--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: I'm not trying to be the next Dave Grohl…" description: "\"I'm not trying to be the next Dave Grohl or Phil Collins.\" — Taylor Hawkins" image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/12f/taylor-hawkins-21621_collins_i-m-not-trying-to-be-the-next-dave-grohl_771759.jpg" --- # I'm not trying to be the next Dave Grohl or Phil Collins. ![“I'm not trying to be the next Dave Grohl or Phil Collins.” quote by Taylor Hawkins](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/12f/taylor-hawkins-21621_collins_i-m-not-trying-to-be-the-next-dave-grohl_771759.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/12f/taylor-hawkins-21621_collins_i-m-not-trying-to-be-the-next-dave-grohl_771759.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/12f/taylor-hawkins-21621_collins_i-m-not-trying-to-be-the-next-dave-grohl_771759.jpg) > “I'm not trying to be the next Dave Grohl or Phil Collins.” [Taylor Hawkins](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/taylor-hawkins/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Avoiding comparison to legendary peers frees creative identity and personal fulfillment. **In simple terms:** Don’t compare yourself to famous musicians. Key Takeaway Focus on your own artistic path. Themes creativity identity comparison authenticity music career Mood inspired reflective hopeful Type philosophical advice When to use this quote - Songwriting - live performance - career planning - personal branding Key Concepts Artistic integrity self‑definition industry pressure Questions to Reflect On - What unique qualities define your music? - How can you celebrate others without feeling inadequate? A Different Perspective Comparisons can still influence self‑esteem unintentionally. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Collins](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/collins/) [Dave](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/dave/) [Dave Grohl](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/dave-grohl/) [Next](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/next/) [Phil](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/phil/) [Phil Collins](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/phil-collins/) [Trying](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/trying/) [Trying Dave](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/trying-dave-5964046/) ## Related quotes > [The records that I grew up listening to had feel, and the drummers that inspired me - like Stewart Copeland, Neil Peart, Phil Collins…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/taylor-hawkins/the-records-that-i-grew-up-listening-to-had-feel-and-the-drummers/) [Taylor Hawkins](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/taylor-hawkins/) > [You don't have to be great to be successful. Look at Phil Collins.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/noel-gallagher/you-don-t-have-to-be-great-to-be-successful-look-at-phil-collins/) [Noel Gallagher](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/noel-gallagher/) > [I listen to a lot of Phil Collins.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jes-macallan/i-listen-to-a-lot-of-phil-collins/) [Jes Macallan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jes-macallan/) > [There's no place in the world you can go and not hear rock-and-roll, from Michael Jackson and Stevie Wonder to Phil Collins.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ahmet-ertegun/there-s-no-place-in-the-world-you-can-go-and-not-hear-rock-and-roll/) [Ahmet Ertegun](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ahmet-ertegun/) > [The only time I ever really got into rap was back in the early '90s, and bands like A Tribe Called Quest, De La…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paul-weller/the-only-time-i-ever-really-got-into-rap-was-back-in-the-early-90s/) [Paul Weller](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paul-weller/) > [I think Phil Collins is one of the most underrated musicians, singers, performers - he is absolutely amazing, I think, and I think he's…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rick-astley/i-think-phil-collins-is-one-of-the-most-underrated-musicians-singers/) [Rick Astley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rick-astley/) > [I'm a fan of Genesis prior to Phil Collins. I don't really like Phil.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-draiman/i-m-a-fan-of-genesis-prior-to-phil-collins-i-don-t-really-like-phil/) [David Draiman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-draiman/) > [I suppose Phil Collins offers something for everybody, and in hipdom that's not cool. But in the real world, there's no shame in that…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/phil-collins/i-suppose-phil-collins-offers-something-for-everybody-and-in-hipdom/) [Phil Collins](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/phil-collins/) > [My dad put me onto Phil Collins and Dream Theater and all that stuff.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rich-brian/my-dad-put-me-onto-phil-collins-and-dream-theater-and-all-that-stuff/) [Rich Brian](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rich-brian/) > [We've been around long enough and have been to enough award shows to know that it is easy to lose to Phil Collins at…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/matt-stone/we-ve-been-around-long-enough-and-have-been-to-enough-award-shows-to/) [Matt Stone](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/matt-stone/) > [I had a little indie label called No Core and Dave Grohl's first band was called, Dain Bramage so I out an album for…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/reed-mullin/i-had-a-little-indie-label-called-no-core-and-dave-grohl-s-first-band/) [Reed Mullin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/reed-mullin/) > [Kurt Cobain and Courtney Love talked trash about the fact that I hooped. I once stopped to say 'Hi' before a show, and as…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jeff-ament/kurt-cobain-and-courtney-love-talked-trash-about-the-fact-that-i/) [Jeff Ament](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jeff-ament/) > [I can tell you who I'd like to work with as far as rock legends. Definitely Dave Grohl from the Foo Fighters. Of course…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/b-o-b/i-can-tell-you-who-i-d-like-to-work-with-as-far-as-rock-legends/) [B.o.B](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/b-o-b/) > [The secret to my 5 o'clock shadow is a little device called the George Michael 3000 Custom Beard Trimmer and Personal Massager. Just kidding.