Foo Fighters: Back and Forth

Last updated
Foo Fighters: Back and Forth
Back and Forth cover.jpg
Directed by James Moll
Produced by
  • James Moll
  • Nigel Sinclair
Starring Dave Grohl
William Goldsmith
Taylor Hawkins
Nate Mendel
Chris Shiflett
Pat Smear
Franz Stahl
Butch Vig
CinematographyHarris Done
Edited byTim Calandrello
Production
companies
  • Spitfire Productions
  • Allentown Productions
Distributed by
Release dates
March 15, 2011 (SXSW)
April 5, 2011
Running time
101 minutes [1]
CountryUnited States

Foo Fighters: Back and Forth is a 2011 rockumentary about the American rock band Foo Fighters, directed by filmmaker James Moll. The film documents the band's history and the recording process for their seventh studio album Wasting Light . The film's title is taken from a song of the same name on Wasting Light. In 2012, Back and Forth won the Grammy Award for Best Long Form Music Video.

Contents

Background

The film includes material taken from over 1,000 hours of historical and new footage, and interviews with the current members of Foo Fighters, former bandmembers William Goldsmith and Franz Stahl, and producer Butch Vig. Frontman Dave Grohl has said the main inspiration for the film was the decision to record Wasting Light in the garage of his mansion in Encino, California – "Personally, I thought it would be a good idea to now tell the story of the last 16 years, so it would make more sense to watch us make a record in a garage. After selling out fucking stadiums and becoming this big rock band, why would you make a garage record? To me the first hour and 20 minutes of the movie is leading up to that moment." [2] He also added that while the band "always believed a little mystery is important to rock’n’roll", he considered it was time to tell their story, and referencing the Tom Petty documentary Runnin' Down a Dream , "If we wait any longer, we’re going to wind up with a four-hour-long documentary". [3]

Release and reception

Back and Forth saw its debut on March 15, 2011 at the SXSW festival in Austin, Texas. The first session was followed by a surprise Foo Fighters live performance, which included the entirety of Wasting Light in its setlist. [4]

On 12 February 2012, the documentary won a Grammy Award in the Best Long Form Music Video category.

Charts

Chart (2011)Peak
position
Australian Music DVDs Chart [5] 1
Austrian Music DVDs Chart [6] 2
Belgian (Flanders) Music DVDs Chart [7] 3
Belgian (Wallonia) Music DVDs Chart [8] 7
Danish Music DVDs Chart [9] 2
Dutch Music DVDs Chart [10] 4
Finnish Music DVDs Chart [11] 1
German Albums Chart [12] 27
Irish Music DVDs Chart [13] 2
Italian Music DVDs Chart [14] 6
New Zealand Music DVDs Chart [15] 1
Norwegian Music DVDs Chart [16] 1
Spanish Music DVDs Chart [17] 10
Swedish Music DVDs Chart [18] 1
Swiss Music DVDs Chart [19] 4
UK Music Videos Chart [20] 1
US DVDs Chart [21] 1

Certifications

RegionCertification Certified units/sales
Australia (ARIA) [22] 2× Platinum30,000^
United Kingdom (BPI) [23] Gold25,000^
United States (RIAA) [24] Gold50,000^

^ Shipments figures based on certification alone.

Awards

YearAwardWorkResults
2012 NME Award Best Music Film Back and ForthWon
2012 Grammy Award for Best Long Form Music Video Back and ForthWon

See also

Related Research Articles

<i>Foo Fighters</i> (album) 1995 debut album by Foo Fighters

Foo Fighters is the debut studio album by American rock band Foo Fighters, released on July 4, 1995, through Roswell and Capitol Records. Dave Grohl wrote and recorded the entire album himself, with the assistance of producer Barrett Jones at Robert Lang Studios in Seattle, Washington, in 1994. He said that he recorded the album just for fun, describing it as a cathartic experience to recover from the suicide of Nirvana bandmate Kurt Cobain.

<i>The Colour and the Shape</i> 1997 studio album by Foo Fighters

The Colour and the Shape is the second studio album by American rock band Foo Fighters, released on May 20, 1997, through Roswell and Capitol Records. It marked the official debut of the Foo Fighters as a band, as their eponymous 1995 debut album was primarily recorded by frontman Dave Grohl and producer Barrett Jones as a demo. After the debut became an international success, Grohl recruited guitarist Pat Smear, bassist Nate Mendel, and drummer William Goldsmith to form the band's full lineup. The group convened in the fall of 1996 for pre-production on a second album, and brought in Gil Norton as producer to establish a pop sensibility for the tracks. The band strived to create a full-fledged rock record, contrary to music press predictions that it would be another grunge offshoot.

