The SXSW Music & Media Conference Festival in Austin, TX have announced that Dave Grohl (Nirvana, Foo Fighters) will be the event’s keynote speaker. You can read an announcement from the festival below.
The South By Southwest Music and Media Conference and Festival proudly announces Dave Grohl as keynote speaker for the 2013 event. The keynote will take place on Thursday, March 14, 2013 at the Austin Convention Center, the hub of SXSW Music events.
Dave Grohl’s ascension to legendary status as one of the most beloved and respected figures on the international music scene goes back to his joining the DC-based punk rock band Scream at the age of 17. Three years and much international touring later, Grohl became drummer for Nirvana, making his recorded debut with them on 1991’s generation-defining Nevermind. Following a guest drumming opportunity with Tom Petty, Grohl took center stage, forming Foo Fighters, on whose 1995 self-titled debut he wrote, recorded and sang every note–save for one guitar track. Foo Fighters have since grown into arguably the last great American arena/stadium rock band, with 2011’s Wasting Light debuting at #1 in the U.S. and 11 other countries while over the years The Colour & The Shape (1997), There Is Nothing Left To Lose (1999), One By One (2002), In Your Honor (2005), Echoes, Silence, Patience & Grace (2007) have raked in 11 Grammy Awards, sold 25 million copies and spawned anthems like Everlong, Monkey Wrench, My Hero, Learn To Fly, All My Life, Best Of You, The Pretender, Walk and more. Prior to the Wasting Light sessions, Grohl returned to the drums for an album and world tour with Them Crooked Vultures, the Grammy-winning supergroup he formed with Led Zeppelin’s John Paul Jones and Queens of the Stone Age’s Joshua Homme. Among the other artists with whom Grohl has collaborated are Paul McCartney, David Bowie, Mick Jagger, Neil Young, Elton John, Queens of the Stone Age, Nine Inch Nails, Roger Taylor and Brian May of Queen, Lemmy Kilmister of Motorhead and Tenacious D, in whose 2006 film Tenacious D in The Pick of Destiny, he played the role of Satan. More recently, Grohl set to work on SOUND CITY: REAL TO REEL, his forthcoming debut, as a feature documentary director/producer. The film focuses both on the history of the legendary Van Nuys, CA studio for which it is named–where such artists as Neil Young, Fleetwood Mac, Tom Petty, Fear, Johnny Cash, Rick Springfield, DIO, Nirvana, Rage Against The Machine, Queens of the Stone Age, Metallica, Nine Inch Nails, Weezer and countless others have created classic after classic over the past 40 years–and on the ongoing fight to preserve the human element of music in an increasingly digital world. Grohl’s personal connection to Sound City dates back over 20 years, to the 1991 recording of Nevermind, which sold over 30 million copies worldwide, transforming the entire modern musical landscape and forever altering the course of Grohl’s life.
The Dave Grohl keynote will be open to Music and Platinum registrants and registered showcasing artists. SXSW 2013, the world’s leading music industry event, offers attendees the opportunity to explore the future of the music industry during the day at panels, talks, the Trade Show, Music Gear Expo and other conference activities at the Austin Convention Center. At night, the absolute best mix of musical performances from over 2,000 regional, national and international acts will take place at the nighttime music festival. Altogether, SXSW presents unmatched networking opportunities, career-building conference programming and over 100 stages of music for showcasing bands and conference attendees. SXSW Music takes place Tuesday, March 12 – Sunday, March 17, 2013 in Austin, Texas. Conference registrations and hotel requests are now being accepted. Register now to see Dave Grohl at SXSW Music 2012!
