Here comes their hero: Warren event to honor native of Foo Fighters fame

The guitarist will perform today as part of the ceremony dedicating an alley to him.

By Guy D’Astolfo

WARREN — Rock star Dave Grohl will appear in Warren today at the dedication ceremony for the downtown alley that will bear his name.

Jennifer Campbell of Main Street Warren, the agency that is sponsoring the event, confirmed Thursday that Grohl will appear. The ceremony is at 4 p.m. on Courthouse Square.

The alley sign will be unveiled, and Grohl will be given the key to the city by Director of Public Safety Services Doug Franklin. Warren Mayor Michael O’Brien is out of town and cannot attend, said Campbell. David Grohl Alley is a short roadway alongside the downtown parking garage, formerly known as Market Street Alley. The one-way alley runs west to east between Burger King and Huntington Bank on Main Avenue.

Grohl also will perform at the free event, said Campbell. “He requested two drum kits,” she said.

The ceremony will culminate the weeklong Music Is Art Festival, which has involved about 50 bands playing on Courthouse Square. The music will begin at 10 a.m. today and continue until the dedication ceremony.

The alley’s pavement has been painted by the Trumbull Art Gallery to honor Grohl’s career, and eight murals will be put in place for Saturday’s ceremony. The rocker already has seen the alley, said Campbell.

Grohl is the frontman and guitarist for The Foo Fighters, which has won three Grammy Awards. Before that, he was the drummer for the influential rock band Nirvana, which was fronted by the late Kurt Cobain.

Grohl was born Jan. 14, 1969, at Trumbull Memorial Hospital. He moved to Maryland when he was only about 2, but his father, Jim, a former reporter for The Vindicator, still lives in Warren. The rocker lives in the Los Angeles area but returns to the city occasionally to visit his father.

Grohl waited until the last minute to confirm his appearance because he wanted the event to remain local. He didn’t want fans swarming in from out of state, said Campbell.

The idea to honor Grohl came from Warren Police Sgt. Joe O’Grady, who said he saw it as a way to inspire young people. O’Grady took the idea to Main Street Warren, who turned it into a festival.