June 21
Tarzana, Calif.
''This is our favorite practice space in the world,'' Grohl yells from the Paladino's stage. The dive bar's marquee bears the slogan ''Rockin' the Valley,'' and on this night, there's truth in advertising.
The Foos' success and Grohl's unapologetic love of all things Valley has made him a sort of ambassador to the suburban L.A. enclave. ''I barely go to the 'other side' anymore. It's like a f---in' border once you get over Mulholland,'' says Grohl, referring to the hilltop road that separates neighborhoods like Beverly Hills and Bel Air from the less tony Sherman Oaks and Encino, the suburb he calls home. ''When I first moved [to L.A.], I had a bungalow in Laurel Canyon — a total bachelor pad that Taylor and I f---in' ruined with booze and chicks. It was like living in Las Vegas — we were only four blocks away from the Sunset Strip. But once I met Jordyn, I moved to the Valley and now everyone — my mom and sister, Jordyn's family — lives within five or six miles of each other.''
His devotion to the area even got him recognition by the local government. ''I was awarded this certificate of achievement from the City of Los Angeles,'' Grohl boasts. ''We were playing the MTV Movie Awards [in 2005] and I wore this T-shirt, which I bought at the drug store, that had 'Encino' written on it. So this councilman decided to give me an award for contributing to music, bridging the multi-cultural gap, whatever...''
Thinking the ceremony would be no big deal, Grohl headed to City Hall sans-publicist. ''Jordyn, Violet, and I drove down to pick it up, and this woman meets us in the parking lot and says, 'Okay, are you ready?' And she opens up two big doors and it's like the Senate in full session. I'm looking around, like, 'Wait a second, I thought I was just going to shake someone's hand and have my picture taken.' I had to give a f---in' speech! I'm sure I looked like an idiot.'' (Actually, ''Dave did a terrific job,'' says 5th district councilmember Jack Weiss when we call him to ask. ''Very modest, thoughtful, and really inspiring.'')
