Every legendary rocker has a reputation to protect. While many attempt to become rock's toughest frontman or metal's most evil musician, Foo Fighters leader Dave Grohl is busy being the "nicest guy in rock," as he's called by many. However, every teacher begins as a student, and Grohl gives credit to Pantera legend 'Dimebag' Darrell Abbott for showing him the way.

Dave Grohl has proudly carried the "nice guy" torch for a very long time. Slipknot / Stone Sour vocalist Corey Taylor even called Grohl "the nicest dude I've never met," adding that the Foo Fighters frontman inspired Taylor to be more kind and well-mannered himself.

In a new interview with Rolling Stone, Grohl remembers how 'Dimebag' Darrell shaped Foo Fighters' philosophy of backstage hospitality:

There was an Ozzfest in England in 1998, and Korn canceled. So we got the call. It was Slayer, Pantera and Black Sabbath. We had to go on after Pantera. I was so terrified: 'There's gonna be a riot. I'm gonna get drawn and quartered. No one's going to like our band.'

But we played, and I looked to the side. The guys from Pantera are watching us and singing the lyrics to our songs. Afterwards we made friends with Pantera. I was nervous and scared; I didn't think I fit in. But they were so open to us. That backstage hospitality we try to have – it all came from Pantera. Dimebag Darrell was the nicest f--king guy in the world. He could walk in and do a shot of Crown Royal with Justin Bieber, with Rick Nielsen, with James Brown – he was everybody's best friend. And you could feel that energy when he was playing.

After that day, I was like, 'From now on, everybody's allowed in this room. I don't care if it's Britney Spears.' I became the backstage best friend. Whenever I showed up at a festival, the first thing I'd do is grab a bottle of whiskey and go knocking on doors to see who the funniest people are. You'd be surprised who the real f--king nutcases are.

Check out the full article on Dave Grohl at Rolling Stone. Foo Fighters' eighth studio album, 'Sonic Highways,' is available now! To grab a copy of the record, click here.

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