Grande Ballroom

Post by **BallroomDays67** » Fri Dec 10, 2010 10:45 pm

Another legendary venue Love played was the Grande Ballroom in Detroit. How were your shows at the Grande, and what are your impressions of that venue?

Post by **Johnny Echols** » Sat Dec 11, 2010 12:38 am

BallroomDays67 wrote:Another legendary venue Love played was the Grande Ballroom in Detroit. How were your shows at the Grande, and what are your impressions of that venue?

We played on the bill with a group called the MC-5. And they came ready to throw-down. We were in their arena, with their sound system, playing to their audience. This was the first, and only time I felt that we didn't win the battle, hands down. The people danced, and applauded warmly, and were very much into Love. But it was clear, they were there for their home town favorites. That was quite the humbling experience! JE.

Post by **jamestkirk** » Sat Dec 11, 2010 12:53 am

It is tough playing against hometown favorites.

When the James Gang opened for Led Zeppelin in Cleveland, the crowd did NOT want the James Gang to leave the stage. Joe Walsh was indeed an amazing guitarist...still is, though some may feel wasted on the Eagles. I read Jimmy Page was blown away by Walsh that night.

I guess you never knew what you were getting into when you toured out of state....

It is silly that some thought Love should play for free....how much would they have payed to see "Hate"?

Post by **jim4371** » Sat Dec 11, 2010 5:54 am

The MC5 were by far the best band to ever come out of Detroit, and probably the highest energy band of the 1960s. I would've killed to see them on a bill with Love. They had an even worse experience on Elektra than you guys did

Post by **jamestkirk** » Sat Dec 11, 2010 6:08 pm

Yeah...with the deleted lyrics and all. They were hot alright!
Those "motherf#@%ers" (deleted lyric) at Elektra!....

Post by **jim4371** » Sat Dec 11, 2010 8:27 pm

Nevermind getting kicked off the label.

Post by **Chris M** » Sun Dec 12, 2010 4:29 am

Love with the MC5 might be the best double bill ever. I can't imagine that much awesomeness in one night. There is a documentary about the Grande Ballroom coming out I'm keen to see..

Post by **jim4371** » Sun Dec 12, 2010 4:26 pm

When was this gig? The only show a quick search turns up of Love at the Grande is with Arthur Brown and doesn't have the MC5 on the bill - of course, they could have shown up, it being their house and all.

edit: apparently not, they were at two different places for the dates on that bill. hm..

Post by **Johnny Echols** » Sun Dec 12, 2010 6:27 pm

jim4371 wrote:When was this gig? The only show a quick search turns up of Love at the Grande is with Arthur Brown and doesn't have the MC5 on the bill - of course, they could have shown up, it being their house and all.

edit: apparently not, they were at two different places for the dates on that bill. hm..

I can't say for certain when we played that gig, I do recall wondering "who are these guys". I'd never heard of the MC5 at that point. Though I definitely heard them that night. I Also recall a tall skinny chick who reminded me of a geisha, sporting a huge afro, who managed to sneak herself, and all that hair into my hotel room. Arthur thought that was the funniest thing he'd ever seen, and teased me unmercifully. He was well aware that I was more into the girl next door type. But hey, when in Rome...!!!

Post by **jim4371** » Sun Dec 12, 2010 7:49 pm

It must have happened - it would be impossible to forget a show by the MC5 if you hadn't heard of them before. They made it their mission to blow any visiting band off the stage.

Anyway, a story about the MC5..
"Hudson's Department Store in Detroit refuses to sell the album Kick Out The Jams due to obscenity. Handleman Co. refuses to handle the album while Cadet recalls unsold albums from stores after learning of the lyric and liner note phrase"

Then they placed this ad (complete w/Elektra logo).. and billed Elektra for it.

guess what happened next..

Post by **The Freedom Man** » Sun Dec 12, 2010 8:01 pm

31/5 and1/6-1968 were the dates LOVE played at Grande Ballroom.The band on the bill was the crazy world of Arthur Brown.

Post by **BallroomDays67** » Sun Dec 12, 2010 8:48 pm

In addition to Arthur Brown, the other scheduled bands were Wilson Mower Pursuit (5/31) and The Psychedelic Stooges (6/1). Is it possible that Love also played on Sunday, 6/2? Cream played the Friday through Sunday of the following week.

Post by **jim4371** » Sun Dec 12, 2010 9:43 pm

That was my first guess.. either an unadvertised show was added or the MC5 had one of their gigs canceled and joined the bill for a show.

Post by **BallroomDays67** » Sun Dec 12, 2010 9:49 pm

Perhaps Michael will have additional info about those shows, although he didn't mention the Grande Ballroom in "Pegasus Carousel."

Post by **Johnny Echols** » Sun Dec 12, 2010 10:13 pm

BallroomDays67 wrote:In addition to Arthur Brown, the other scheduled bands were Wilson Mower Pursuit (5/31) and The Psychedelic Stooges (6/1). Is it possible that Love also played on Sunday, 6/2? Cream played the Friday through Sunday of the following week.

I can't say exactly when it was, but I do know beyond doubt, they played on the same bill with us. As I mentioned, I wasn't aware of the MC5 at the time. And one doesn't usually "mis-remember", having his [hat] brought to him that way. And it most assuredly is not a memory I take any pleasure in reliving, or relating to others. As it turned out the "geisha" with the big hair, talked about them incessantly, much to my chagrin. I also recall asking her what MC5 meant, and she informed me it meant "Motor City Five". As quite often happened, a lot of folks just could not comprehend, how we could be so totally unaware of their local hero's JE.

Post by **The Freedom Man** » Sun Dec 12, 2010 10:18 pm

But you were aware of other local's with hudge afro's

Post by **BallroomDays67** » Sun Dec 12, 2010 10:23 pm

I had the MC5 "Kick Out the Jams" album but, honestly, didn't think much of it. I don't even know if I still have it. I guess I should give them another listen.

Post by **jim4371** » Sun Dec 12, 2010 10:43 pm

Good non-KOTJ material:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=foE57CC7iYk
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EYeHLyYif5I
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4APzyNUZ-uE

noise rock!
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CwV5Sqlhlgc
etc.

Post by **BallroomDays67** » Sun Dec 12, 2010 10:51 pm

Thanks, I'll check those out.

Post by **Johnny Echols** » Sun Dec 12, 2010 11:16 pm

The Freedom Man wrote:But you were aware of other local's with hudge afro's

Absolutely!

His group was called "The Crazy World of Arthur Brown" and he insisted on doing this thing with fire on stage. Rather than incurring the wrath of the Local fire Marshall's, who would hang out at the shows, and put a definite cramp in every body's "thing". If Mr. Brown (who could be quite recalcitrant) couldn't be coaxed into toning down his pyrotechnics, he would often be replaced by a less incendiary act. I'm not certain this happened with us, But!! JE.

Post by **BallroomDays67** » Wed Apr 06, 2011 2:09 am

Bump for Michael.

Post by **TJSAbass** » Wed Apr 06, 2011 8:23 pm

Is "Wilson Mower Pursuit" a real band? Could this be a pseudonym for the MC5? They did have that song "The Human Being Lawnmower", or something like that.

Grande Ballroom

Grande Ballroom

Re: Grande Ballroom