record matchday program for the Aston Villa Football Club in the EPL.

The mission of the podcast is a simple one — chart the global popularity and influence of the legendary U.S. rock band through the eyes of musicians, fans, and other key contributors.

The show, hosted and produced by Dan Harrison, launched in April — with early guests including producer of the band’s self-titled debut album Barrett Jones, former touring member Jessy Greene, and legendary Devo songwriter Gerald Casale, who directed the video for early Foo Fighters single I’ll Stick Around.

The podcast also captures stories and perspectives from the fan community — such as author Rachael Gilliver, who has written two books about the band, and Canadian superfan Nick Perry, who won a competition for the Foo Fighters to perform in his garage.

Before we go further, let’s explain who the Foo Fighters are, so we don’t assume facts already in evidence.

The Foo Fighters are an American rock band formed in Seattle in 1994. Initially founded as a one-man project by former Nirvana drummer Dave Grohl, the band comprises vocalist/guitarist Grohl, bassist Nate Mendel, guitarists Pat Smear and Chris Shiflett, keyboardist Rami Jaffee. Guitarist Franz Stahl and drummers William Goldsmith, Taylor Hawkins, and Josh Freese are former members.

Grohl formed the Foo Fighters to release solo material after Nirvana disbanded in 1994, and recorded their self-titled debut album (1995) mostly alone in just six days.

Grohl noted in 1997, “We all love music, whether it’s the Beatles or Queen or punk rock. I think the lure of punk rock was the energy and immediacy; the need to thrash stuff around. But at the same time, we’re all suckers for a beautiful melody, you know? So it is just natural.”

In 2005, Grohl observed, “I love being in a rock band, but I don’t know if I necessarily wanna be in an alternative rock band from the 1990s for the rest of my life.”

The Foo Fighters have sold over 32 million records worldwide, and their tours average over $1 million per show, with some reports indicating that booking the band can cost between $2.5 million and $6 million per performance. These figures reflect their status as one of the highest-grossing touring acts, with a recent show at Denver’s Empower Field at Mile High setting a record for the largest American audience in the band’s history.

Dan Harrison, a Foo Fighters fan of more than 20 years, said: “Foo Fighters have had a colossal impact, not just on music, but on people’s lives.”

Dan continues: “This really hit home following the untimely passing of drummer Taylor Hawkins in 2022. I began immersing myself in the online Foo Fighters community and picked up on some remarkable personal stories of people who have been inspired by and gone to great lengths to show their love of the band. These stories deserve to be aired to a wider audience, and Foos Files aims to do that.”

Here’s a review of the podcast that encapsulates its essence: “I love the way you have super every day fans on here. I also really appreciate that you don’t engage at all in the speculation and rumor mongering. I’m really enjoying the show! Thanks!”

So far, Harrison has produced over 20 episodes in just a few months, an impressive record for a stable schedule. I think Harrison was smart to release an episode after the trailer called: “Foo Fandom: An Introduction.” In that episode, he introduces listeners to the band, explains what’s special about The Foo Fighters, and immerses listeners in Foo Fandom.

Harrison has designed a listener-friendly format for the show, with a sound bite to preview the episode in the beginning, followed by the live sound of a Foo Fighters concert. The sound design is superb, Harrison is an above-average interviewer, and he knows how to pace shows.

If you are a fan of The Foo Fighters, this podcast is like cheesecake for dessert addicts. If you’re unfamiliar with the band, the podcast is so well-structured and thoughtfully put together that you can listen to gain an appreciation for the band.

Check out Foos Files: A Foo Fighters Podcast.

Let me end with a post on LinkedIn from Dan Harrison about this podcast. I think Dan’s ruminations about starting this podcast strike at the heart of being an indie podcaster.

“I thought I’d share a quick post about a little passion project I’ve been working on… It all started last year in what I called my summer of Foo — when I was fortunate enough to travel to Boston to see one of my favorite bands, the Foo Fighters, three weeks after also being present at their unforgettable show here in Birmingham.

I met some brilliant people — many of whom had travelled a long way to be there — with some wonderful stories about their love of the Foos.

So, it sparked an idea for Foos Files, a podcast series exploring the influence and popularity of the band. Nine months and 20+ interviews later (including some conversations at ungodly times of day with people just about everywhere, from Seattle to Sydney), I’m delighted to share that it has finally seen the light of day.

It’s been tremendous fun and also a great privilege to capture people’s stories — including a fan in Ontario, Canada who won a competition for the Foo Fighters to play a gig at his home and a tribute band singer who was unexpectedly called onstage to perform with Dave Grohl at a show in Brighton in 2014. But best of all was the opportunity to interview Dave Grohl’s lifelong friend, the legendary producer Barrett Jones.

Barrett recorded Dave’s early bands in Washington DC, before moving to Seattle to be his drum tech at the height of Nirvana’s fame and eventually working with him on the songs that would become the debut Foo Fighters album.

In truth, I’m a bit overwhelmed by the early feedback. At one stage on Friday, ‘Foos Files’ ranked as high as number 22 in Apple Podcasts’ music category and was also featured in podcast industry newsletter Podnews.

Not bad for a hobby project!”