I'm a glutton for punishment. I went here and it got me riled up all over again:

http://www.first-avenue.com

Sad news, sorry 2 hear this. A chapter closes - but is it the end of the book? And why the hell am I speaking in analogies all of a sudden?

Maybe someone will put up some money to keep this historical location open, and continue to support local musicians?

The local news just did a story about the closing.

They said something about how the club might reopen again at some point, but with a different name.

How weird - AND WRONG - would THAT look? That building called anything else but First Avenue??

Prince should buy this club!! What else is in MN?? This is sorta part of a Elvis type Graceland.

Prince should buy it, play there, make it a club with his music & the other time have new acts & local bands.

Snap said:

Bob Dylan should buy it.

BTW, didn't he used to own the Orpheum Theater in Mpls? I'm pretty sure he did.

I still can't freaking believe it. I'm just dying here. Most of my wasted youth was spent in that club. From my first all ages shows and dance nights when I was in high school (starting around 1990) to watching the 20th anniversary of Purple Rain there a few months back. My first night out of legal drinking was at First Ave. The countless amazing shows, New Years parties, my first taste of techno and house, the glee of getting upstairs for the first time, the VIP room, the dirty nasty bathroom in the Entry, the countless nights taking care of friends who'd had too much to drink, dancing in our one favorite special spot in front of the speakers, dancing on the shadow boxes, playing pinball in the corner at 241's till they stopped serving and it was time to head down to dance till 3am, and the beautiful boys, boys, boys I met there... I'm seriously sick about this.

This is just too weird because I was watching the new "Purple Rain" DVD disc 2 with the documentary about First Avenue last night.

I read a thread on the org a few months ago about a certain major corporation (I won't mention any names) trying to buy it and the owner refusing to sell. I sincerely hope these assholes had nothing to do with this.

I don't think Prince should buy it, but I do think he should give a benefit concert to raise money to keep it open. A great idea would be a reunion concert of all the old bands...Prince, The Revolution, The Time, Apollonia 6 (we all know Vanity wouldn't come), Jill Jones, The Family, Mazarati, etc. Kinda like the concert they had a little while ago but this time including Prince.

vainandy said:

now THAT'S a good idea!

I'm sure the Mpls music scene will join in some way to try and fix this. I just hope something can be done. That club is on PRIME real estate and it may be a tough fight to reopen it as a club like the Ave was.

I love this club and have been there countless times in years past. They're hoping to find a new owner (according to a report on the local news), and I hope they do. Of course a lot of people are hoping Prince will put up the money for the club, but who knows? I'm just hoping it reopens its doors soon, and that Clear Channel rots.

Leave it to the people in suits to screw it all up for the ones that matter, namely us and everyone else who loves that place. I can't see anything OTHER than the name "First Avenue" above those doors.

Fingerhut should take his finger and stick it up his hut.

endorphin74 said:

I wholeheartedly agree. I think that's an excellent idea.

It's times like these when Im glad I decided 2 look upon the 'gallery' as more of a resource library than just a.n.other gallery...

'All good things they say, never last...'









(Gallery image #822 not found!)

(Gallery image #765 not found!)



(Gallery image #1817 not found!)

If they HAVE to change the name, maybe they could go back to using "The Depot".

Why cant Prince jus play a couple of Musicology shows there n donate the $$$ 2 the club???

Do u guys think www.princefams.com should buy it instead ?
[Edited 11/2/04 17:10pm]
[Edited 11/2/04 17:11pm]

"im crying too hard...."

snigger snigger!

(Gallery image #723 not found!)

On April 24, 1990 I entered First Avenue for my first time and saw They Might Be Giants.

