Chattanooga
As of August, 2025 there are five memorials across the country to honor River Phoenix. The one in Chattanooga is different because it doesn’t just honor River, it honors all of the bands that played at Michelangelo’s Music Hall back in the early 1990’s.
Some of these bands (like Nirvana, for example) went on to secure their places in music history. As a lover of all things historic, I thought there should be something to commemorate Chattanooga’s music scene. So I went on a quest.
This all started when a friend of mine sent me a link to an interview that River Phoenix did in March 1991, just before his band Aleka’s Attic took the stage. In Chattanooga.
My reaction: “Say whaaaaaaaaa?!”
So I set off on a quest to discover if this music hall still existed.
Michelangelo’s as it is in the video from 1991 sadly no longer exists. But, a friend of mine said that she believed that the location was at 850 Market Street. So, we went to the public library and found old microfilm. I went through all of the film from the end of February through the first week of March, 1991, just to find the club listings and confirm the address. 850 Market Street.
The building is still downtown Chattanooga. Same building. Different owners. And it’s no longer a music club, it’s a restaurant called Community Pie. But, if you’re reading this - you already know that. Thanks for visiting and scanning the QR code to learn more!!
Aleka's Attic
Aleka's Attic
Aleka's Attic in Chattanooga
Address @850 Market Street
Chattanooga Times 3/1/1991
Chattanooga News Free Press 2/28/1991
Original image
On the wall 3/1/2021
On the wall 3/1/2021
My Journey.
I made videos documenting my journey to hanging the plaque at Community Pie.
Updates
There have been several updates to share, mostly on the River Phoenix Memorial Page & Website. I’ll repost them here, including the new 2025 update in honor of River’s 55th birthday.
