Total Number of Bands Dave Grohl Has Been In
Dave Grohl has been a member of 5 major bands across his career, including Scream, Nirvana, Foo Fighters, Them Crooked Vultures, and the Probot project. He is best known as the founder and frontman of Foo Fighters, which he launched in 1994 after the death of Kurt Cobain. In Scream, he played drums as a teenager in the late 1980s before joining Nirvana in 1990. Each band represents a distinct phase of his evolution from punk drummer to alternative rock icon and multi-instrumentalist Forbes.
The exact count of bands depends on whether side projects and collaborations are included. If only full-time bands are counted, the number is 4, but Probot is often listed as a separate project where Grohl served as the primary musician and producer. Across all these groups, Grohl has released over 15 studio albums and contributed to numerous soundtracks and collaborations, cementing his status as one of the most prolific figures in modern rock.
Band Details and Timeline
Scream was Grohl's first band, where he played drums from 1986 to 1990 in the Washington D.C. hardcore punk scene. Nirvana followed, with Grohl joining as drummer in 1990 and recording the landmark album Nevermind in 1991. After Nirvana ended in 1994, Grohl formed Foo Fighters as a one-man project before expanding into a full band, releasing their self-titled debut in 1995. Them Crooked Vultures, formed in 2009 with Josh Homme and John Paul Jones, produced one self-titled album and a short tour cycle Rolling Stone.
Probot and Other Collaborations
Probot, released in 2004, was a heavy metal side project where Grohl played most instruments and recruited vocalists like Lemmy Kilmister and Max Cavalera. While not a traditional band, Probot is widely cited as one of Grohl's projects, bringing the total to 5 when combined with Scream, Nirvana, Foo Fighters, and Them Crooked Vultures. Each project highlights a different facet of his musicianship, from punk energy to heavy metal and alternative rock.
Roles and Contributions Across Bands
In Scream and Nirvana, Grohl was exclusively the drummer, known for his powerful, straightforward style that defined the sound of 1990s alternative rock. With Foo Fighters, he became the lead vocalist, guitarist, and primary songwriter, shaping the band's anthemic post-grunge identity. In Them Crooked Vultures, he returned to drums while also contributing to songwriting alongside Homme and Jones Billboard.
Probot allowed Grohl to experiment behind the console and on instruments, functioning as a collaborative album rather than a touring band. Across all these projects, Grohl has maintained a consistent role as a drummer first, but his willingness to take on vocal and leadership duties in Foo Fighters set him apart from many of his peers in the rock scene.