Dave Grohl in Studio 666Image via Open Road
By
Val Barone
Published Jan 25, 2026, 8:00 PM EST
Val Barone is a journalist working remotely and specializing in music features. A passionate music lover, she keeps up to date on the latest developments in the entertainment world, and in the past five years, she's written for several sites, including ScreenRant, MovieWeb, TheThings, and Far Out Magazine. She covers breaking news in the music world and loves sharing stories about the classic rock musicians she grew up listening to. As a Gen Z writer, she offers a fresh perspective on the events that change music history.
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More than 30 years after Kurt Cobain's death, Nirvana is still riddled with controversy. Toward the end of their history, the relationship between the band members was already fracturing, and things only worsened after Cobain's death. There were endless legal battles, public fights, and accusations thrown around for years, especially between Cobain's widow, Hole singer Courtney Love, and Dave Grohl. The relationship was so strained right after the collapse of Nirvana that the feud even inspired one of the first Foo Fighters songs that Grohl ever wrote. After years of speculation, the drummer turned frontman finally admitted what fans already knew: that he was attacking Courtney Love in his song.
Dave Grohl Finally Admitted This Diss Track is About Courtney Love
The first Foo Fighters album is essentially a Dave Grohl solo album, recorded only a few months after the breakup of Nirvana. Grohl wrote all the songs and played all the instruments, but chose to name the album Foo Fighters to hide that it was "the guy from Nirvana" and give the impression that it was a band, even though he was still putting the group together. That small deception worked great at first, but after he officially formed the band, fans started interpreting his songs differently.
The self-titled album came out in 1995, and one of its most popular songs is "I'll Stick Around." For years, fans analyzed the lyrics, and in light of the public fights between Grohl and Courtney Love, they became convinced that this song was about her. For years, Grohl avoided the question, or denied it altogether. The song is pointed, and clearly directed to someone in particular. "How could it be I'm the only one who sees your rehearsed insanity?" Grohl sings. The chorus repeats, "I don't owe you anything," insistently, and then warns, "I had no hand in your ever-desperate plan. It returns and when it lands, words are due." Finally, he promises, "I'll stick around and learn from all that came from it."
In 2009, after years of skirting around the rumors, Dave Grohl addressed them and confirmed what people already assumed. "I don't think it's any secret that 'I'll Stick Around' is about Courtney," Grohl revealed, pointing out that, while he never outright said it before, the lyrics were meant to be obvious. "I've denied it for fifteen years, but I'm finally coming out and saying it. Just read the f****** words!"
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Posts 3 By Val BaroneThe Ups and Downs in Dave Grohl and Courtney Love's Relationship
Dave Grohl might have written a diss track about Courtney Love, but besides that, he has kept largely silent in public about her, choosing not to address her attacks when they were feuding, and defending her when they reconciled. However, their relationship is clearly volatile, and at least from Courtney Love's side, there seems to be a lot of resentment.
In 2007, Love went on a rant about Grohl, claiming that Kurt Cobain hated him and was planning on kicking him out of Nirvana. "Kurt loathed HIM more than anyone else," she said. "In his will he made a codicil that Grohl was no longer a member of Nirvana. I just ignored the guy and will continue to." She added that this was the reason Grohl wrote his diss track. "He takes it out on me! Hey, it wasn’t MY band and it wasn’t MY idea! It’s funny he ‘hates’ me since I don’t think about him."
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Posts 3 By Val BaroneBy 2014, they seemed to have resolved their issues. The surviving members and Love got together for Nirvana's induction into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame, and when Love took the stage to accept the trophy on Cobain's behalf, she referred to Grohl and bassist Krist Novoselic as "family" and hugged them, something that Grohl later confirmed. "I saw Courtney walking past and I just tapped her on the shoulder, and we looked at each other in the eyes and that was it – we’re just family. We’ve had a rocky road. We’ve had a bumpy past, but at the end of the day, we’re a big family and when we hugged each other it was a real hug," Grohl said of that night.
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Want richer context around Nirvana, Cobain, and rock controversies? Subscribe to the newsletter for thoughtful coverage, analysis, and background on music feuds and band histories, and more stories from music culture. Subscribe By subscribing, you agree to receive newsletter and marketing emails, and accept Valnet’s Terms of Use and Privacy Policy. You can unsubscribe anytime.However, things took a dark turn in 2021. In a now-deleted Instagram post, Love went on a rant about how Dave Grohl allegedly stole money from Cobain's inheritance from her and their daughter. She accused Grohl of "gorging on Kurt's fortune," and finished by saying, "Nicest guy in Rock? No." She quickly regretted her rant, though, and not only deleted the post but also issued a heartfelt apology, saying her words were "insensitive" and "wrong." "I need to learn to be more responsible with my words. I am truly sorry for those I’ve hurt and I will do better."
The song was only the beginning of a long-standing public feud, and as Courtney Love's rant proved, it could reignite at any moment.
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