Foo Fighters bassist Nate Mendel gives an inside look at the family-like dynamics in the band.
In talking on the podcast “Identified with Nabil Ayers” about relationships, Mendel discussed how band relationships are typically not all that different from family relationships.
“I’ve been in the same band for 28 years now,” Mendel said about the Dave Grohl fronted band, which he has been a member of since their debut in 1995.
Foo Fighters bassist on band’s relationship
“You know what’s funny, I will say this about my Foo Fighters band. There is a parallel there… You know my family was more like the passive aggressive side of things. Not so much aggressive, but like it’s more laissez-faire. It’s a very laissez-faire family. You do you, I’m gonna do me. You know, pretty open… And Foo Fighters are kinda the same way. Like we don’t talk about what we do and if there’s issues within the band they sort of resolve themselves in that kind of hands-off, laissez-faire, sort of way… There’s an understanding. We’d rather deal with things that way than like, explicitly. It might be one of the reasons why it’s worked for me for as long as it has. I appreciate that in family.”
Mendel continued: “Those guys are my brothers… It’s a love hate thing. You’re really close, you’re around all the time. People you may not have chosen to be in this intimate relationship with, but you are. And over time you make it work.”
