Watch Dave Grohl Play 7 Different Instruments In Clip From Upcoming Documentary ‘Play’
Film Documents Grohl Recording 23-Minute Song
As if being the member of two of rock history’s most important bands in the last three decades wasn’t impressive enough, Dave Grohl is raising the bar in a new documentary called Play. The documentary shines a spotlight on the multi-instrumentalist during the one-man recording process of a 23-minute instrumental song.
According to a press release, the film views “the rewards and challenges of dedicating ones life to playing and mastering a musical instrument.
“Part one opens with narrated behind the scenes footage featuring discussion of the love of playing music and the lifelong relationship with an instrument, and detailing the process and challenges of recording and filming this unique performance.”
The film then transitions into the 23-minute song. “The entire song was played by Grohl, each time on a different instrument, live for 23 minutes. Beginning with the recording of the entire drum track purely from memory, with no sheet music or guide tracks, followed by guitar, then bass, then keyboards, and so on…Grohl tasked himself with a one-man-band recording session that was forced to start from the very beginning of the 23-minute song any time the slightest mistake was made or if Grohl felt he could do a better take.”
Grohl wrote the following statement about the upcoming doc: “Watching my kids start to play music and learn to sing or play drums, it brings me back to the time when I was their age listening to albums, learning from listening… and when I take my kids to the place where they take their lessons, I see these rooms full of children that are really pushing themselves to figure this out. And even now, as a 49-year-old man, I’m still trying to figure it out… it’s not something that you ever truly master. You’re always chasing the next challenge, and you’re always trying to find a way to improve on what you’ve learned.”
The documentary will also showcase organizations “where time, money, and instruments can be donated to the cause—and places where musicians young and old alike can have the opportunity to play live music.” Play was self-directed by Grohl himself as well as Mark Monroe (Sound City/Sonic Highways).
Watch the clip below:
Play is due out August 10th.
