Chinese
French
German
Italian
Japanese
Korean
Russian
Spanish
MGT: THE GRANDE BALLROOM
Whew, what can be said about the halcyon days of the Grande Ballroom? Plenty.
I had the best time of my life during those years. I got to share the stage with the Who, Led Zeppelin, Cream, Janis Joplin, Blood Sweat & Tears, Howlin’ Wolf, The Sun Ra Arkestra and this list goes on for a mile and a half.
People were happy, high, did some free wheelin’ LSD induced dancing and open mindedness was the only rule to follow. Didn’t have to pay a hundred bucks a ticket either (shame on the Police).
You could see all the great bands of the day and two or three local bands (uhh, like the MC5, Stooges, Ted Nugent & The Amboy Dukes, Bob Seger, Mitch Ryder, etc,) for three or five bucks.
No more glorious time in the history of rock. Period.
MGT
MGT
4 comments:
The Grande Ballroom is getting a lot of attention these days,
with the retrospective movies coming out and so on. Regardless of howmany other great bands played there, it must be said that the Grande Ballroom wouldn't have become the icon that it is without the most powerful band of it's time, the MC5. It is impossible to... talk seriously... deniz tek
Don't know if you've seen these but this is the grande ballroom today.
http://www.detroityes.com/webisodes/2003/03daily/030905-GrandeInterior.jpg
http://www.flickr.com/photos/detroitderek/2255585682/
Poetry would be turning this into a school for performing arts or something equivalent. The once mighty industrial and cultural mecca - Motor City - is indeed burning; or already ash.
When did Bob Seger ever play the Grande? Have never seen his name associated with the place though no idea why.
@ Anonymous: Bob played witht he 5 on Skunk sonically Speaking and here is the official response:
Bob was known to stop in and jam with bands like the 5 and Third Power or just hang out.
My understanding from all associated is that he was never officially booked at the Grande. Bob also does not appear on any Grande artifacts from the era. This may be largely due to the fact that Punch Andrews was involved with other competing venues around town and may have prohibited Bob from officially performing there.
Leo
Post a Comment