Posted on Tue, Jun. 29, 2004

First Avenue owner vows he won't sell

BY MATT PEIKEN

Pioneer Press


First Avenue will remain independent and locally owned "as long as I live," says Alan Fingerhut, longtime owner of the iconic Minneapolis music club.

Fingerhut, who last week dismissed his artistic and business managers of more than 25 years, balks at the suggestion he's planning to sell the club to media giant Clear Channel or any other entertainment enterprise.

"Clear Channel has no idea about my customer base," Fingerhut said Saturday from the club's office. "This is a family, ma-and-pa operation, and the funnest part is booking the groups. All the rest is work."

Many in local music credit dismissed manager Steve McClellan for shaping First Avenue into one of the country's eminent live-music houses. McClellan brought in U2, R.E.M. and others before many had heard of them and opened the doors to the Replacements and Hüsker Dü as they came up locally, en route to international acclaim.

McClellan, who began working for First Avenue in 1978, wouldn't comment on his split with the club, and Fingerhut refused to elaborate on the "philosophical differences" that led him to part with McClellan and business manager Jack Meyers.

"He doesn't even think that I'm an owner, and I adore him for that, but that's Steve," Fingerhut says. "Even when we're arguing, you gotta love him."

First Avenue has faced stiff competition from The Quest club, which has contractual ties with Clear Channel, in booking top touring bands, many of which have agreements to perform in venues connected with Clear Channel. Still, Fingerhut insists a loss of top-drawer shows has nothing to do with the club's financial setbacks.

A former truck driver in the Army, Fingerhut sank "everything I had" — $100,000 — into turning a former bus depot into a nightclub. Since opening in 1970, lease payments had risen tenfold until he bought the property four years ago, Fingerhut says. Also, "labor costs" during the past few years rose $500,000 until he clamped down on them.

Now, he insists, the key to financial rejuvenation is attracting broader audiences to the club's Friday and Saturday after-concert dance parties. Toward that end, Fingerhut has asked club managers to play more top-40 dance music and, through live music and DJs, attract fans from various musical genres.

"I've always been on the cutting edge, but I think we've been over the edge," he says. "We're going to reach out to the same bands and the same audiences we've always had, but the genre of shows coming in was very narrow, and we need to spread it out.

"This has always been my toy, and I want it to be enjoyable for the public," he added. "As long as I live, this is going to be my baby and my city's baby."

This is kinda good news. I'm still interested in how it plays out, though. But if they can do anything to revitalize the ailing club nights, 1st Ave will be in much better shape. As part of this, I hope they go back to booking big names DJs on occasion. 1st Ave was on the forefront of the techno music scene in the early 90s with their "Depth Probe" events and booking of bigger name techno artists. I was amazed how they just completely turned their back on this in the past years. Hopefully the owner will be able to get some energy flowing again while keeping the eclectic live acts that has made 1st Ave famous.

If Prince wasn't such a jerk, he would help first avenue out by giving some concerts there. He'd rack up lots of money for the club.

SquarePeg said:

it ain't quite that easy.

Handclapsfingasnapz said:

Why would he help out anyway? Maybe Prince fans need to donate money is they care about it so much.

Fair play 2 Alan. Kudos in bundles 2 him in fact.

I agree that Prince should play a show there, even if just for one night to show support. Prince would have made it without First Avenue, but it is his hometown and it did have a hand in his growth. Not to mention it's role in Purple Rain the movie. It would help the club get a lot of publicity and probably make it easier to book the bigger bands if he played there. Come on Prince, help a hometown brother out!

Glad this dude ain't giving in to corporate pressure

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[This message was edited Thu Jul 1 12:58:44 2004 by CalhounSq]

Prince should definitely have a charity concert if sorts, for 1st Ave. Of course, it would generate more biz for the club, but he get something out of it too....everyone wins.


Smooches;)

lovemachine said:

I'm sure the irony of the club Prince used to own (The Quest Club, formerly Glam Slam) doing serious damage to the club that gave Prince a big career boost (and excellent setting for a film), is lost on no one here.

I wonder about the legality of these "contracts" The Clear Channel keeps making. I think it's a shady operation.

Happy 4th, Canada Day, Birthday... whatever ur celebrating!

Peace & Luv,
AleXXX

Clubbin' in Mpls/A Night w. Prince
[This message was edited Sun Jul 4 5:16:33 2004 by sloopydrew4u]