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Related: Editorials & Other Articles, Issue Forums, Alliance Forums, Region ForumsHow I became Dave Grohl's most unlikely fan.
Nirvana's founding member Dave Grohl and I have little in common except for the Northeast Ohio town of Warren. Located about twenty miles NW of Youngstown, it is Grohl's place of birth. I wasn't born there, but as the nearest big city, it's where I discovered many of my life's experiences. I could say I wasn't born there, but I "grew up" in Warren Ohio. I still go there for nights out and enjoy the bands that play the local bars.
Dave Grohl on the other hand, only lived there for a few years when his parents divorced, moving to Virginia and eventually to the West Coast where he and a small band of young men made music history. While Dave Grohl was born in Warren Ohio, he didn't grow up there, and that's where our frail common thread would have ended.
By the time Grohl's mother was bringing him home from Trumbull Memorial Hospital in 1969, I was already sixteen years old, probably sitting in the Courthouse Square singing war protest songs, getting high, and worrying about funding my first car. A couple decades later, when Nirvana hit the charts, I appreciated the unique talent of those three young men, but my taste in music ran in another direction.
A few years ago a friend who owns a silkscreen shop downtown told me he and a group of local fellow musicians were going to designate the alleyway behind his store to Dave Grohl. It would be known as "David Grohl Alley", and had the backing of the mayor at the time. He told me they were going to invite the Foo Fighter to the dedication and planned to jam with him on old Nirvana songs at the occasion. I was polite and wished him the best in that, but I knew he was just setting himself and others up for disappointment. Even months later, when he informed me that Grohl was indeed committed to the date, I remained a silent but hopeful skeptic.
Dave Grohl wasn't Warren's only famous son, Neil Armstrong spent some of his youth there and took his first airplane ride at the same airfield I first flew from as a boy. I even attended the same school he went to, but when the city built a small park at the site of that defunct airport in his honor, did Mr Moonwalk come to the dedication? Hell no he didn't, he was Neil Effin Armstrong and he has more important things to do.
Dave Grohl did show up that day four years ago to cut the ribbon on the humble alley that now bears his name. He stuck around the entire day, schmoozing with the local musicians and artists who made it happen, and joined them onstage to play a few Foo Fighter hits. Dave Grohl didn't do that because it was such an enormous honor, or because he can't afford bad press from smiting a few zealous fans. He showed up here that day because that's the kind of person he is, and I join Warren in saluting him for remembering his roots and proving that the true worth of a man isn't how wealthy he is, or how many hit songs one pens, but how he treats the people who don't really matter.
For those who understandably aren't about to travel 3,000 miles in Dave Grohl's shoes to see it, I offer my photo tour of Dave Grohl Alley. Thank you Mr Grohl, from one of your now biggest (and oldest) fans.
This is the first artwork as one enters the alleyway. I just happened to get my Triumph in the frame;
A lot of fans contributed as evidenced by the diverse art along the way:
Looking west down the way we see Grohl beating a perpetual rhythm on the kit:
The artist, like the band, blurs the line between grunge and metal:
Just love this mural. I really think it's the feature of the alley:
Some of the art eludes the eye unless you look for it:
This is the centerpiece of the tribute. If you look close you see that vandals are discouraged by proud residents of the studio apartments above:
On the way out at N. Park Ave, we're given a final thought to take along.
calimary
(81,179 posts)He is incredibly versatile and talented. I have a lot of respect for him. AND the fact that he hung around all day to be part of this. GOOD on him! Everything I hear about him is of a positive nature.
BTW - JohnnyRingo, you miss-speak when you talk about famous musicians who are to be admired because they are nice to "people who don't really matter."
"Dave Grohl didn't do that because it was such an enormous honor, or because he can't afford bad press from smiting a few zealous fans. He showed up here that day because that's the kind of person he is, and I join Warren in saluting him for remembering his roots and proving that the true worth of a man isn't how wealthy he is, or how many hit songs one pens, but how he treats the people who don't really matter."
You bet your sweet bippy those folks matter! They matter A LOT!!!! It just shows that Dave Grohl has a lot of class, and appreciates that these people helped make him possible. An artist's fans are EVERYTHING. THEY are the ones who support that artist where it means the most, buying their CDs or paintings or sculptures or concert tickets or play tickets or film tickets or whatever. THEY are the ones who make it possible for that artist to follow his/her heart and muse and create outstanding visual or musical art. THEY are the ones who make it possible for that artist to eat, have a sturdy roof overhead, a warm safe place to sleep and live and maybe even have a family, and inspire others with their God-given creativity. THEY are the ones who make it possible for artists everywhere to make all our lives and our surroundings more beautiful, more gentle, more tolerable, more inspiring, more spirit-nourishing. I think an artist owes it to his/her fans! And blessed are the artists who recognize and appreciate that! Dave Grohl obviously does. They put food in his tummy so he in turn can nourish their souls.
