RIGHT: Dave Grohl performs with the Sound City Players on Thursday during SXSW 2013 in Austin, Texas. (Jay Janner/Austin American-Statesman/Associated Press)
What a way to kick off the new year, with one of my personal heroes, Dave Grohl! May our paths cross this year in a very tiny, very loud venue. In the meantime, I thought I'd share a little inspiration from the man of the day. I continue to be inspired by the passion and joy Dave puts into everything he's done including drumming for Nirvana, picking up and starting Foo Fighters, building his own Studio 606 and Roswell Records, creating the Sound City documentary, traveling across the country to record a love letter to American music, and after breaking his leg onstage, finished the set in a cast. He's living proof of getting up, following your passion and letting nothing stand in your way. These are his actions, and thanks to SXSW, we also have his words.
In 2013, Dave Grohl was the SXSW Keynote Speaker where he shared his take on authenticity and the power in finding your voice. Reasons to watch: aside from being a rock hero, Dave was raised by a former DC political speechwriter and a former public speaking teacher, so he delivers a damn good speech. Using humor, heartbreak, storytelling, and continuous threads, he shares the definitive moments in his life, told in vividly crisp detail, that led him to find his voice. That discovery placed him on his creative journey, his success since that moment is a reflection of his continued efforts to harness and nurture that voice. The video has been seen 694,685 times. I'm not gonna lie, of good number of those views was yours truly.
Dave Grohl's SXSW Keynote Speech is 50 minutes of quality storytelling, I hope you'll find it as inspiring as I do. May we all get to be as happy as Dave (top right, especially), playing guitar and living his dream.