<i>There Is Nothing Left to Lose</i> 1999 studio album by Foo Fighters

There Is Nothing Left to Lose is the third studio album by American rock band Foo Fighters, released on November 2, 1999, through Roswell and RCA Records. It marked the first appearance of drummer Taylor Hawkins, and is often seen as a departure from the band's previous work, showcasing a softer, more experimental sound. Vocalist and guitarist Dave Grohl has stated that the album was "totally based on melody" and that it might be "[his] favorite album that [they've] ever done." The album was recorded using only three musicians, Grohl, Hawkins, and bassist Nate Mendel.

<i>One by One</i> (Foo Fighters album) 2002 studio album by Foo Fighters

One by One is the fourth studio album by American rock band Foo Fighters, released on October 22, 2002, through Roswell and RCA Records. Production on the album was troubled, with initial recording sessions considered unsatisfying and raising tensions between the band members. They eventually decided to redo the album from scratch during a two-week period at frontman Dave Grohl's home studio in Alexandria, Virginia. The album, which includes the successful singles "All My Life" and "Times Like These", has been noted for its introspective lyrics and a heavier, more aggressive sound compared to the band's earlier work, which Grohl said was intended to translate the energy of the Foo Fighters' live performances into a recording. This was the first album recorded with Chris Shiflett as part of the band, and the first in which Grohl did not play drums, as drum duties were permanently assigned to Taylor Hawkins.

<i>In Your Honor</i> 2005 studio album by Foo Fighters

In Your Honor is the fifth studio album by American rock band Foo Fighters, released on June 14, 2005, through Roswell and RCA Records. It is a double album, with the first disc containing heavy rock songs and the second containing mellower acoustic songs. Frontman Dave Grohl decided to do a diverse blend of songs, as he felt that after ten years of existence, the band had to break new ground with their music. The album was recorded at a newly built studio in Northridge, Los Angeles, and features guests such as John Paul Jones, Norah Jones, and Josh Homme. Its lyrics deal with both resonating and introspective themes, with a major influence from Grohl's involvement on the campaign trail with John Kerry during the 2004 presidential election. It was the first album to feature keyboardist Rami Jaffee, although he would not join the band as full-time member until 2017.

<i>Death on the Road</i> 0000 live album and video by Iron Maiden

Death on the Road is a live album and video released by English heavy metal band Iron Maiden on 29 August 2005 on CD and vinyl, and on 6 February 2006 on DVD. The album was recorded at Westfalenhallen in Dortmund, Germany on 24 November 2003, during the Dance of Death World Tour.

<i>Skin and Bones</i> (Foo Fighters album) 2006 live album by Foo Fighters

Skin and Bones is a live acoustic album by Foo Fighters released on November 7, 2006.

<i>Echoes, Silence, Patience & Grace</i> 2007 studio album by Foo Fighters

Echoes, Silence, Patience & Grace is the sixth studio album by American rock band Foo Fighters, released on September 25, 2007, through Roswell and RCA Records. The album is noted for a blend of regular rock and acoustic tracks with shifting dynamics, which emerged from the variety of styles employed on the demos the band produced. It also marks the second time the band worked with producer Gil Norton, whom frontman Dave Grohl brought to fully explore the potential of his compositions and have a record that sounded different from their previous work. Grohl tried to focus on songs with messages that resonated with his audience, writing reflective lyrics that drew inspiration from the birth of his daughter.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Foo Fighters discography</span>

The discography of Foo Fighters, an American rock band formed in 1995 by Dave Grohl, consists of eleven studio albums, ten extended plays (EPs), six video albums, and 57 singles. The current Foo Fighters line-up consists of Grohl, Rami Jaffee (keyboard), Nate Mendel (bass), Chris Shiflett (guitar), Pat Smear (guitar) and Josh Freese (drummer).

<i>Live at Wembley Stadium</i> (Foo Fighters video) 2008 video by Foo Fighters

Live at Wembley Stadium is a live video by the Foo Fighters, released on August 22, 2008, in Ireland and August 25, 2008, in the UK on DVD. It was also released in Australia on August 30, New Zealand on September 1, and Germany, Austria and Switzerland on September 5. It was released in the United States on November 18, 2008.

