Los Angeles, California (CNN) -- A huge portrait of Dave Grohl hangs in the Control Room of the Foo Fighters' Studio 606. He's wearing a smoking jacket, holding a brandy snifter and looks very much like the Man of the Manor -- albeit one in need of a haircut.
At age 40, Grohl is, without a doubt, the master of his domain here in Northridge, California. The walls of the industrial complex are lined with dozens of gold and platinum records from his days with Nirvana, Queens of the Stone Age and, of course, the Foo Fighters.
Some -- from France and Germany -- are little works of art, elaborately displayed in shadow boxes or gothic frames. Others -- like those from the United States -- are more utilitarian.
Grohl points out a nondescript plaque from the Foos' self-titled debut album in 1995. It contains a cassette with a fake metal finish.
"The first record was a demo tape," he says. "This is my favorite one right here. Platinum cassette, baby! Yeah!"
It seems that everything Grohl touches turns to gold -- or, in his case, platinum. Instead of going into a tailspin in 1994, when Kurt Cobain's death abruptly put an end to Nirvana, the drummer, then 25 years old, headed into the studio to record what would become the first Foo Fighters album. He sang lead on all 14 tracks, and played just about every instrument on the record.
Fifteen years later -- with bassist Nate Mendel, drummer Taylor Hawkins and guitarist Chris Shiflett -- the Foos have become one of the top rock bands on the planet, and after six studio albums, six Grammys and an estimated 20 million CDs sold worldwide, the quartet is finally releasing a greatest hits compilation.
And then, the Foo Fighters will quietly slip into indefinite hiatus. CNN talked to the group members about the break and about the band's history.
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