It’s an incredibly special moment when rock legends get the chance to connect.
David Uosikkinen, drummer for the hit 1980s rock band The Hooters and founder of In the Pocket, attended a Foo Fighters concert earlier this month at the Starland Ballroom in Sayreville, N.J.
Before the performance, he was invited backstage by the band’s current drummer, Ilan Rubin, who had been one of Uosikkinen’s drum students when he lived in San Diego. Uosikkinen, who now lives in Radnor, was introduced to frontman and former Nirvana member Dave Grohl during their conversation.
At first, Grohl did not realize who Uosikkinen was until Rubin explained that he was a member of The Hooters. A surprised Grohl then recorded a message from his dressing room.
In the video, Grohl apologized for not having more time to speak with Uosikkinen and revealed that the drummer had actually been a major source of inspiration for him growing up.
When he was just a teenager, Grohl watched the band perform on MTV, where he first saw Uosikkinen playing a yellow TAMA drum set. The drums made appearances in hit videos like “And We Danced,” “Satellite,” “Day by Day,” and the live performance of “Where Do the Children Go.”
Grohl said Uosikkinen looked “so cool” that he went out and bought a yellow drum set himself. It ultimately became the very kit he used while recording Nirvana’s “Nevermind.”
“So, I’m thinking that if it weren’t for you and your awesome video, that ‘Nevermind’ would have sounded like sh*t,” Grohl said in the video.
While Uosikkinen’s yellow drum set became an inspiration for Grohl, the Hooters drummer revealed that the instrument itself had been inspired by another musician years earlier.
He was 20 years old when he saw Tony Williams playing with Herbie Hancock at Temple University.
“He was playing this incredible yellow drum kit with black drumheads, and it completely blew me away,” Uosikkinen told Bucksco.Today.
After saving up the money, Uosikkinen visited Alex’s Drum Shop on 48th Street in New York City, where he purchased the now-iconic drum set. It accompanied him in the early days of The Hooters, including when the band opened for The Who, The Clash, and Santana at JFK Stadium.
Though Uosikkinen would later inspire Grohl, he said drumming legends like John Bonham, Steve Gadd, Jim Keltner, and Earl Young were among his own musical heroes.
Uosikkinen discussed that interactions like the one with Grohl create lasting impressions that transcend time.
“It’s humbling because when you’re in the middle of building a career, you’re usually just trying to survive the next gig, make the next record, or write the next song. You don’t really think about the ripple effect your music might have on somebody else,” he said.
“What stays with me most is realizing that music connects people in ways you never fully see at the time. Over the years, I’ve had musicians and fans tell me that The Hooters’ music inspired them to start bands, play drums, write songs, or just helped them through certain moments in their lives. That’s the real reward.”
David Uosikkinen’s In the Pocket will be performing at Ardmore Music Hall on Sept. 26. Fans can receive early access to 10 percent off tickets online using the code “ITP10” through 10 PM on Thursday, May 21. Tickets will go on sale to the public at 10 AM on Friday, May 22.
_______
