"All I really had was a suitcase and my drums. So I took them up to Seattle and hoped it would work"
About this Quote
The subtext is faith without romance. He doesn’t say he “knew” it would work; he “hoped.” That one verb keeps the myth honest. Grohl’s appeal has always been tied to an anti-rockstar posture: approachable, workmanlike, allergic to the idea that success is destiny. This quote reinforces that brand while still honoring the reality that talent alone doesn’t open doors; you still have to walk toward them with whatever you can carry.
Context matters, too: Seattle wasn’t just a city, it was the early-’90s gravitational center of a loud, messy cultural shift that rewarded authenticity and punished pretense. Grohl’s phrasing borrows from that ethic. No grand mission statement, no tortured legend - just a practical inventory of possessions and a gamble that the scene, the band, and the moment might make room for him. That’s how counterculture becomes career: one hopeful relocation at a time.
Quote Details
| Topic | Music |
|---|---|
| Source | Help us find the source |
| Cite |
Citation Formats
APA Style (7th ed.)
Grohl, Dave. (2026, January 15). All I really had was a suitcase and my drums. So I took them up to Seattle and hoped it would work. FixQuotes. https://fixquotes.com/quotes/all-i-really-had-was-a-suitcase-and-my-drums-so-i-145708/
Chicago Style
Grohl, Dave. "All I really had was a suitcase and my drums. So I took them up to Seattle and hoped it would work." FixQuotes. January 15, 2026. https://fixquotes.com/quotes/all-i-really-had-was-a-suitcase-and-my-drums-so-i-145708/.
MLA Style (9th ed.)
"All I really had was a suitcase and my drums. So I took them up to Seattle and hoped it would work." FixQuotes, 15 Jan. 2026, https://fixquotes.com/quotes/all-i-really-had-was-a-suitcase-and-my-drums-so-i-145708/. Accessed 22 Feb. 2026.