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/reid-scott/the-secret-to-my-5-o-clock-shadow-is-a-little-device-called-the/) [Reid Scott](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/reid-scott/) > [For the kid in me that had a rockier edge and wanted to be Stevie Nicks, it's been fulfilling that I've met Dave Navarro…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tiffany-darwish/for-the-kid-in-me-that-had-a-rockier-edge-and-wanted-to-be-stevie/) [Tiffany Darwish](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tiffany-darwish/) ## More by Taylor Hawkins > [I love Donna Summer, and I love ABBA. I love late '70s disco. I love the Bee Gees. I just love that period of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/taylor-hawkins/i-love-donna-summer-and-i-love-abba-i-love-late-70s-disco-i-love-the/) [Taylor Hawkins](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/taylor-hawkins/) > [I used to dress like Roger Taylor when I was ten because I thought he was cool. In high school, I used to dress…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/taylor-hawkins/i-used-to-dress-like-roger-taylor-when-i-was-ten-because-i-thought-he/) [Taylor Hawkins](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/taylor-hawkins/) > [Why go on vacation when work is so much more fun.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/taylor-hawkins/why-go-on-vacation-when-work-is-so-much-more-fun/) [Taylor Hawkins](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/taylor-hawkins/) > [I don't take breaks, man. In the past, I used to spend my free time getting in trouble, and now I spend it working…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/taylor-hawkins/i-don-t-take-breaks-man-in-the-past-i-used-to-spend-my-free-time/) [Taylor Hawkins](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/taylor-hawkins/) > [In the Foo Fighters, my main job is to be the drummer, and that's enough.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/taylor-hawkins/in-the-foo-fighters-my-main-job-is-to-be-the-drummer-and-that-s-enough/) [Taylor Hawkins](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/taylor-hawkins/) > [I've worked hard, but this business can be tough, and I just consider myself incredibly lucky to have had the career that I have,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/taylor-hawkins/i-ve-worked-hard-but-this-business-can-be-tough-and-i-just-consider/) [Taylor Hawkins](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/taylor-hawkins/) > [I know I'm not Freddie Mercury or Ann Wilson, and that's okay. You don't have to be a great singer to sing rock and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/taylor-hawkins/i-know-i-m-not-freddie-mercury-or-ann-wilson-and-that-s-okay-you-don/) [Taylor Hawkins](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/taylor-hawkins/) > [I only started playing piano because I had chickenpox when I was about 14 and wasn't allowed to play my drums for a whole…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/taylor-hawkins/i-only-started-playing-piano-because-i-had-chickenpox-when-i-was/) [Taylor Hawkins](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/taylor-hawkins/) > [I like stuff that sounds big and full and makes your head trip and your body react.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/taylor-hawkins/i-like-stuff-that-sounds-big-and-full-and-makes-your-head-trip-and/) [Taylor Hawkins](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/taylor-hawkins/) > [When I was a kid, of course I wanted to be the fastest, the loudest and the one with the biggest drum set, but…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/taylor-hawkins/when-i-was-a-kid-of-course-i-wanted-to-be-the-fastest-the-loudest-and/) [Taylor Hawkins](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/taylor-hawkins/) > [I don't like guitar solos that are like, 'Look at me, look at me!' I like guitar solos that are little songs within the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/taylor-hawkins/i-don-t-like-guitar-solos-that-are-like-look-at-me-look-at-me-i-like/) [Taylor Hawkins](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/taylor-hawkins/) > ['Boy,' 'October,' 'War,' 'The Unforgettable Fire' and 'The Joshua Tree,' those records, they're part of my musical DNA and structure.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/taylor-hawkins/boy-october-war-the-unforgettable-fire-and-the-joshua-tree-those/) [Taylor Hawkins](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/taylor-hawkins/) > [I've been lucky enough to have fulfilled so many ambitions, and gone way past anything I ever thought I would do. I could never…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/taylor-hawkins/i-ve-been-lucky-enough-to-have-fulfilled-so-many-ambitions-and-gone/) [Taylor Hawkins](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/taylor-hawkins/) > [I think that debut albums are supposed to sound sort of raw. You don't want to record 'Sgt. Pepper's' as your first album, because…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/taylor-hawkins/i-think-that-debut-albums-are-supposed-to-sound-sort-of-raw-you-don-t/) [Taylor Hawkins](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/taylor-hawkins/) > [I don't have perfect pitch. My drums sound like a drummer, not a drum machine.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/taylor-hawkins/i-don-t-have-perfect-pitch-my-drums-sound-like-a-drummer-not-a-drum/) [Taylor Hawkins](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/taylor-hawkins/) [Explore all 29 Taylor Hawkins quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/taylor-hawkins/) ## More Collins quotes > [Max Allan Collins blends fact and fiction like no other writer.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/andrew-vachss/max-allan-collins-blends-fact-and-fiction-like-no-other-writer/) [Andrew Vachss](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/andrew-vachss/) > [You don't have to be great to be successful. Look at Phil Collins.