Unique tribute idea’s got rhythm

By Ed Runyan | June 16, 2012 at 12:09a.m.

‘World’s largest’ drumsticks to honor native son Grohl

WARREN

Warren has made a name for itself over the years — home of the luxury Packard automobile, Halsey Taylor drinking fountains, athletes Paul Warfield and Mario Manningham and Fox News Chairman Roger Ailes.

Joe O’Grady, a Warren policeman and president of the downtown promotional organization Main Street Warren, is hoping to grab a few more headlines for Warren with the creation of the “world’s largest” drumsticks — a way to further highlight the connection between the city and Warren-born musician David Grohl.

Grohl’s band Foo Fighters were a big hit at this year’s Grammys, but Grohl perhaps is still best known as drummer for the early-1990s grunge band Nirvana.

Grohl attended the dedication of David Grohl Alley in 2009 and played some of his biggest hits in a free down-town concert that ranks among the highlights of Warren history over the past decade.

O’Grady, who dreamed up the Dave Grohl Alley concept and organized the dedication blowout, said he got the idea for creating the world’s largest drumsticks while riding his Harley-Davidson motorcycle through the western United States and seeing other “world’s largest” attractions, such as largest Christian cross and rocking chair.

“It gives you a reason to get off the bike, get something to eat, take a picture, get back on the bike,” O’Grady said of such attractions.

“And what is more appropriate [for Warren] than drumsticks? Dave Grohl is a drummer. He’s played drums for Paul McCartney, Nirvana, a lot of bands. If you need the top drummer in the world, you call Dave.”

A check of Guinness World Records indicates there is no current record for largest drumsticks.

O’Grady started the project by visiting Doll Lumber of Southington, where his friend, Eric Doll, helped O’Grady determine what type of logs — poplar — to use and what to do next.

“I started this in the fall. I wanted to keep it simple,” O’Grady said.

Unfortunately, it didn’t end up simple. It became complicated to determine how to move 1,300-pound, 23-foot logs around and how to shape them into something manageable.

The cost of the project also didn’t turn out to be simple and is now in the $5,000 range. O’Grady has enlisted the help of various downtown merchants to sell shot glasses and T-shirts to raise money to pay for the project. The items also are for sale at two Niles music stores.

Eventually, the logs ended up at the art studio of Joel Eggert, another friend, who agreed to take up the challenge of carving the logs into drumsticks.

O’Grady says the drumsticks are only a couple of weeks away from completion and will be displayed to the public for the first time at one of the summer River Rock at the Amp concerts.

After the summer amphitheater series ends, the drumsticks will take up a spot in David Grohl Alley, which also has undergone some changes since 2009 and now features an ironwork guitar by downtown Warren artist Aaron Chine and other newer alley artwork.

The alley is just south of the 100 block of West Market Street downtown, beside the Franklin Street parking deck.

O’Grady says he’s inviting Grohl back to Warren for the unveiling of the drumsticks but doesn’t know whether Grohl will make it.