Now officially considered the matriarch of the rock'n'roll world, Virginia Hanlon Grohl took to the BIGSOUND stage to deliver her keynote address earlier today to share some wisdom in a way only mothers can. 

On Stage Names

"It’s a stage name it’s David to me." 

On Touring

"I love peeking around the curtain side of stage to look at the audience."

On Finding Inspiration To Write The Book

"I wondered out loud, why I was the only mother there.

"Well why don’t you go find them, meet them, talk to them...It was as simple as that.

"Find the women who’s stories have gone from cradle to stage...hmm that’s a good title."

On The "19 Fabulous Women"

"Art was in the air or the DNA."

On Commonality

"Most were instantly adept with their instruments.

"Although their talent emerged early...Almost all the musicians I spoke to and wrote about gave relentless effort.

"Most surprising thing... they all committed themselves to a life of music at such a young age.

"Noticed another thing, they all want to make a difference."

On Solid Work Ethics 

"Values of hard work and curiously might be attributable to their mothers."

On Grohl Asking Permission To Tour Europe With Scream

"Maybe take me with you."

On The Importance Of Education

"I hope the Australian system is doing better than ours is.

"I wonder what these teachers think now...I haven’t heard from any of them."

On Grohl's Humility 

"David remarks at least once a week that he is the luckiest guy in the world."

On Flying Across The World During An Australian Tour For A Father Daughter Dance

"When family is priority it’s just what you do."

On Mary Morello, The Activist

"'She [Mary Morello] wanted me [Tom Morello] to be free to follow my North Star', he said."

"The mother of Rage Against The Machine raged first.

"One hand on her walker, the other in a fist in the air as the best effing band in the world." 

On Being Dave Grohl's Mother

"Really there’s nothing that special about me. 

"Spent most of your life described as the mother of... not that that’s a bad thing."

On The Importance Of Food

"I could have had an entire section on rockstar mum recipes."

On Tips For Musician Mothers 

"In short they are to first listen more than lecture, show support by attending or chaperoning...Emphasise the special role trust has when they venture out... And don’t expect any applause..you’re going to be a lone voice."

On The Grohl Family Musical Legacy

"The music goes on and on."

 On Putting Cradle To Stage On Film

"We are doing...Coming soon."



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