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/noel-gallagher/you-don-t-have-to-be-great-to-be-successful-look-at-phil-collins/) [Noel Gallagher](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/noel-gallagher/) > [Suzanne Collins, it was such a big thing for me to make the handshake with her and to say, 'You can trust me. I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nina-jacobson/suzanne-collins-it-was-such-a-big-thing-for-me-to-make-the-handshake/) [Nina Jacobson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nina-jacobson/) > [“Collins rewound the tape a few feet, then”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-saul/collins-rewound-the-tape-a-few-feet-then/) [John Saul](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-saul/) > [“Crafty Collins took up with him. You wouldn’t have thought they had a thing in common. I mean, Crafty, he had enough upstairs. He…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/cynthia-harrod-eagles/crafty-collins-took-up-with-him-you-wouldn-t-have-thought-they-had-a/) [Cynthia Harrod-Eagles](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/cynthia-harrod-eagles/) > [On the court, Jason Collins is not a huge basketball star, but he has already claimed his place in civil rights history as the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nancy-gibbs/on-the-court-jason-collins-is-not-a-huge-basketball-star-but-he-has/) [Nancy Gibbs](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nancy-gibbs/) > [I'm a fan of Genesis prior to Phil Collins. I don't really like Phil.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-draiman/i-m-a-fan-of-genesis-prior-to-phil-collins-i-don-t-really-like-phil/) [David Draiman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-draiman/) > [In Atlanta, John Collins is one of the best roll threats in the league.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kevin-huerter/in-atlanta-john-collins-is-one-of-the-best-roll-threats-in-the-league/) [Kevin Huerter](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kevin-huerter/) > [I have a music video I was in coming out for M83 for their song 'Claudia Lewis.' It's directed by Bryce Dallas Howard, and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/israel-broussard/i-have-a-music-video-i-was-in-coming-out-for-m83-for-their-song/) [Israel Broussard](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/israel-broussard/) > [When I was a wee little kid, I used to watch 'Dark Shadows' all the time, so I was a Barnabas Collins fan.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-schneider/when-i-was-a-wee-little-kid-i-used-to-watch-dark-shadows-all-the-time/) [John Schneider](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-schneider/) > [My dad put me onto Phil Collins and Dream Theater and all that stuff.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rich-brian/my-dad-put-me-onto-phil-collins-and-dream-theater-and-all-that-stuff/) [Rich Brian](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rich-brian/) > [“...Leaving his partners to die. Watching them run out of air...It was such a real possibility, Collins returning to earth by himself...now that's a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/j-r-moehringer-2/leaving-his-partners-to-die-watching-them-run-out-of-air-it-was-such/) [J.R. Moehringer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/j-r-moehringer-2/) > [“be realized when, in 1937, I introduced him in New York City, to Colonel Boris Bykov. At St. Matthews Court, Collins lived alone. He…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/whittaker-chambers/be-realized-when-in-1937-i-introduced-him-in-new-york-city-to-colonel/) [Whittaker Chambers](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/whittaker-chambers/) > [I think the hardest to replace has been Johnny Collins. He was great to play with. You could always rely on him to be…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-gough/i-think-the-hardest-to-replace-has-been-johnny-collins-he-was-great/) [Richard Gough](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-gough/) > [ “I do not think anyone can read the letters which passed between Clarke and \[Anthony\] Collins without admitting that Collins, who writes with wonderful… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-henry-huxley/i-do-not-think-anyone-can-read-the-letters-which-passed-between/) [Thomas Henry Huxley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-henry-huxley/) [Browse all 46 Collins quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/collins/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "I'm not trying to be the next Dave Grohl or Phil Collins.", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Taylor Hawkins" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/taylor-hawkins/i-m-not-trying-to-be-the-next-dave-grohl-or-phil-collins/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Collins" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/taylor-hawkins/i-m-not-trying-to-be-the-next-dave-grohl-or-phil-collins/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/12f/taylor-hawkins-21621_collins_i-m-not-trying-to-be-the-next-dave-grohl_771759.jpg", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/12f/taylor-hawkins-21621_collins_i-m-not-trying-to-be-the-next-dave-grohl_771759.jpg", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/12f/taylor-hawkins-21621_collins_i-m-not-trying-to-be-the-next-dave-grohl_771759.jpg", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“I'm not trying to be the next Dave Grohl or Phil Collins.” — Taylor Hawkins", "creditText": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "creator": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization" } } }, { "@type": "BreadcrumbList", "itemListElement": [ { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 1, "name": "Home", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 2, "name": "Quotes", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 3, "name": "Taylor Hawkins", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/taylor-hawkins/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "I'm not trying to be the...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/taylor-hawkins/i-m-not-trying-to-be-the-next-dave-grohl-or-phil-collins/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/taylor-hawkins/i-m-not-trying-to-be-the-next-dave-grohl-or-phil-collins/#breadcrumb" }, { "@type": "WebSite", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website", "name": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/", "publisher": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization" } }, { "@type": "Organization", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization", "name": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/", "logo": { "@type": "ImageObject", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wp-content/themes/sq/assets/icons/icon-512.png", "width": 512, "height": 512 } } ] } ```