Dave Grohl reveals encounter with hitchhiker that changed his life after Kurt Cobain’s death

Your support helps us to tell the story

Support Now

Find out moreClose

My recent work focusing on Latino voters in Arizona has shown me how crucial independent journalism is in giving voice to underrepresented communities.

Your support is what allows us to tell these stories, bringing attention to the issues that are often overlooked. Without your contributions, these voices might not be heard.

Every dollar you give helps us continue to shine a light on these critical issues in the run up to the election and beyond

Eric Garcia

Washington Bureau Chief

Dave Grohl has recalled how picking up a hitchhiker wearing a Kurt Cobain t-shirt after the musician’s death changed his outlook on life.

Grohl and Cobain performed together in Nirvana from 1990 to 1994, with the band’s time together coming to an end following the frontman’s tragic suicide.

Appearing on tonight’s (1 October) episode of The Graham Norton Show, Grohl opened up about losing his former bandmate.

“When Kurt died and it all ended I didn’t know what to do with my life,” he said. “I couldn’t listen to music anymore because it hurt too much so I tried to escape and went to Ireland to soul search.”

Grohl continued: “I was trying to figure out my life when I picked up a hitchhiker who was wearing a Kurt Cobain t-shirt and I thought, ‘Even in this remote place I can’t outrun life’, so I went home and started over with the Foo Fighters. I needed to survive and get on with life.”

In a recent interview, Grohl revealed that he and Cobain survived on less than one dollar a day while working on Nirvana’s second album Nevermind, which turned 30 in September.

“There was a gas station across the street from the apartment that Kurt and I lived in and they had a three for 99 cent corn dog deal,” he recalled.

“We had no money so we didn’t have food, but we did have 99 cents a day. If you could manage to budget three corn dogs in a 24-hour period, you could survive on that, and we did.”

The Graham Norton Show airs Friday 1 October at 10.35pm on BBC One

If you are experiencing feelings of distress and isolation, or are struggling to cope, The Samaritans offers support; you can speak to someone for free over the phone, in confidence, on 116 123 (UK and ROI), email jo@samaritans.org, or visit the Samaritans website to find details of your nearest branch.

If you are based in the USA, and you or someone you know needs mental health assistance right now, call National Suicide Prevention Helpline on 1-800-273-TALK (8255). The Helpline is a free, confidential crisis hotline that is available to everyone 24 hours a day, seven days a week.

If you are in another country, you can go to www.befrienders.org to find a helpline near you.