From Cradle to Stage: Stories from the Mothers Who Rocked and Raised Rock Stars

Virginia Hanlon Grohl

Apr 2017 · Sold by Seal Press

About this ebook

Written by Virginia Grohl, the mother of Dave Grohl—former Nirvana drummer and current frontman for the Foo Fighters—From Cradle to Stage shares stories and exclusive photos featuring mothers of rock icons, the icons themselves, and their Behind the Music-style relationships

While the Grohl family had always been musical-the family sang together on long car trips, harmonizing to Motown and David Bowie-Virginia never expected her son to become a musician, let alone a rock star. But when she saw him perform in front of thousands of screaming fans for the first time, she knew that rock stardom was meant to be for her son. And as Virginia watched her son's star rise, she often wondered about the other mothers who raised sons and daughters who became rock stars. Were they as surprised as she was about their children's fame? Did they worry about their children's livelihood and wellbeing in an industry fraught with drugs and other dangers? Did they encourage their children's passions despite the odds against success, or attempt to dissuade them from their grandiose dreams? Do they remind their kids to pack a warm coat when they go on tour?

Virginia decided to seek out other rock star mothers to ask these questions, and so began a two-year odyssey in which she interviewed such women as Verna Griffin, Dr. Dre's mother; Marianne Stipe, Michael Stipe of REM's mother; Janis Winehouse, Amy Winehouse's mother; Patsy Noah, Adam Levine's mother; Donna Haim, mother of the Haim sisters; Hester Diamond, Mike D of The Beastie Boys' mother.

With exclusive family photographs and a foreword by Dave Grohl, From Cradle to Stage will appeal to mothers and rock fans everywhere.

Ratings and reviews

Loved this book, so visual, so heartfelt... so helpful as I raise my own challenging lovely artist child. This woman is my hero. To have raised a son who always had her as his safe place, even when the world collapsed on him, through his extra-ordinary challenges is incredible. I absolutely love this book and the advise at the end.

As a mother with young, energetic and creative kiddos, I really enjoyed the insite of a mother who has seen it all. I love the kind advice. A reader truly feels her beautiful intentions come through in her writing.

Powerful MIC figures...read Dave McGowan.

About the author

Virginia Grohl is a longtime educator and writer. She is also the mother of Dave Grohl, frontman for the Foo Fighters and former drummer for Nirvana.