If you’re a fan of Nirvana or the Foo Fighters, do yourself a favor. Put on your Chuck Taylors, crank that music to 11, and head to Warren, Ohio to experience the one-and-only David Grohl Alley.
Like most people I assumed Dave Grohl, drummer for the seminal grunge band Nirvana and lead genius of the Foo Fighters, comes from the Pacific Northwest. That’s where Nirvana got their start, changing the sound of rock and the look of fashion to distortion-filled, flannel-clad, delicious disenchantment. Of course he comes from Seattle and helped craft that grimy Seattle sound, right?
Nope.
A proud son of Warren, Ohio
David Grohl was born January 14, 1969 in Warren, Ohio, a few miles northwest of Youngstown. While he moved a few years later to Virginia, he still had family in the area and visited often. So he’s a loud n’ proud son of Warren. And they’re so proud to claim this rock-god as their own that they did a totally grungy tribute: created a back alley of art in his honor.
For a Foo fan like me, this was a must-see. David Grohl Alley runs behind and parallel to E. Market Street in downtown Warren. There’s plenty of sweet tribute art, great graffiti, metal sculpture, funky murals and of course the Guinness World Record-holding “World’s Largest Drumsticks.” Carved out of poplar logs, each drumstick is 23 feet long and weighs over half a ton!
The art installation officially opened in August of 2009, and as evidence of how damn cool Dave Grohl is…he showed up for the dedication, along with his parents. Rumor has it that sometimes when he returns to Warren to visit family, he shows up and surprises fans visiting the alley. Yep, there goes my hero.
David Grohl Alley is of course free to tour and open year-round. There are several cool shops and restaurants in the area. Rock on, Warren.
