" Walking After You " was written and recorded by Grohl on his own in a studio in Washington . This version appears on the album . The band would later re-record the song with all the members for '' The X-Files '' soundtrack , and this version was released as a single . Grohl stated that " Walking After You " was " an emotional , sappy song about getting dumped . " On the record 's closing track , " New Way Home , " Grohl longs for his hometown and recalls the drive there on Highway 99 . Through this journey , " I realise that it ’s OK , I can make my way through all of this , and I ’m not that freaked out at the end . " '' The Colour and the Shape '' was released on May 20 , 1997 , preceded the month before by lead single " Monkey Wrench " . The promotional campaign emphasized the band 's group identity as well as each band member 's individual personality . This strategy contrasted with the marketing approach for the prior album , which had centered Grohl at a time before Mendel and Smear felt comfortable being marketed as personalities . Each member gave interviews with press discussing their interests , with guitarist Pat Smear talking to guitar and fashion magazines . Just as recording was finished and Taylor Hawkins was hired as the new drummer ( he was the former touring drummer for Alanis Morissette 's '' Jagged Little Pill '' in 1995 ) , Smear expressed his own plans to leave the band , claiming he was exhausted and not motivated to go through with another extended tour . This information was not yet highly publicized , and spokespeople for the band denied that the rumors of Smear 's impending departure were true . The promotional tour started in May 1997 . " Everlong " was released as the album 's second single in August 1997 . It was the most commercially successful single from the record , being certified double platinum in the United States and being one of only three Foo Fighters songs to reach that status . Smear remained with the group until September 4 , the night of the 1997 MTV Video Music Awards . After playing " Monkey Wrench " during the " pregame show " to the event , Smear announced that it was the final song he would play with the band , introducing Franz Stahl as the band 's new guitarist before the band began playing " Everlong " later that evening . " My Hero " was released as the third and final single from the album in 1998 . All three singles peaked inside the top ten of the Alternative Songs and Mainstream Rock charts
1997 MTV Video Music Awards
1997 MTV Video Music Awards
The Colour and the Shape