When a Legendary Drummer’s Standards Become a “Problem”: The Heartbreaking Story of William Goldsmith, Foo Fighters’ Original Drummer

Who hasn’t heard of Foo Fighters? That giant rock band fronted by Dave Grohl, Nirvana’s legendary former drummer.

Did you know about the success of their second album, “The Colour and the Shape”? Behind its success is a bitter story experienced by their first drummer, William Goldsmith.

This tale is proof that having a boss who’s incredibly skilled in your own field can be a double-edged sword.

From the Ashes of Nirvana, a New Hope Called Foo Fighters Was Born

After the tragedy that befell Kurt Cobain and the disbandment of Nirvana in 1994, Dave Grohl didn’t want to wallow in sadness. He refused to remain in despair for long.

He had a lot of song material he’d written over the years. Initially, Grohl recorded almost all the instruments himself for a demo. This demo would later become Foo Fighters’ first album, which was released in 1995. Needing a band for live shows and the next album, Grohl started recruiting members.

Nate Mendel, the bassist, and William “Will” Goldsmith, the drummer, joined the band. They were previously members of the emo/post-hardcore band Sunny Day Real Estate.

Pat Smear, who had been a touring guitarist for Nirvana, also joined. This initial Foo Fighters lineup began to hit stages and tour, building high expectations for their next work.

Goldsmith himself was a respected drummer in the independent music scene, known for his energetic and technical playing style. High hopes were pinned on him.

“The Colour and the Shape”: The Studio Becomes a (Mental) Battlefield

After a fairly successful promotional tour for their debut album, this full version of Foo Fighters entered Bear Creek Studio. This studio is located in Woodinville, Washington. The band arrived in late 1995 and continued into early 1996.

They teamed up with Gil Norton. He was a producer who had previously found success with Pixies. Norton was chosen to helm the recording of their second album, titled “The Colour and the Shape.”

This is where the drama began, especially for Goldsmith. Dave Grohl, a true drummer at heart, turned out to have incredibly high standards for the drumming department.

The recording process turned into a session of mental “torture” for Goldsmith. He felt Grohl was never satisfied with his playing.

“Dave made me redo one song 96 times,” Goldsmith recalled. Imagine that, 96 times! And that was just one song. “And I had to spend thirteen hours working on another song. It felt like nothing I did was ever good enough for him, or for anyone else.”

This pressure was intensified because Gil Norton, the producer, reportedly also pushed Goldsmith to his limits, possibly at Grohl’s direction.

The atmosphere in the studio became tense. Goldsmith felt like he was under a microscope, every hit analyzed exhaustively.

Some songs, such as “Monkey Wrench” and “My Poor Brain,” reportedly had recording processes. These processes were incredibly draining on Goldsmith’s energy and patience.

The “Secret” Session and a Devastating Blow

With the grueling, months-long recording session nearly complete, the band decided to take a break. Goldsmith might have hoped this was the end of his struggle. But reality had other plans.

According to Grohl, although there were moments where Goldsmith’s drumming “shone,” most of it didn’t quite fit his musical vision.

Grohl felt the drum sound lacked the power and precision he wanted. The band reconvened at Grandmaster Recorders studio in Los Angeles around February 1997 for mixing and final touches. At that time, a big decision was made.

Without initially telling Goldsmith directly, Grohl went into the studio and re-recorded almost all the drum parts himself.

Yes, Dave Grohl, the vocalist and guitarist of Foo Fighters, returned to his “natural habitat” behind the drum kit. He felt this was the only way the album would sound like what he had in his head.

Goldsmith only found out that his contributions to the album had been massively replaced from Nate Mendel, the bassist.

Can you imagine how that felt?

After struggling so hard, his work was erased and replaced without any direct conversation from the “boss.” Goldsmith felt deeply betrayed and unappreciated.

An Unacceptable Offer and the End of an Era

When finally confronted, Grohl reportedly suggested Goldsmith stay on as the band’s touring drummer. Perhaps Grohl meant well, wanting Goldsmith to still have a place on stage.

But for Goldsmith, who had poured his heart and soul into the studio sessions, this offer was clearly an insult. He wasn’t just an “additional player”; he was a band member.

Feeling his creative contributions were completely disregarded, Goldsmith firmly refused and decided to leave Foo Fighters. Period.

The Arrival of Taylor Hawkins: Chemistry that “Clicked”

Goldsmith’s departure obviously left a vacancy in the drummer’s seat. But it didn’t take long for Grohl to find a replacement.

It was Taylor Hawkins, who at the time was drumming for Alanis Morissette (who was huge at that moment). Funnily enough, Grohl initially just asked Hawkins for a drummer recommendation, but Hawkins offered himself up for the job.

The chemistry between Grohl and Hawkins clicked immediately, both musically and personally. Hawkins’ explosive, energetic playing style, which had a “feel” similar to Grohl’s, was considered a perfect fit.

Many said this was Grohl’s true “taste.” “The Colour and the Shape” was finally released on May 20, 1997.

Goldsmith’s name was still listed in the album credits. Reportedly, only a few small parts of his drumming on “Doll” remained. Perhaps just the intro to “Up in Arms” was also his. The rest was performed by Grohl. The world would come to know Taylor Hawkins as the Foo Fighters’ drummer for that era and beyond.

After Foo Fighters: Goldsmith Continues His Journey

After leaving Foo Fighters, William Goldsmith didn’t stop making music. He returned to his old band, Sunny Day Real Estate, when they reunited.

He was also involved in several other musical projects. Goldsmith may not be as famous as he might have been if he’d stayed with Foo Fighters. However, he continued his passion for music.

William Goldsmith’s story serves as a valuable lesson about band dynamics, the pressure of expectations, and the importance of communication.

Having a leader who is also a virtuoso in your position can be inspiring. However, it can be the biggest source of frustration if visions don’t align. As the common quip goes, “It’s tough when the leader is a great drummer, LOL… Only Taylor Hawkins suited Dave’s taste.” And indeed, history has proven that the Grohl-Hawkins duo was one of the most solid in rock.