Foo Fighters: Back and Forth 2011

FOO FIGHTERS BACK AND FORTH chronicles the 16-year journey of the band, tracing the path from the very first cassette demos recorded by Dave Grohl during his Nirvana days to their rise as one of the planet’s most celebrated rock acts. The film intimately follows how a group forged in raw energy and perseverance grows into a Grammy-winning, multi-platinum force that commands arenas and stadiums around the world.

The story centers on the core lineup that carried the band through its evolution, including [Taylor Hawkins], [Nate Mendel], [Chris Shiflett], [Pat Smear], with guest [Bob Mould], as they navigate a landscape of triumphs and trials. It charts every step of their ascent—from the early, gritty brilliance of their self-titled debut through the punchy anthems of The Colour & the Shape, and onward to the back-to-back Best Rock Album Grammys for There Is Nothing Left to Lose and One by One. The journey then widens into the expansive double opus In Your Honor, followed by the critically acclaimed Echoes, Silence, Patience & Grace, and culminates in the record-breaking two-night stand at Wembley Stadium, which drew more than 170,000 fans.

A pivotal thread of the documentary is the band’s return to Grohl’s garage for analog-only sessions with producer Butch Vig, which yielded the international No. 1 album Wasting Light. The film doesn’t stop at big-stage triumphs; it also captures the intimate, sometimes arduous moments that test a band’s resilience and keep its members committed to the music and to each other.

Directed by James Moll and produced by Nigel Sinclair of Spitfire Pictures, the DVD release adds 35 minutes of extras—more interviews and deleted scenes—that deepen the already intimate portrait of the Foo Fighters and the people who have steadied the ship through more than a decade and a half of touring, recording, and reinvention. Back and Forth is essential viewing not just for die-hard fans, but for anyone curious about what makes a rock band endure—and what makes a great band persevere.