Installment Vol.3

Operating a rock club underneath the largest flophouse on the Bowery was not the ideal situation, but it was certainly interesting. The building was very old and the water pipes upstairs often sprang leaks, sometimes drenching our customers. We had to stop shows a few times when the Fire Department came to put out fires of burning beds started by drunks falling asleep with their cigarettes still burning.

I remember once we had a leak on the right of the stage during a show. It leaked right on the microphones. We were afraid someone would get electrocuted. The puzzling thing was that there were no pipes directly over head to leak on us. We were puzzled till we discovered somebody upstairs in his cubical had fallen asleep knocking over a jug of wine. Having that brief seven-week taste of success and excitement with the Patti Smith Group and then experiencing the let down that followed, we were very discouraged. But in a way it all made me even more determined to bring recognition to all those wonderful unknown bands.

BUT JUST HOW TO DO IT?

Well the Newport Folk and Jazz Festival was due in New York City in the first part of July. It was a big extravaganza held each year in New York City formally having been in Newport Rhode Island. People would come from all over the world to attend. Even though they came to hear folk or jazz and might not be receptive to this new rock and roll, I felt at least that I had to try to get their attention. I was sure I could at least get the attention of the music press. As far as I could see, there was nothing else important scheduled to happen in New York City for the next two or three weeks, at least not in music.

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