When Nirvana’s Kurt Cobain died, it was easy for casual observers to think that Dave Grohl-formed Foo Fighters, was perhaps more of a buffer to ease the pain than a burgeoning musical powerhouse. That shows, of course, how wrong one can be. It’s easy to forgive those naysayers, though, especially when you consider Cobain’s larger-than-life persona. After all, who could see beyond Cobain’s shadow and realize that Grohl, who went from music-obsessed-teen in D.C. to Nirvana drummer, was also a visionary? Not that he would likely acknowledge that.

“That we’re all dorks,” said Grohl when asked by Rolling Stone what rumor he’d start about the Foo Fighters if asked. “Everyone would believe it, too, because it’s true.”