Ritz (rock club)
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The Ritz was a New York City rock club in the 1980s.
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[edit] History
The Ritz was founded in 1980 by Jerry Brandt on 11th Street between 3rd and 4th Avenue in the East Village part of New York City. Formerly a ballroom known as Webster Hall, The Ritz still retained some of its previous incarnation's Art Deco style. As a venue, it focused primarily on live performances, often of newer acts, but also featured dancing. The Ritz was one of the first clubs to use incorporate video as part of the club experience. In its heyday, top acts including Tina Turner, Eric Clapton, Guns N' Roses, Prince, Sting, KISS, B.B. King, Parliament-Funkadelic,and 10,000 Maniacs performed on its stage. However, the club eventually fell on hard times and relocated to 254 W.54th Street, the former home of Studio 54, in 1989. The 11th Street location was reborn as a dance club, reverting back to its original name, Webster Hall.
[edit] Public Image Limited
The club received national attention after an antagonistic performance by Public Image Limited on May 15th, 1981. The band was more interested in creating performance art than giving a traditional concert. To this end, they appeared onstage deliberately obscured by a projection screen and played their records through the club's public address system while playing entirely different music onstage. Taunted by singer John Lydon, the Ritz's unhappy patrons rioted, throwing bottles and pulling on the tarp that covered the stage.
[edit] On Record
- Ozzy Osbourne recorded Speak of the Devil at The Ritz in 1982.
- Iggy Pop recorded Live in NYC at the venue in 1986.
- Bo Diddley recorded Live at the Ritz with Ron Wood in 1987.
- Guns N' Roses recorded a full concert for MTV in 1988.
- White Lion made a television recording at the club in 1988.
- The Dictators recorded a few tracks at the club in the early '80s, eventually released on their live album New York, New York.
- "Mommy, Can I Go Out and Kill Tonight?", the only live track on The Misfits' Walk Among Us, was recorded at the Ritz in 1981.
- "Memories Can't Wait" from the Living Colour EP Biscuits was recorded live at the club on April 22, 1989.
Sting made his solo debuted at The Ritz Dream of the Blue Turtles was not yet released. It was in March 1985.
[edit] External links
- 1980 New York Times club scene article
- A personal account of the infamous Public Image Limited show
- A reprint of the Rolling Stone magazine article on the Public Image Limited show
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