Foo Fighters' Dave Grohl Was in Love With This Singer and Covered One of Her Biggest Hits

Dave Grohl is known not only as the legendary frontman of the Foo Fighters but also as the former drummer of one of the best ’90s alternative rock bands, Nirvana. Over the years, he has made a name for himself as one of rock’s most charismatic and enduring performers, renowned for his high-energy shows and unmistakable stage presence. But even rock stars have a soft side — and Grohl certainly does. He once admitted he was “hopelessly in love” with 1980s new wave star Kim Wilde, whose hit tracks “Kids in America” and “You Keep Me Hangin’ On” helped define the sound of the decade.

Dave Grohl Admits Kim Wilde Was Part of His Teenage Years

Grohl himself has a long list of musical influences, often naming songs he’s openly admitted he wishes he had written himself. While the "From Can to Can't" singer has long established himself as a rock powerhouse, he has also never shied away from expressing his softer, more sentimental side as a music fan. Among the tracks he has publicly spoken about with deep admiration is John Lennon’s “Imagine,” even referring to the late Beatle as a kind of “teacher” after learning to play the guitar by strumming along to it. He has never been shy about celebrating the artists who shaped his musical journey, openly wearing his influences on his sleeve. And just like many teenage boys growing up in the 1980s, during the height of Wilde’s pop stardom, Grohl also found himself completely smitten. In an interview, the Foo Fighters frontman candidly explained:

“Every punk-rock boy I knew was hopelessly in love with Kim Wilde, and so was I. That’s why I recorded my own version of Kids in America. It was in the days before I joined Nirvana – maybe 1989 – and I did it on a whim. I was at my friend’s basement studio, and I said, ‘Let me record this thing.’ It’s an iconic, anthemic song from the ’80s, and I love it as much as I loved her!”

Foo Fighters Covered a Kim Wilde Hit for Their 'Songs From the Laundry Room' EP

Foo Fighters paid homage to Wilde by covering her iconic 1981 hit “Kids in America” on their 2015 EP, Songs From the Laundry Room. The raw, garage-style recording was released as part of the band’s Record Store Day offerings, showcasing their take on the beloved new wave classic through a stripped-down, rock-driven version. Wilde’s genre may differ greatly from Grohl’s, but his admiration for the English pop singer — and for her hit song “Kids in America” — is anything but a guilty pleasure. He once said in an interview, “Music is music. I don’t believe in guilty pleasures.” And his admiration for Wilde is certainly without merit. The British singer was the 1980s’ most-charted English female solo artist and is considered a prominent new wave and synth-pop artist of that era. Tracks like “Chequered Love” and “Cambodia” became staples of 1980s pop culture, earning Wilde a lasting place in music history and influencing generations of artists.

Throughout the 1980s, all the way through the 1990s, Wilde released a total of nine studio albums. She continued to release music into the 2000s, adding a total of six more, with the 2025 album Closer as her latest. Celebrated as a British music icon, Wilde’s legacy continues to live on through her timeless songs, such as "Water on Glass," "Keep Me Hanging On," "Love Blonde," "View From A Bridge," "Dancing In The Dark," "The Second Time," "The Touch," and "Anyplace Anywhere Anytime," among others. While there are plenty of musical acts that defined the sound of the '80s, there is no denying the impact Wilde has had on that era of music.

Apart from studio albums, the singer also put out six compilation albums. And you know how it is with artists who have Best Of albums — that doesn’t just come out of nowhere, or for nostalgic reasons alone. They just truly made a mark that endured across decades, influencing listeners and shaping the sound of their era in a way that remains memorable even today. With a career that spans decades, it’s hardly surprising that Wilde captivated audiences around the world, including a young Dave Grohl, who would go on to become one of the most influential and celebrated rock musicians of his generation.