The Black Keys have been inducted into their High School Wall of Fame.
The ‘Lonely Boy’ group – consisting of drummer Pat Carney and singer/guitarist Dan Auerbach – returned to Firestone High School in Akron, Ohio on Sunday (04.03.12) where they received the honour from principal Larry Petry Jr. and were invited to hang their picture on the high school’s Alumni Wall of Fame.
Pat said: ”I haven’t been in here in 12 years, not since my brother graduated.”
His mother, Mary Stormer, added the ”pair of nerds” had come a long way, explaining to Ohio.com: ”It’s just thrilling, and I’m sure that they’re thrilled. They’ve wanted this for a long time. This would be the epitome of having made it to get up on that wall.
”They’ve had a lot of luck and hard work. It’s a long way from the [defunct local rock club] Lime Spider. It’s a long way from the hallowed halls of Firestone High for just a couple of little nerds.”
Pat’s former math teacher Lori Zupke said she always knew the boys would do well.
She said: ”We’d hear Danny’s voice all the time, coming out of the basement or the attic, and it’s such a rich, powerful voice. At first we thought it was a record. When we found out it was Danny, it was like, ‘Oh, my God. That’s incredible’.”
”Patrick added flavour to the classroom. He says what he wants to say. I had to draw the line sometimes, but it made class fun. So, yeah, we saw it coming, and I’m so proud of them. They worked so hard.”
The pair then took a tour of the school and signed albums before leaving to perform at a concert in Columbus on Sunday night (04.03.12).