Dave Grohl quit Nirvana in 1993.

The 'Smells Like Teen Spirit' group had a number of drummers before settling on Dave in 1990 ahead of the recording of their defining 'Nevermind' album, but he later became so enraged when singer Kurt Cobain criticised him, he phoned their manager and said he wanted to leave.

In a new biography of the drummer - who has since gone on to front Foo Fighters - he recalls how he overheard Kurt talking about him on a plane between Seattle to Los Angeles.

He said: "Kurt was kinda f****d up. And I heard him talking about how s****y a drummer I was."

At the end of the flight bassist Krist Novoselic told him Kurt wanted him to "play more like" former drummer Dan Peters, a member of Mudhoney who had played with the band for one single.

Dave then phoned tour manager Alex McLeod, and told them he wanted to leave.

He told the manager: " I just want to f*****g play music. I don't want to have to deal with any of this craziness."

Alex managed to calm Dave down and he went on to play with Nirvana until the band ended with Kurt's suicide in 1994.

However, had this not happened, Paul Brannigan - the author of 'This is a Call: The Life and Times of Dave Grohl' - believes the band would still be around today, but Dave would not be part of the line up.

He said: "Dave was very aware that Nirvana was Kurt and Krist's band, and that as lifelong friends, they shared a Bond which went beyond music. At some point I feel that Dave would have parted company with the pair."