<i>Live at Reading</i> 2009 live album by Nirvana

Live at Reading is a live CD/DVD by American rock band Nirvana, released on November 2, 2009. It features the band's headlining performance at the Reading Festival in Reading, England, on August 30, 1992. Bootlegged for years, the new issues present the performance for the first time mastered and color corrected.

<i>Greatest Hits</i> (Foo Fighters album) 2009 greatest hits album by Foo Fighters

Greatest Hits is a greatest hits album released by American rock band the Foo Fighters on November 3, 2009.

<i>Pearl Jam Twenty</i> 2011 film by Cameron Crowe

Pearl Jam Twenty is a 2011 American documentary directed by Cameron Crowe about the band Pearl Jam. Preliminary footage was being shot as of June 2010. Crowe completed filming in April 2011, after using 12,000 hours of footage of the band for the documentary. The film premiered at the 2011 Toronto International Film Festival and also had an accompanying book and soundtrack.

<i>Wasting Light</i> 2011 studio album by Foo Fighters

Wasting Light is the seventh studio album by American rock band Foo Fighters, released on April 12, 2011, through Roswell and RCA Records. Wanting to capture the essence of their earlier work and avoid the artificiality of digital recording, Foo Fighters recorded in the garage of frontman Dave Grohl in Encino, California, using only analog equipment. The sessions were produced by the band alongside Butch Vig, with whom Grohl had worked on Nirvana's Nevermind. Since the old equipment did not allow for many mistakes to be corrected in post-production, the band spent three weeks rehearsing the songs, and Vig had to relearn outdated editing techniques. The band sought a heavier and rawer sound in contrast to the experimentation of their previous albums. Most of the lyrics were written as Grohl reflected upon his life and possible future. Guest musicians include Bob Mould, Krist Novoselic, Jessy Greene, Rami Jaffee and Fee Waybill. Pat Smear played as an official member of the band for the first time since The Colour and the Shape (1997); he played on one track on their previous album, Echoes, Silence, Patience & Grace (2007).

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Rope (song)</span> 2011 single by Foo Fighters

"Rope" is a song by American rock band Foo Fighters, the second track on their seventh studio album, Wasting Light (2011). Like the rest of the album, it was written by all band members and produced by the band alongside Butch Vig. The song originated during the tour supporting Echoes, Silence, Patience & Grace (2007), the band's sixth studio album. A demo version was recorded after the tour ended in 2008. Some acts that have been noted as influences on the song include Rush and Led Zeppelin.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Walk (Foo Fighters song)</span> 2011 single by Foo Fighters

"Walk" is a song by American rock band Foo Fighters, released as the third single from their seventh studio album Wasting Light. It was written by Dave Grohl and co-produced by Butch Vig.

<i>Foo Fighters: Sonic Highways</i> American television miniseries

Sonic Highways is a 2014 American documentary miniseries directed by Dave Grohl and written by Mark Monroe. The documentary was made concurrently with Foo Fighters' eighth album, Sonic Highways, and was broadcast on HBO. Grohl described the project as "a love letter to the history of American music". Each of the eight episodes is presented as an exploration of the musical history of a different American city through a series of interviews by Grohl. The group is also shown incorporating what they learned from the interviews into the writing and recording of a new song in or near that city. The series debuted on October 17, 2014.

<i>Sonic Highways</i> 2014 studio album by Foo Fighters

Sonic Highways is the eighth studio album by American rock band Foo Fighters, released on November 10, 2014, through Roswell and RCA Records. Similar to their previous album, Wasting Light (2011), it was produced by the band with Butch Vig. In writing the album's eight songs, singer and guitarist Dave Grohl traveled to eight cities across the United States to conduct interviews with musicians, recording engineers, record producers, and other individuals discussing each city's musical history, which he used as inspiration for the songs' lyrics. The band and Vig then traveled to a different recording location in each city to record the songs. Each track features contributions from one or more musicians with ties to that city's musical history. The process was filmed for a companion television series, Foo Fighters: Sonic Highways, which was broadcast on HBO in the months surrounding the album's release.

<i>Concrete and Gold</i> 2017 studio album by Foo Fighters

Concrete and Gold is the ninth studio album by American rock band Foo Fighters, released on September 15, 2017, through Roswell and RCA Records. It is the band's first album to be produced alongside Greg Kurstin. Described by the band as an album where "hard rock extremes and pop sensibilities collide", Concrete and Gold concerns the future of the United States from the viewpoint of the band's frontman and lead songwriter Dave Grohl, with the heated atmosphere of the 2016 elections and the presidency of Donald Trump cited as major influences by Grohl. Juxtapositions serve as a common motif in both the album's lyrical and musical composition, with Grohl further describing the album's overall theme as "hope and desperation".

