Violet Grohl Stuns with Powerful Cure Cover on Triple J!

Violet Grohl, the eldest daughter of Foo Fighters frontman and former Nirvana drummer Dave Grohl, has been making significant strides in her burgeoning solo music career. Recently, she delivered a captivating, stripped-down acoustic cover of The Cure’s 1992 single “High” for Triple J’s Like a Version series. Eschewing the original’s layered guitar work, Grohl’s rendition focused on her powerful vocals backed by a barebones acoustic arrangement. She shared with Triple J her deep affection for the song, describing its lyrics as having a “childlike joy” and calling it “such a cute love song.” Grohl’s fandom for The Cure dates back to her early teens, around age 12 or 13, when hearing “Friday I’m in Love” prompted her to delve into their extensive catalog. She views “High” as a quintessential example of The Cure’s sound during the early ’90s, appreciating the rich imagery within its lyricism. In her performance, Grohl aimed to evoke a “teenage crush kind of feeling,” expressing her profound admiration for The Cure’s frontman, Robert Smith, and hoping the band would approve of her interpretation.

Alongside the cover, Grohl also performed her original song “595” from her debut album in the same intimate acoustic setting. This dreamy arrangement aligns with the overall sound of her debut album, titled Be Sweet to Me, which was officially released on May 29 via Auroura and Republic Records. Recorded between 2024 and 2025, the album is deeply influenced by alternative rock from the late ’80s and early ’90s. Grohl explicitly cited iconic bands like The Cure, Cocteau Twins, the Pixies, Soundgarden, and The Breeders as key touchstones for the project. She emphasized the profound impact of that musical era, stating in an album announcement that “There’s something so powerful about that period of music, from the messaging to the visuals. It’s authentic and raw.”

Grohl’s path to a solo career has been years in the making, nurtured within her family’s illustrious musical orbit. While her father, Dave Grohl, boasts multiple inductions into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame with both Nirvana (2014) and Foo Fighters (2021), Violet has been steadily building her own musical identity. Her prior contributions include backing vocals on Foo Fighters tracks, notably “Show Me How,” which reached No. 21 on Hot Hard Rock Songs in 2023. She also performed at the band’s 2022 tribute concerts for the late drummer Taylor Hawkins. In 2021, she collaborated with her father on a cover of X’s “Nausea,” which they later performed on Jimmy Kimmel Live! alongside Krist Novoselic, Dave Lombardo, and Greg Kurstin; however, that appearance was as a guest alongside her father, not under her own name. Her official television debut as a billed solo artist arrived in June when she showcased “Bug in the Cake” with a full band on The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon.

Violet Grohl achieved her own Billboard chart debut earlier this year when her track “THUM” entered the Adult Alternative Airplay chart at No. 38. This milestone, though modest, holds significant symbolic weight given her father’s extensive chart record with Foo Fighters, who are tied with U2 for the most songs (44) on the Alternative Airplay chart. Looking ahead, Grohl is scheduled to play a series of U.S. festivals this fall, including Riot Fest, Shaky Knees, CBGB Festival, All Things Go D.C., and Corona Capital. These festival appearances will precede her own headlining U.S. tour and a European stint supporting Beabadoobee on her upcoming dates, further solidifying her presence as an emerging force in the music industry.