The Foo Fighters Song Dave Grohl Wrote After Listening to Fleetwood Mac

The Foo Fighters are best known for arena-sized anthems and high-energy performances, but they once leaned into a softer, more melodic sound after spending time with Fleetwood Mac. That track became "Ain't It the Life," one of the band's most subdued and quietly beautiful songs.

Dave Grohl has described the song as born from that period of listening: "That’s what happens when you listen to too much mellow ’70s gold Fleetwood Mac-type stuff while recording… 'Ain’t it the Life' sounds like an Eagles song or something, and I hate the Eagles." His interest in 1970s music shows up playfully in the song's arrangement.

Appearing on their third studio album, There Is Nothing Left to Lose, the song stands out for its calm, tender tone. It opens gently, leans on acoustic, laid-back elements and even nods to Fleetwood Mac's "Dreams," while the softer, conversational delivery lets Grohl's voice take center stage.

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