In his first in-depth print interview for four years, Dave Grohl unveils a new chapter in his musical odyssey, previewing Foo Fighters’ incendiary new album while still processing the fallout from Taylor Hawkins’ tragic passing. “Why do I keep doing this?” he asks MOJO’s David Fricke. “I don’t know the answer.” Also in the issue: The Clash – back to the beginning; Cocteau Twins’ Liz Fraser speaks; Bad Company’s blues, and soul; Record Store Day’s hidden gems. Plus: U2; Booker T; Joe Jackson; Alex Harvey; Sunn O))); Jackie DeShannon; Hiss Golden Messenger; Courtney Pine; The Seeds; The Beat; Chris Rea; Procol Harum and more!
THIS MONTH’S COVERMOUNT CD is Foo FM: 15 whammo tracks compiled by Dave Grohl and Nate Mendel from Foo Fighters. Features Queens Of The Stone Age, David Byrne, Nick Cave, Hüsker Dü, Fat Dog, Pissed Jeans, Kim Gordon and more!
CONTENTS MOJO 390
COVER STORY: FOO FIGHTERS In the aftermath of Taylor Hawkins’ death, Dave Grohl and his band had to learn to live, and work, again. Now their new album channels their fiery birth in the crucible of punk and grunge. “We did it so bam bam bam!”
THE CLASH It’s 50 years since the London SS and The 101’ers flamed out and punk’s great romantics rose from their ashes. Pat Gilbert goes back to the beginning.
ELIZABETH FRASER The bewitching voice of the Cocteau Twins, in her first in-person interview in 13 years, joins the dots of a perplexing career: “My dream is to feel comfortable.”
BAD COMPANY After the drug-fried slog of Free, its survivors were ready to fly, mixing blues and soul with Led Zep’s powerful manager, and label, in their corner.
JOE JACKSON “Private and difficult”, but opening up for MOJO: the angry young man of new wave turned jazzy hitmaker and symphonic Renaissance Man. Expect strong opinions!
JACKIE DeSHANNON A triple-threat singer, songwriter and producer at the coalface since the dawn of rock’n’roll, on the Beatles, Bacharach, The Byrds, Randy Newman and more.
BOOKER T. JONES The M.G.’s’ organ-izer and “Zelig of music” hits the road, remembering Steve Cropper, the Beatles’ limo, recording with Dylan, and Willie Nelson’s weed.
HIS GOLDEN MESSENGER Master of songs, connoisseur of grooves: Americana’s multi-faceted poet-philosopher sails on troubled seas, with Van Morrison and the Heptones to guide him.
RAY STEVENSON A photo portfolio of ’60s rock and folk legends, a ringside seat at the invention of glam rock and rise of Sandy Denny. Plus – David Bowie eating a burger!
REVIEWED Alex Harvey / Sunn O))) / Talking Heads / Rush / Courtney Barnett / Flea / Son Little / Bruce Hornsby / Bon Iver / José González / Mike Finnigan / Danny George Wilson / Aerosmith / Yaya Bey / My New Band Believe / Eg & Alice / Cut Worms / Queen / House Of All / Spencer Cullum / Scritti Politti / The New Pornographers / Connie Converse / Joe Pernice / Motorpsycho / Billy Childish / The Charlatans / Swell Maps / The Monochrome Set / Tedeschi Trucks Band / Juni Habel / Soft Machine / The Bevis Frond / Thundercat / System 7 / The Twilight Sad / The Blasters
PLUS Record Store Day 2026 – the highlights / U2 – new songs, new album? / The Seeds – still Pushin’ / Courtney Pine – 40 years of recording / Ichiko Aoba and Andrew Wasylyk are Rising / The Beat – just can’t stop ’em / How To Buy… Chris Rea / Farewell, Fred Smith, Andrew Ranken, Willie Colón… / Robin Trower’s Procol Harum palaver / Songs about songs / Nina Hagen’s acid Jesus hell / And more!