Dave used to stare at his Kiss poster before going to classes - now he chats with Paul Stanley at their kids' elementary

Dave Grohl has told how he used to stare at a poster of Kiss before going to school – and now he chats with frontman Paul Stanley as the pair take their children to the same elementary.

The Foo Fighters mainman this week presented Stanley and Gene Simmons with an ASCAP Founders Award for songwriting. In his speech he paid tribute to the “superheroes” who inspired him to become a musician.

Grohl said: “With nuclear anticipation I let the needle drop on that legendary intro to Detroit Rock City. It filled my speakers and my imagination. I was now a member of the infamous Kiss army.

“Before long my room had become a fucking shrine. Every morning I would wake up in my tiny bedroom and take a good look at my superheroes before walking to school.

“They got me through those years and ultimately inspired me to follow this unreasonable dream of becoming a professional rock’n’roll musician.”

Grohl added that his love of Kiss remains, adding: “These days I still spend every morning before school with Paul Stanley… in the parking lot of our kids’ elementary school, chatting about Zeppelin, Electric Lady, touring and school fundraisers.

“I’d say that my unreasonable dream definitely came true.”

Foo Fighters will headline this year’s Glastonbury on July 24, while Kiss will wrap up Download on June 14.

Scott Munro
Louder e-commerce editor

Scott has spent 35 years in newspapers, magazines and online as an editor, production editor, sub-editor, designer, writer and reviewer. Scott joined our news desk in the summer of 2014 before moving to the e-commerce team in 2020. Scott keeps Louder’s buyer’s guides up to date, writes about the best deals for music fans, keeps on top of the latest tech releases and reviews headphones, speakers, earplugs and more. Over the last 10 years, Scott has written more than 11,000 articles across Louder, Classic Rock, Metal Hammer and Prog. He's previously written for publications including IGN, the Sunday Mirror, Daily Record and The Herald newspapers, covering everything from daily news and weekly features, to tech reviews, video games, travel and whisky. Scott's favourite bands are Fields Of The Nephilim, The Cure, New Model Army, All About Eve, The Mission, Cocteau Twins, Drab Majesty, Marillion and Rush.