"There Is Nothing Left to Lose" is the third studio album by the American rock band Foo Fighters, released on November 2, 1999, through Roswell and RCA Records. This album marked the first studio credit for drummer Taylor Hawkins and is often seen as a departure from the band's earlier work, showcasing a softer, more experimental sound. Vocalist and guitarist Dave Grohl has described it as his favorite Foo Fighters album, noting that it was "totally based on melody" and that the recording process was serene. The album was created with just three musicians—Grohl, Hawkins, and bassist Nate Mendel—recorded in the basement of Grohl's home in Alexandria, Virginia.
There Is Nothing Left to Lose won the Grammy Award for Best Rock Album in 2001, marking the band's first Grammy win. The band would later win the same award for three of their next four studio releases.
Before recording, guitarist Franz Stahl was fired, prompting Grohl to decide the band would be a trio for this album. They recorded in Grohl's home without any record company presence, which was facilitated by the Foo Fighters' departure from Capitol Records. Grohl named the home studio Studio 606, inspired by his father's apartment number, where he had a significant conversation about his commitment to music.
Grohl set up the studio with the help of Adam Kasper, who co-produced the album. He noted the challenge of achieving good sound without modern computer programs. Grohl reflected on his life in Los Angeles before moving to Virginia, where he found a sense of community and inspiration for the album's themes, particularly in the song "Ain't It the Life," which expressed his longing for a simpler life.
The title came from a conversation Grohl had with a friend about experiencing emotions after a difficult period and embracing the feeling of having "nothing left to lose." The cover art features the band's initials tattooed on the back of Grohl's neck.
After completing the album, the band signed with RCA Records for distribution and focused on promoting the Foo Fighters brand. The album was released as an Enhanced CD, which included the music video for the first single, "Learn to Fly." Although the album was recorded as a trio, Grohl sought a second guitarist for live performances, ultimately hiring Chris Shiflett after auditions. The subsequent tour began in 2000 and included club dates to showcase the new songs. Early pressings of the album included a temporary tattoo similar to the one on the cover, and it was re-released in 2001 in Australia as a two-CD edition featuring bonus content.