<i>Medicine at Midnight</i> 2021 studio album by Foo Fighters

Medicine at Midnight is the tenth studio album by American rock band Foo Fighters. It was released through RCA and Roswell Records on February 5, 2021, after having its release be pushed out of 2020 due to the COVID-19 pandemic. Produced by Greg Kurstin and the band, the album shows a slight shift in the band's style, pairing their usual rock sound with elements of dance-rock and pop. It is the final Foo Fighters studio album to feature drummer Taylor Hawkins before his death the following year.

References

  1. "FOO FIGHTERS - BACK AND FORTH (15)". Arts Alliance Media. British Board of Film Classification . Retrieved December 1, 2013.
  2. Foo Fighters Discuss 'Back and Forth' Documentary at SXSW, Billboard
  3. Dave Grohl Q&A: The Foo Fighters frontman talks about the new Foos album, saying no to 'Glee,' and playing 'Smells LIke Teen Spirit' for the first time in 18 years, Entertainment Weekly
  4. Foo Fighters Documentary Premiere Followed By Surprise Show Archived 2012-02-08 at the Wayback Machine , VH1
  5. "ARIA Top 40 Music DVD" (PDF). The ARIA Report (1117): 22. July 25, 2011. Archived from the original (PDF) on 2011-07-29. Retrieved February 3, 2013.
  6. "Austria Top 40 – Musik-DVDs Top 10 24.06.2011". Austriancharts.at (in German). Hung Medien. Retrieved February 3, 2013.
  7. "Ultratop Belgian Charts". Ultratop (in Dutch). Hung Medien. Retrieved February 3, 2013.
  8. "Foo Fighters – Back and Forth [DVD]". Ultratop (in French). Hung Medien. Retrieved February 3, 2013.
  9. "Musik DVD Top-10". Hitlisten.nu (in Danish). IFPI Denmark. Archived from the original on February 17, 2013. Retrieved February 3, 2013.
  10. "Dutch Charts Portal". GfK Dutch Charts (in Dutch). Hung Medien. Retrieved February 3, 2013.
  11. "Suomen Virallinen Lista – Musiikki DVD:t 26/2011". Musiikkituottajat – IFPI Finland (in Finnish). Retrieved February 3, 2013.
  12. "Album – Foo Fighters, Back and Forth [DVD]". Charts.de (in German). Media Control. Archived from the original on October 31, 2014. Retrieved February 3, 2013.
  13. "Irish Charts – Singles, Albums & Compilations". IRMA . Archived from the original on June 30, 2011. Retrieved February 3, 2013.
  14. "Classifiche". FIMI (in Italian). Archived from the original on June 1, 2012. Retrieved February 3, 2013.
  15. "Top 10 Music DVDs". RIANZ . Archived from the original on February 23, 2013. Retrieved February 3, 2013.
  16. "DVD Audio Uke 25, 2011". VG-lista (in Norwegian). Archived from the original on 2012-06-03. Retrieved February 3, 2013.
  17. "Top 20 DVD Musical" (PDF). PROMUSICAE (in Spanish). Media Control GfK International. Retrieved February 3, 2013.[ permanent dead link ]
  18. "Sveriges Officiella Topplista". Sverigetopplistan (in Swedish). Archived from the original on December 26, 2015. Retrieved February 3, 2013.Search for Foo Fighters and click Sök.
  19. "Swiss Charts – Music DVD Top 10 26.06.2011". Hitparade.ch. Hung Medien. Retrieved February 3, 2013.
  20. "2011-06-25 Top 40 Music Video Archive". Official Charts Company . Archived from the original on February 4, 2013. Retrieved February 3, 2013.
  21. Fanelli, Damian (June 23, 2011). "'Foo Fighters: Back and Forth' Debuts at No. 1 on Billboard DVD Chart". Guitar World . NewBay Media . Retrieved February 3, 2013.
  22. "ARIA Charts – Accreditations – 2015 DVDs" (PDF). Australian Recording Industry Association.
  23. "British video certifications – Foo Fighters – Back and Forth". British Phonographic Industry . Retrieved February 16, 2020.
  24. "American video certifications – Foo Fighters – Back and Forth". Recording Industry Association of America.