From Cradle to Stage: Stories From The Mothers Who Rocked and Raised Rock Stars
Virginia Hanlon Grohl
Seal Press
Nepotism meets meta-prank – or something? – as Dave Grohl’s mother rolls out a book just in time for Mother’s Day…
She zips about talking to mothers of other rock-stars. A grab-bag that includes pop hopefuls, rappers, legends, Reality TV stars, there’s no real thread. Presumably it’s who she could get to via Dave and Foo networks. (For example, Zac Brown, friend and opening act of the Foos has both his mother and step-mother interviewed).
It’s an over-the-teacups affair as Virginia Hanlon Grohl has a scone with Michael Stipe’s mother, crumbles cookies with the mothers of Tom Morello and Dre. Dre, sits down with the woman responsible for the Haim trio and does coffee and/or brunch/lunch with the women behind Gary Clark Jr, Adam Levine, Pharell, Amy Winehouse and Dave Matthews.
The aim is to show that these strong women were always there for their children, provided good stable platforms – including early musical education/interest (in some if not all cases) and have continued to show an interest in their child’s passion after it has turned into a profitable career and, again in most cases, seen a financial return on that early emotional investment.
In between these prosaic encounters, Dave Grohl’s mum writes little vignettes about the world’s favourite gurning/grinning drummer-turned-singer. She recalls hanging with Wendy Cobain, the shared stories of excited mothers with teen sons finally going somewhere.
When it doesn’t feel concocted after the fact it just drags along with the mundanity of a Foo Fighters album track.
Quite why this book – or the need for it – exists is anyone’s guess.
The mothers of rock stars – like the mothers of anyone/everyone – deserve their props, sure. Here they’re paraded about in an Almost Famous-type of way that seems to undermine the aim of the book. But she’s proud as punch, and palpably so. And good on her I guess. And if that sounds a little condescending…good! I’ve taken a leaf (just the one, mind) out of Virigina Hanlon Grohl’s book.
