Dave Foster
Encyclopedia
Dave Foster is an American
musician
who was the third drummer
for the grunge
rock
band Nirvana
. He was fired after playing only a couple of performances with the band, mostly because of his inability to attend rehearsal sessions regularly. Foster lived hours away from Kurt Cobain
and bassist Krist Novoselic
back in Aberdeen, Washington
, which required the men to pick Foster up and bring him to the band's rehearsal space in Tacoma
. According to Cobain's own account, this made band practices too much of a hassle.
According to Charles R. Cross
in his 2001 Cobain biography Heavier Than Heaven
, Cobain's final straw with Foster came after Foster was arrested for assaulting the son of the mayor of Cosmopolis, Washington
, which landed him in jail for two weeks, and caused him to have his driver's license revoked, and being fined thousands of dollars in the victim's medical expenses.
Neither Cobain nor Novoselic informed Foster directly of his termination. According to Cross, Foster realized he was out of the band when he saw an advertisement for an upcoming Butthole Surfers
show featuring Nirvana as the opening act that he hadn't been told about.
Ironically, a lengthy termination note addressed to Foster was included, unsent, in Kurt Cobain's published Journals
, which while praising Foster's drumming, also bemoans the difference in cultural background between Foster and Cobain, who both were Aberdeen natives.
After leaving Nirvana, Dave played with the bands Suckerpunch, Psycho Samaritan and Helltrout. He can be heard as a guest drummer on the Mico de Noche
album called Cherries (He plays on Dirty Unicorn and Tu's Place).
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
musician
Musician
A musician is an artist who plays a musical instrument. It may or may not be the person's profession. Musicians can be classified by their roles in performing music and writing music.Also....* A person who makes music a profession....
who was the third drummer
Drummer
A drummer is a musician who is capable of playing drums, which includes but is not limited to a drum kit and accessory based hardware which includes an assortment of pedals and standing support mechanisms, marching percussion and/or any musical instrument that is struck within the context of a...
for the grunge
Grunge
Grunge is a subgenre of alternative rock that emerged during the mid-1980s in the American state of Washington, particularly in the Seattle area. Inspired by hardcore punk, heavy metal, and indie rock, grunge is generally characterized by heavily distorted electric guitars, contrasting song...
rock
Rock music
Rock music is a genre of popular music that developed during and after the 1960s, particularly in the United Kingdom and the United States. It has its roots in 1940s and 1950s rock and roll, itself heavily influenced by rhythm and blues and country music...
band Nirvana
Nirvana (band)
Nirvana was an American rock band that was formed by singer/guitarist Kurt Cobain and bassist Krist Novoselic in Aberdeen, Washington in 1987...
. He was fired after playing only a couple of performances with the band, mostly because of his inability to attend rehearsal sessions regularly. Foster lived hours away from Kurt Cobain
Kurt Cobain
Kurt Donald Cobain was an American singer-songwriter, musician and artist, best known as the lead singer and guitarist of the grunge band Nirvana...
and bassist Krist Novoselic
Krist Novoselic
Krist Anthony Novoselic II is a Croatian-American rock musician, best known for being the bassist and co-founder of the grunge band Nirvana. After Nirvana ended, Novoselic formed Sweet 75 and then Eyes Adrift, releasing one album with each band...
back in Aberdeen, Washington
Aberdeen, Washington
Aberdeen is a city in Grays Harbor County, Washington, United States, founded by Samuel Benn in 1884. Aberdeen was incorporated on May 12, 1890. The city is the economic center of Grays Harbor County, bordering the cities of Hoquiam and Cosmopolis...
, which required the men to pick Foster up and bring him to the band's rehearsal space in Tacoma
Tacoma, Washington
Tacoma is a mid-sized urban port city and the county seat of Pierce County, Washington, United States. The city is on Washington's Puget Sound, southwest of Seattle, northeast of the state capital, Olympia, and northwest of Mount Rainier National Park. The population was 198,397, according to...
. According to Cobain's own account, this made band practices too much of a hassle.
According to Charles R. Cross
Charles R. Cross
Charles R. Cross is a journalist and author of seven books based in Seattle. He was the Editor of The Rocket Magazine in Seattle for fifteen years during the height of the Seattle music mania. He is also the founder of Backstreets Magazine, a periodical for fans of Bruce Springsteen, and editor of...
in his 2001 Cobain biography Heavier Than Heaven
Heavier Than Heaven
Heavier Than Heaven is the name of a 2001 biography of musician Kurt Cobain, the frontman of the grunge band Nirvana. It was written by Charles R...
, Cobain's final straw with Foster came after Foster was arrested for assaulting the son of the mayor of Cosmopolis, Washington
Cosmopolis, Washington
Cosmopolis is a city in Grays Harbor County, Washington, United States. The population was 1,649 at the 2010 census. The city is often referred to by locals by its unofficial motto: "Cosmopolis: City.....
, which landed him in jail for two weeks, and caused him to have his driver's license revoked, and being fined thousands of dollars in the victim's medical expenses.
Neither Cobain nor Novoselic informed Foster directly of his termination. According to Cross, Foster realized he was out of the band when he saw an advertisement for an upcoming Butthole Surfers
Butthole Surfers
Butthole Surfers is an American alternative rock band formed by Gibby Haynes and Paul Leary in San Antonio, Texas in 1981. The band has had numerous personnel changes, but its core lineup of Haynes, Leary, and drummer King Coffey has been consistent since 1983. Teresa Nervosa served as second...
show featuring Nirvana as the opening act that he hadn't been told about.
Ironically, a lengthy termination note addressed to Foster was included, unsent, in Kurt Cobain's published Journals
Journals (Cobain)
Journals is a collection of writings and drawings by Kurt Cobain, lead singer and guitarist of the grunge band Nirvana. Though the content is undated, it is arranged in an approximation of chronological order, starting with a letter Cobain wrote to Dale Crover in 1988, and ending with a rant about...
, which while praising Foster's drumming, also bemoans the difference in cultural background between Foster and Cobain, who both were Aberdeen natives.
After leaving Nirvana, Dave played with the bands Suckerpunch, Psycho Samaritan and Helltrout. He can be heard as a guest drummer on the Mico de Noche
Mico de Noche
Mico de Noche is a stoner sludge metal band from Seattle, Washington, USA. Mico de Noche began as a duo in 2001 with Donovan Stewart on drums and vocals, and Michael Crum on guitar and vocals.In 2003, Mico de Noche was named one of the top 10 metal bands by the Seattle Weekly...
album called Cherries (He plays on Dirty Unicorn and Tu's Place).
Sources
- Cobain, Kurt. JournalsJournals (Cobain)Journals is a collection of writings and drawings by Kurt Cobain, lead singer and guitarist of the grunge band Nirvana. Though the content is undated, it is arranged in an approximation of chronological order, starting with a letter Cobain wrote to Dale Crover in 1988, and ending with a rant about...
. (ISBN 1-57322-359-X) Riverhead, 2003. - Cross, Charles R. Heavier than Heaven: A Biography of Kurt CobainHeavier Than HeavenHeavier Than Heaven is the name of a 2001 biography of musician Kurt Cobain, the frontman of the grunge band Nirvana. It was written by Charles R...
(ISBN 0-7868-8402-9) Hyperion Press, 2001.