 During the sessions , Grohl was invited by Tom Petty to perform with The Heartbreakers on Saturday Night Live one month later . The performance was followed by an invitation to be a full @-@ time member of the Heartbreakers , but once Petty heard about the Foo Fighters , he instead encouraged Grohl to move on with this solo project . Grohl soon recruited a full band , which included bassist Nate Mendel and drummer William Goldsmith of the recently disbanded Sunny Day Real Estate , as well as Nirvana touring guitarist , and former Germs member , Pat Smear . 
