Life is a Carnival, especially for the Bouncer.

Well, I remembered so more stuff. While I'm typing this, I am uploading two more videos on Youtube, upstairs, on my daughter's laptop. What a country!.
First, I would like to recognize our "Roadies". Mike in the Attack, and Wayne and Dennis for White Light. The term, "Roadies" had not been invented yet. We called them, "Equipment Men". These guys were dedicated and very serious about their job. They would load, unload, and set up the equipment. All we had to do was go on stage, and plug-in. They would take care of whatever else you needed. We loved them, man!

The Carnival Lounge was located on West Vernor and Scotten, Detroit. A very tough Mexican neighborhood.We felt safe. the locals loved us. One night, while we were playing, a gunshot rang out! It seems an underage, wannabe patron, took exception to the bouncer rejecting his I.D., and shot him in the back. In all the confusion, we were told to "Keep Playing". The Bouncer was okay. The proprietor's name was Doc, and we received a free drink after every set. Only place to ever do that.
Right after that gig, the "People's Choice", played at Lafayette Orleans Club, across the street from Lafayette Towers in Detroit. Another culture shock. This place was a high class suit and tie, Black nightclub. Frequented by Detroit Lions, and visiting N.F.L. teams. Lions played at Tiger Stadium in those days. No free drinks there. We were offered "day" prices". So it goes.

Thanks for reading,

Rocky

Disco Arrives. See Ya'

Coincidently, just after I quit playing in bands, Disco music came on the scene. I was, and, still am grateful for the timing. I reached a point where things were not working out for one reason or another. It makes me appreciate the good times had in most of the bands I was in. Despite the lack of big time success, I have lasting positive memories.

Now, on to the business of why Disco was successful. Rock music had lost it's aggressive nature. Super bands like the Rolling Stones, The Who, Led Zeppelin, Cream had become tremendously wealthy, and naturally complacent. It's hard to sing about teenage angst, and the man keeping me down, when you own castles in England, and mansions in Martinique! No doubt, the break up of the Beatles, and the deaths of Jimi Hendrix, Jim Morrison, Janis Joplin, and others, played a part.
Right around 1976, young people started becoming narcissistic. Dressing better, or so they thought. Remember Leisure suits? Dancing lessons, Cocaine, and turning their back on Pot, and the whole "stoner" mentality, was now "IN". Club owners caught on right away. With their patrons so self absorbed, why should they pay for a band? How about bringing in some guy to play his music collection, for a fraction of the cost?
Thus, the 'Disc Jockey' was born. Not to be confused with disc jockeys on the radio.
These clowns, began to think they were, "Show Biz" personalities, developing their own styles. You know, part of the show.

On July 12, 1979, Rock fans could take it no more. A Chicago radio disc jockey, Steve Dahl, and the Chicago White Sox Baseball team staged a "Hate Disco Night". Fans were asked to bring in disco records to be blown up between games of a doubleheader played against the Detroit Tigers.The result was chaos. Hundreds of fans brought records. Some blew the records up themselves. Fires were started. The field was so trashed, it became unplayable. The White Sox had to forfeit the game to the Tigers.
We know now that Disco was an aberration, a fad. However, the music world today is...... Discuss amongst yourselves.
Bye for now. I'll be back. Perhaps with new topics.
Thanks for reading,
Rocky