Since then I have seen:
The Wonderstuff.....Mission UK
My Life With The Thrill Kill Kult.....The La’s
Front Line Assembly.....Utah Saints
Inspiral Carpets.....Kitchens of Distinction
Ride.....Blur
House of Love.....Catherine Wheel
Daniel Ash.....The Dead Milkmen
Jane’s Addiction.....Jesus Jones
Ned’s Atomic Dustbin.....Michael Penn
Lloyd Cole.....Primus
Social Distortion.....Soundgarden
Sugar.....Boo Radley’s
Matthew Sweet.....Throwing Muses
Flaming Lips.....Happy Mondays
The Charlatans.....Siouxsie and the Banshees
Spiritualized.....Moby
Belly.....Gene Loves Jezebel
Shonen Knife.....Bob Mould
Ween.....Sloan
Consolidated.....Violent Femmes
Kula Shakur.....Curve
Lush.....The Chemical Brothers
Dave Navarro.....Cornershop
Indigo Girls.....Billy Bragg
Concrete Blonde.....The Soft Boys
Robyn Hitchcock.....Elastica
Pizzicato Five.....The Creatures
Matthew Sweet.....Spiritualized
The Dandy Warhols.....The Jesus and Mary Chain
Echo and the Bunnymen.....Cracker
Tricky.....Luna
Looper.....Love and Rockets
PJ Harvey.....The Sundays
Soul Coughing.....Bjork
Goldie.....Morris Day and the Time
Boy George.....Cast
KMFDM.....Ruby
Belly.....Maceo Parker
Low.....Shane MacGowan and the Popes
Lords of Acid.....Spacehog
Pulp.....Beck
Cibo Matto.....Basement Jaxx
Stereolab.....Peaches
Grandaddy.....Johnny Marr and the Healers
Camper Van Beethoven.....Interpol



I’m sure I’ve forgotten a few

But these are all the ticket stubs I have saved. Many of those above I've seen multiple times, it kinda shocked me how many times.

This doesn’t even touch on the many dance nights, Halloweens, New Years parties and more. I grew up at First Avenue. It introduced me to so many amazing musical experiences. It introduced me to so many people. Many in my group of friends I met directly because of this place. I had my heart broken there and I fell in love there. I danced my ass off there. CarrieMpls and Violett know the place, WE OWNED THAT SPEAKER. Many of the nights have been lost to drunken fuzzies or tripping my brains out on many different substances in the early years, but it doesn’t matter. It was my church and my hallowed ground. Thank You First Avenue, I will miss you.



Sorry, I had to do that...

And now, I will try and move on with my mourning and hope there’s something better to come.

AMEN and DITTO, DITTO, DITTO!!!!!

Fucking fuck.

endorphin74 said:

I think we should get to bring that speaker home. Dammit, it's OURS!

And if they bulldoze the place, we can erect a monument in that exact place. I cannot possibly calculate the # of hours I spent dancing, drinking, watching, listening and being overcome with a feeling of all out bliss (in the case of many shows, but specfically Basement Jaxx!) in that exact spot.

this is very sad news. i've been going there since college days. ..

i walk past the first ave block and wait near the ave for my commuter bus home every night, for some reason tonight i looked at it and thought, there's a piece of minnesota history .. i don't usually think about first ave much at all. take it for granted, but for some reason tonight i did and then i see this post and. . and. ..

EskomoKisses said:

honestly, in a city like Minneapolis, the liquor license is probably the most valuable thing about the place.


not speaking culturally and nostalgically, of course.

This is a very sad day.

Taureau said:

Ur right on the money.

endorphin74 said:

Even if Prince didn't perform, he would send money. That's the same thing that happened in Sheila's "Family Jamm!!!". wouldnt' B suprised if P didn't come if that happened...but then again, P usually does exactly the opposite of what we expect.

endorphin74 said:

I can't take this, along with 4 more years of Bush. Really, this is too much. I was just at First Ave. last week and there was NO SIGN that it was going to shut down.

Luv & Peace,
Alex
Clubbin' in Mpls/A Night w. Prince

i am soo sad about this for soo many different reasons.
but im soo tired and need to get my thoughts together.

i cried on the phone when darin told me and ive teared up 3 times since, just thinking about it all.
im sure it will happen again, when i post my real post.

CarrieMpls said:

well said girlfriend.

its where our spirits came out...it is what i called church for many years.

this is crazy. i really am speechless.


got rid of basement jaxx part...cuz it didnt apply to me edit

I never even got to go.