Franz Stahl

Franz Stahl
Franz Stahl live with Scream in 2012.
Background information
Born	(1962-10-30) October 30, 1962 (age 54)
Origin	Washington D.C.
Instruments	Guitar, vocals
Years active	1981–Present
Associated acts	Scream, Wool, Foo Fighters

Franz Kenneth Stahl (born October 30, 1962) is an American guitarist, best known for being a member of both the Washington, DC hardcore punk band Scream with his brother Peter Stahl, and the alternative rock band Foo Fighters, led by former Scream and Nirvana drummer Dave Grohl.

Franz and his brother Peter were raised in Bailey's Crossroads, Virginia, which they reference by putting the letters "BXR" in Scream's albums. Their father, Arnold, was a lawyer and also managed the DC rock band The Hangmen, who scored a regional hit with 1965's "What a Girl Can't Do". After learning guitar, Franz started playing in local Virginian bands with bassist Skeeter Thompson. In 1981 Franz and Thompson formed Scream in Alexandria, along with Peter and drummer Kent Stax.

After Scream broke up in 1990, Franz and Peter formed the band Wool, which even released the album Box Set for London Records but broke up in 1996. As Stahl visited a friend who was producing Japanese musician J, he found out that the drummer was fellow DC musician Scott Garrett, and that they needed a guitarist for the tour. Stahl accepted, and played around Japan as a member of J's backing band. During the tour, Stahl was invited by Grohl to replace the Foo Fighters' original guitarist Pat Smear, who had decided to leave the band. After the tour was finished, he flew in just two days before his debut performance at the Radio City Music Hall in September 1997, having just one day of rehearsal. Stahl started his short lived Foo Fighters career with their hit "Everlong" from their second studio album, The Colour and the Shape.