Dave Grohl and producer Greg Kurstin closed out the 2021 edition of “The Hanukkah Sessions” in epic fashion over the weekend paying tribute to some major artists on nights six, seven and eight of Hanukka.
On night six, Grohl and Kurstin covered Billy Joel’s “Big Shot” and noted via YouTube, “While he claims a secular Long Island upbringing (and has songs full of Catholic and Italian imagery), Billy Joel remains one of the great Jews of musical scripture.”
On night seven, Grohl and Kurstin covered The Clash classic “Train in Vain” and noted on YouTube, “Michael Geoffrey Jones, born to Russian Jewish mother Renee Zagansky, would come to be known as punk rock legend Mick Jones, co-founder of The Clash.”
On the final night of Hanukka, Grohl and Kurstin paid tribute to KISS with “Rock and Roll All Nite” complete with Starchild and Demon makeup. In the cover’s YouTube description, Grohl wrote, “Ladies and gentlemen….we made it. Night 8! And what better way to celebrate another year of Hanukkah Sessions than Chaim Witz and Stanley Eisen….two young lads from Queens that set the world (and thousands of stages) on FIRE as Gene Simmons and Paul Stanley of KISS!!!”
Grohl and Kurstin even had a little fun acting out some very un-rock and roll things during the chorus ranging from household chores to grabbing a Slurpee from 7-Eleven.
On behalf of Kurstin, Grohl also shared, “Greg and I would like to thank all of the people that helped ramp up the Hanukkah Sessions this year. It’s gonna be tough to beat! (But we will. Oh, we will…..) We hope that this year’s batch of hits has brought a little joy to you, as it surely did to us!”