Ohio's Dave Grohl Alley in Warren is dedicated to the Foo Fighters frontman and former Nirvana drummer.

Dave Grohl Alley in Warren, Ohio, Is Home to the World’s Largest Drum Stick

Dave Grohl Alley in Warren, Ohio, Is Home to the World’s Largest Drum Stick

Atlas Obscura
Your Guide to the World's Hidden Wonders
July 29 2015 11:40 AM

An Alley Dedicated to the Nicest Guy in Rock Music

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Possibly only the second alley in the world to be named for a rock artist (after Oklahoma's Flaming Lips Alley), Ohio's David Grohl Alley celebrates the career of the acclaimed drummer (Foo Fighters, Nirvana) with a collection of devotional fan creations, including the world's largest drum sticks.

Surprisingly, turning the formerly filthy byway in Grohl's hometown of Warren, Ohio, into a shrine dedicated to the musician was the brainchild of a police sergeant. Warren native Joe O'Grady had seen his city begin to decline and realized the inspiration that Grohl could bring to the local youth, and with this in mind, he lobbied the city council to change the name of a dingy alley and then spearheaded the cleanup and renovation of the space himself. O'Grady contacted local artists to create various tributes to Grohl, including statues, murals, and paintings honoring the man and his copious musical projects. 

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Grohl himself attended the dedication of the alley in 2009 (proving himself once again to be one of the nicest guys in rock), which was repaved and is now a well-lit public gallery equipped with security cameras. Wishing the site to continue being an asset to the community, O'Grady commissioned the construction of the world's largest drum sticks, inspired by other "world's largest" attractions across the country. The massive drum sticks weigh 900 pounds each, made of a single log apiece.

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Eric Grundhauser is a head writer and editor at Atlas Obscura. He lives in Brooklyn with his comic book collection. Follow him on Twitter.