I see it in a much smaller way with my own kid and his band. Michael makes it a point to go outside the venue to where people are standing in line, before each show, and personally meet and greet as many of them as he can. And he shakes hands and gives hugs, signs autographs, poses for photos, hands out fun little freebies like stickers and wristbands and buttons, and chats them up. They really respond! They SO appreciate that extra effort, and it makes them feel special - as they well deserve to feel! And sure enough, after the show's over, he's still at it, meeting and hanging and schmoozing with anyone there. Makes me proud.
In a much larger sense, I saw that in Elton John one day while I was still working. He was scheduled to visit the radio station in the morning and schmooze on the air with the morning jock. I was the morning news lady, so I got to work with him a little bit, too. And when it was over? Did he bug outta there to his fancy-ass limousine before anybody else got a chance to meet him? NO! He lingered for another two hours - going from one end of the building to the other, meeting and shaking hands with EVERYBODY he encountered. He'd stop and pose for photos, usually insisting that a second photo was taken just to make sure. He'd sign ANYTHING they handed him. He'd chat and share a few pleasantries. He made a point to meet EVERYBODY there that morning, from the general manager to the last secretary and request-line operator, AND the guy out at the guard gate at the edge of the parking lot. Everybody on the premises was walking on air for the rest of the day - he made every last person there feel like a million bucks! As you indicated with Dave Grohl also, he took the time to give everyone a little bit of individual attention and not a soul was left out. And he was (and still is) a big star. He didn't have to do that. He's a busy man and I'm sure he had other commitments all day. But he treated everybody high-ranking and low with congeniality and respect. He was polite and kind and friendly as could be. Just the best. HUGELY impressive. Made everybody's whole week!
You can't help but love somebody like that!!!!
wendylaroux
(2,925 posts)Not only his music[which I love],but he just seems so real and down to earth.
Nice story and pictures.Thanks.
rudolph the red
(666 posts)That's a very cool tribute, thanks for making me aware of it.
*edit for spelling
progressoid
(49,961 posts)I did a double-take.
Turns out it was a portrait of Jesus...
Oilwellian
(12,647 posts)I love your cool, red Triumph. Will you one day take me for a spin on the Blue Ridge Parkway?
JohnnyRingo
(18,622 posts)It sounds like a winding scenic cruise though, and if I ever get the chance to motor the route, I'll look in the local phone book for the Oilwellians and give you a call. hahaha
There is a Ms. Ringo BTW, she has a nicer Triumph than mine, and she lets me work on it! Sometimes I get to drive too. This is her '64 TR4:
With the season now over, I just pulled the engine last month and put it on an engine stand in the basement. I now have all winter to rebuild it. Since I get by on a pension, that'll allow me to stretch the cost over several months and get the car repainted under the hood. That was always a sore spot on the car, and I'll have a screaming power plant ready for the next 100k miles of smiles.
Since the day I retired ten years ago, this last in a lifetime series of Triumphs is about all I want to do. Anticipating another summer of working on it and driving is what makes me want to survive another harsh Ohio winter. If not for the pleasure these cars bring me, I don't know what I'd do with myself.
Oilwellian
(12,647 posts)If you and the Ms. ever want to tour the parkway, PM me and we'll set something up. It's a wonderful, fun trip in a sports car and you can use our (there's a Mr. Oilwellian too) place as a base.
Zorra
(27,670 posts)OnyxCollie
(9,958 posts)He was one of the nicest people to do an interview, and he signed my copy of the first Foo Fighters CD.
Moonwalk
(2,322 posts)one is the fascinating story of "Sound City" which recorded and produced so many amazing hit records, Nirvana's included. The other is a documentary on the Foo Fighters. In both, you get to know David as you might a friend. He's absolutely perfect as the man you want telling the story, and playing host to viewers as they travel through history. I hope he does more such.
Solly Mack
(90,761 posts)samplegirl
(11,474 posts)of us. This took some time to put together an you did an exceptional job with the photography! Enjoyed reading the story as well!
Demonaut
(8,914 posts)I so want to tell her that Dave would be disgusted by her comments and teaparty "shares" but you can't fix stupid
and she's fairly benign
tridim
(45,358 posts)I still love them though.
And I've appreciated Dave since Nirvana. He's my favorite "nice guy" musician.