Today begins a new series on Life On This Planet called Phoenix Clubs of the 90s. Every so often I will be featuring a Phoenix-area live music venue that is no longer with us. I'll be sharing a few stories, some pictures, ticket stubs, etc. If you have any memories and photos you'd like to share, please leave me a comment below. Here we go...
Electric Ballroom
1216 E. Apache Blvd., Tempe, AZ
Opened: Sometime in 1994?
Closed: February 2, 1998
Formerly known as: After The Gold Rush, Dooley's
What it is now: New School for the Arts and Academics
Just think about it... your kid could now go to school in the same exact spot that Nirvana, The Police, Tom Petty or Iggy Pop once played. Here's what the building looks like today:
The Electric Ballroom was huge. I saw many shows there and my band Audra
played at least 10 shows on that stage. One of the coolest things about playing on that big stage was the curtain. Even for the smallest local band, they would close the curtain so you could set up your gear and they would raise it to start your set. Rad. Audra first played at Electric Ballroom on April 18, 1995. I even saved one of the VIP passes.
played at least 10 shows on that stage. One of the coolest things about playing on that big stage was the curtain. Even for the smallest local band, they would close the curtain so you could set up your gear and they would raise it to start your set. Rad. Audra first played at Electric Ballroom on April 18, 1995. I even saved one of the VIP passes.
I remember having tickets to see one of my favorite bands - james - on May 10, 1997 and the show got cancelled. I remember going to the Ballroom with my brother, after seeing Peter Murphy at Hayden Square on July 18, 1995 and Corrosion of Conformity was playing. I have live footage of Audra playing at Electric Ballroom back in 1995. Lots of memories.
Here's just some of the bands that played at Electric Ballroom:
The Cramps, Blur, Iggy Pop, John Lydon, Wilco, Weezer, Dio, Fishbone, No Doubt, Sonic Youth, My Life With The Thrill Kill Kult, Bush, Ned's Atomic Dustbin, Flaming Lips, Elastica, The Cult, Adam & The Ants, The Melvins, Helmet, Fountains Of Wayne, Great White and hundreds more.
And when it was called After The Gold Rush:
Rage Against The Machine, Todd Rundgren, Kiss, Phish, Nirvana, Foghat, Robyn Hitchcock, etc.
And when it was Dooley's:
The Police, Muddy Waters, Devo, Mick Ronson, Tom Petty, Blondie, The Kinks, Elvis Costello, etc.
Some additional clippings from my personal collection:
[Photo Credits: Electric Ballroom sign is from Electric Ballroom Memories. Electric Ballroom today photo is by Bret Helm. All clippings and ticket stubs are from the Bret Helm collection. :) ]
