Hurrah (nightclub)

Hurrah was a nightclub located at 36 West 62nd Street[1] in New York City from 1976 until 1980. Hurrah was the first large dance club in NYC to feature punk, new wave and industrial music. The club's in-house DJs, Bill Bahlman, Sara Salir and Charlie Brown, were uncompromising artists who raised the bar in playing only music that was breaking the mold with a completely new sound. Hurrah pioneered the use of music videos in nightclubs, placing video monitors around the club,[2] over a year before the launch of MTV. The club was owned by Arthur Weinstein (who also created The World and the afterhours clubs The Jefferson and The Continental[3]) and his partners, who opened the club in November 1976, months before Studio 54.[4]

With Ruth Polsky[5] as the booking agent, Hurrah became known as a place for new wave, punk, and post-punk bands to play. Hurrah featured the first American performances of almost every major British new wave artist.[6] Bands playing the club included Suicide, The Fleshtones, Ultravox, Johnny Thunders, Liquid Liquid, The Student Teachers, Klaus Nomi, Tuxedomoon, The Sleepers, 8-Eyed Spy (with Lydia Lunch), ESG, The Fuzztones, Mission of Burma, The Slits, Bauhaus and The Feelies. After the suicide of Ian Curtis, the members of Joy Division regrouped and played their first gig in New York as New Order at the club on September 26, 1980, opening for A Certain Ratio.[7]

The club became notorious for an incident in December 1978, where during a Skafish gig, Sid Vicious got into a fight with Todd Smith (brother of Patti Smith,) resulting in the incarceration of Vicious for two months in Rikers Island.[8] David Bowie was filmed in the club for his music video for the song "Fashion" in 1980.[9]

Famed New York club doorman Haoui Montaug worked as the doorman for Hurrah.[10]

References

  1. ↑ Post, H.: "New Wave After Dark: The Big Clubs, New York, Pg. 55, Nov. 3, 1980.
  2. ↑ Shore, M.: The Rolling Stone Book of Rock Video, pg. 73, Quill, 1984.
  3. ↑ Haden-Guest, Anthony: "The gang of new york", The Observer, 18 July 2004.
  4. ↑ Martin, D.: "Arthur Weinstein, Starter of Nightclubs, Dies at 60", The New York Times, July 16, 2008.
  5. ↑ Palmer, R.: "New York Rock Bands Excite London", The New York Times, February 20, 1981.
  6. ↑ "The Pazz & Jop Critics' Poll (Almost) Grows Up", Village Voice, Jan. 28, 1980.
  7. ↑ Gimarc, G.: Post Punk Diary 1980-1982, pg 85, St. Martin's Griffin, October 1997
  8. ↑ Tucker, R.: "My New York: Sid & Nancy", The New York Post, July 27, 2010.
  9. ↑ Pegg, Nicholas: The Complete David Bowie, Reynolds & Hearn, 2000.
  10. ↑ "Haoui Montaug; Disco Doorman, 39". The New York Times. p. 25.

External links

Coordinates: 40°46′14″N 73°58′55″W / 40.77056°N 73.98208°W