Dave Grohl’s Mom Is Writing a Book About Other Rock Moms

Foo Fighters frontman Dave Grohl is fond of mentioning his family members during concerts and other public appearances. Now, though, another Grohl is getting in on the action. The musician’s mother, Virginia Grohl, will soon publish a book full of interviews with mothers of other rock stars.

My Son the Rockstar is due out from Seal Press, a Berkeley, California, publisher that specializes in books by and about women, according to a notice in Publishers Marketplace. The volume, which does not yet have a release date, will feature Virginia Grohl’s conversations with other music moms including Bev Lambert, mother of country singer Miranda Lambert; Patsy Noah, mother of The Voice judge Adam Levine; and Janis Winehouse, mother of the late siren Amy Winehouse.

Grohl spent more than three decades as a high-school English teacher with Fairfax County Public Schools. (Dave Grohl dropped out of Annandale High School during his junior year to become the drummer for the post-hardcore band Scream.) With her son leading one of the world’s most popular rock bands, Grohl has sometimes been spotted with other rockers’ parents. In July, she hung out backstage with Mary Weinrib, mother of Rush singer Geddy Lee.

She is also a frequent subject of Foo Fighters’ stage banter. During the band’s 20th anniversary show last summer at Robert F. Kennedy Stadium, Grohl joined her son on stage before a performance of “For All the Cows.” In August, Dave Grohl interrupted a set at Chicago’s Wrigley Field to sing “Happy Birthday” to his mom.

Benjamin Freed

Staff Writer

Benjamin Freed joined Washingtonian in August 2013 and covers politics, business, and media. He was previously the editor of DCist and has also written for Washington City Paper, the New York Times, the New Republic, Slate, and BuzzFeed. He lives in Adams Morgan.