 Preparation was extensive : first Grohl had his usual start @-@ off by developing demos with drummer Taylor Hawkins , but for the first time Grohl tried to input vocals and lyrics in this early composition stage . After rounding up composition with guitarist Chris Shiflett and bassist Nate Mendel , Grohl spent two weeks with Norton discussing " arrangements , harmony and melody " and reducing the song ideas , and then the band spent four weeks rehearsing , playing " a song a day , from noon to midnight " . Hawkins stated that " we basically played each of these songs 100 different times , trying every little thing every different way " and that it was the first time since The Colour and the Shape " that Dave had to deal with someone in the room questioning all his ideas " , given how condescending previous producer Nick Raskulinecz was . Grohl claimed the choices were for the " most powerful , dramatic songs " , and that there was an effort to " make everything sound as natural as possible - just like on the albums we grew up listening to " , citing 1970s artists such as Neil Young and Wings as a major influence . Shiflett added that for the first time he played lead guitar in some tracks while Grohl " usually works out all the bits " of composition . 
