Throwback Thursday – 19 Year Ago the Foo Fighters Released ‘This Is A Call’

One of the biggest internet trends is Throwback Thursday. So instead of boring you with old pics of Gonzo on the crapper, we are hoping in the way back machine to revist some major milestones in 99x and rock history. 19 years ago today, on June 19th 1995, Dave Grohl and the Foo FIghters made their first steps toward becoming one of Rock's biggest and best bands.

After the death of Kurt Cobain, Dave was on the fence about what to do with his life. He had a sweet offer to become the new drummer for Tom Petty and the Heartbreakers, but instead decided to make his own music.

"I was this close to joining," he told Rolling Stone in 1995. "When they rehearsed they treated me like I was in the band. It was such an honor. But I figured that I was 26 years old and didn't want to become a drummer for hire."

So, Dave put together an album for a new project called the Foo Fighters in Seattle1994, where he basically wrote all the songs, played all the instruments...he was this band. In fact, he hoped to keep his anonymity and release the recordings in a limited run . Hence the name Foo Fighters, which was a term used during World War II to refer to UFOs.

As the tape started circulating through the industry and picked up buzz, Grohl decided it was time to hit the road. He recruited former Nirvana touring guitarist Pat Smear and the rhythm section of Sunny Deal Real Estate, who had just broken up.

The Foo Fighters released the first single from the self-titled debut album, 'This Is A Call' on June 19th, 1995 with the album coming out the next month.

Much to Grohl's surprise, the song was a smash hit. The song peaked at Number 2 on the rock charts and the Foos ended up making their late night TV debut playing the track on Letterman (see below) two months after it's release.

The rest, as they say, is history.