RCA has announced the Blu-ray release of HBO's Foo Fighters: Sonic Highways. Created by Dave Grohl, the documentary series was made concurrently with Foo Fighters' eighth album, Sonic Highways, and is described by Grohl as "a love letter to the history of American music." The release arrives on Blu-ray on April 7th.
Foo Fighters commemorate their 20th anniversary by documenting the eight-city recording odyssey that produced their latest, and eighth, studio album. Founder Dave Grohl directs the series, which taps into the musical heritage and cultural fabric of eight cities: Chicago, Austin, Nashville, Los Angeles, Seattle, New Orleans, Washington D.C. and New York. The band based themselves at a legendary recording studio integral to the unique history and character of each location.
Each episode delves into the identity of each city; showing how each region shaped these musicians in their formative years and, in turn, how they impacted the cultural fabric of their hometowns. Every artist who appears in the show, regardless of genre or locale, started as an average kid with universal dreams of making music and making it big. Each episode also features interviews with artists who recorded at the respective studios, among them Dolly Parton, Ian MacKaye of Minor Threat and Fugazi, Paul Stanley of Kiss, Joe Walsh of Eagles, Nancy Wilson of Heart, Rick Nielsen of Cheap Trick, Zac Brown, and Gary Clark, Jr. There was also collaboration with the Preservation Hall Jazz Band in New Orleans, which led to a live performance with Trombone Shorty.
One new song was recorded in each city, and every track features local legends. Even the lyrics were developed in an experimental, unprecedented way: Grohl held off on writing them until the last day of each session, letting himself be inspired by the experiences, interviews and personalities that became part of the process.
Grohl made his feature film directorial debut in 2013 with the universally acclaimed Grammy-winning Sound City, a celebration of the human element in the creation and recording of music. Foo Fighters have won 11 Grammy Awards, including four for Best Rock Album, more than any other band.
The Blu-ray release of Foo Fighters: Sonic Highways is presented in 1080p with lossless 5.1 audio. Special features and bonus content includes:
10 Extended interviews
More than 150 minutes of never before seen footage, inside the recording of Sonic Highways