Former Nirvana drummer and current Foo Fighters frontman Dave Grohl is a legend, times seven.
On Thursday, Grohl released a black-and-white mini-documentary in which he plays all of the instruments of a 23-minute instrumental composition. “Play” sees Grohl playing (get it? you get it) seven instruments in succession. By miracle of film editing software, seven Dave Grohls appear to play together in the same room.
The first part of Play is a narrated discussion on “the rewards and challenges of dedicating one’s life to playing music.” It also addresses the process by which the performance was recorded and filmed.
The documentary then cuts to “Join the Band” music lessons, where kids are taught how to play in rock ensembles. Adolescents discuss the way in which learning and playing instruments provides their lives with discipline and creativity.
Play finally transitions into the 23-minute audio journey in which Grohl overdubs electric and acoustic guitars, bass guitar, drums, Fender Rhodes piano, synthesizers, vibraphone, tambourine, and tympani, playing all seven instruments live, all the way through. For 23 straight minutes.
“To any musician, young or old, a beautiful studio full of instruments like a playground,” says the music vet. “To me, I’m like a kid in a candy store. Most musicians are always chasing the next challenge; you never feel satisfied, and you never feel like you’ve completely mastered the instrument you’re playing.”
“It’s always going to be a puzzle; it’s always going to be a challenge. It’s a beautiful mystery. But once it gets its hooks in you, that’s when the obsession and the drive really kick in.”
But to circle back to the raison d’être of Play, Nirvana, The Foo Fighters, and Dave Grohl himself: “At the end of the day, just like any kid, the reward is just to play.”
Play is available to pre-order, and the digital version is available to stream and download now.