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The Ritz (rock club): Difference between revisions

Coordinates: 40°43′54″N 73°59′21″W / 40.73175°N 73.98912°W / 40.73175; -73.98912
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{{Use American English|date=June 2023}}
The Ritz was a rock club on 11th Street in New York City in the 1980s.
{{Use mdy dates|date=June 2023}}
{{Short description|Rock club in New York City}}
{{more citations needed|date=August 2021}}
'''The Ritz''' was a [[New York City]] [[Music venue|rock club]] in the 1980s and early 1990s.


== History ==
I know Guns 'N' Roses played a concert there on February 2, 1988. It is one of best bootlegs of the band. The set, which lasted about 70 minutes, was as follows:
The Ritz was founded in 1980 by [[Jerry Brandt]] in the historic [[Webster Hall]] ballroom and concert space on 11th Street between Third and Fourth Avenues in the [[East Village, Manhattan|East Village]] neighborhood of New York City. The address was 119 East 11th Street. The Ritz focused primarily on live performances, often of newer acts, but also featured dancing. The Ritz was one of the first clubs to incorporate video screens into the club experience with a 30' screen and a projector which cost $120,000. MTV made its debut at The Ritz. In April 1989, The Ritz moved to the site of the former [[Studio 54]] on 254 West 54th Street, where it was called "The New Ritz" and continued to host concerts for several years.<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://dasitron.blogspot.com/2012/10/the-ritz-nyc.html|title=Minor Musings: The Ritz – NYC!|date=October 13, 2012}}</ref> From 1990 onward it reverted to the name "The Ritz". The original 11th Street space reverted to the name [[Webster Hall]] after The Ritz relocated.
1. It's so Easy
2. Mr. Brownstone
3. Out Ta Get Me
4. Sweet Child O' Mine
5. My Michelle
6. Knockin' on Heaven's Door
7. Welcome to the Jungle
8. Nite Train
9. Paradise City
10. Mama Kin
11. Rocket Queen
12. Whole Lotta Rosie
13. Shadow of Your Love


== MTV's "Live at The Ritz" ==
If you like Guns 'N' Roses at all, this is an awesome video to obtain.
[[MTV]] aired a series of concerts called "Live at The Ritz" on Saturday nights in the 1980s. Performers included [[Guns N' Roses]], [[Gene Loves Jezebel]], [[The Saints (Australian band)|the Saints]], [[the Cult]], [[Nik Kershaw]], [[the Smithereens]], [[Oingo Boingo]], [[Julian Cope]], [[Great White]], [[Hoodoo Gurus]], [[Pseudo Echo]], [[White Lion]], [[Iggy Pop]], [[Eurogliders]], [[Blancmange (band)|Blancmange]],<ref>{{YouTube|id=P9L2Z9G3HHE|title=Blancmange – Live at The Ritz 1985 – Taped from MTV on Betamax}}</ref> and [[Simon Townshend]].

== Public Image Limited appearance ==
The club received national attention after an antagonistic performance by [[Public Image Limited]] on May 15, 1981.<ref name="PILreview">{{cite web | url=http://www.fodderstompf.com/GIG%20LIST/rit81.html | title=New York, Ritz, USA, May 15th, 1981 (Review and Setlist) | accessdate=August 18, 2021}}</ref> They were a late substitution for [[Bow Wow Wow]], who were originally scheduled to perform.<ref name="PILreview" /> 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.<ref name="PILreview" /> Taunted by lead singer [[John Lydon]] (formerly of the [[Sex Pistols]]), the Ritz's unhappy patrons rioted, throwing bottles and garbage cans, and pulling on the video screen that covered the front of the stage.<ref name="PILreview" /><ref>http://www.furious.com/Perfect/pil.html Ed Caraballo's account of Pil @ The Ritz.</ref><ref>https://www.webcitation.org/5ko1g5zoE?url=http://www.geocities.com/rstevus/pil2.html Rolling Stone review + other remiscensenses of Pil @ The Ritz.</ref>

== Notable shows and recordings ==
* "[[Mommy, Can I Go Out & Kill Tonight]]", the only live track on the [[Misfits (band)|Misfits]]' album ''[[Walk Among Us]]'', was recorded at The Ritz in 1981. Parts of ''[[Evilive]]'' were also recorded there in 1981.<ref name=misfitsdisc>{{cite web|url=http://www.misfits.com/info/discography.html|title=Official Misfits Discography|publisher=Misfits.com|accessdate=August 18, 2021}}</ref>
* [[Rick Derringer]] recorded a Ritz show in 1982, released in 2009 as ''[[Rick Derringer#Discography|Rick Derringer's Rock Spectacular: Live at The Ritz, New York 1982]]'', featuring guests [[Ted Nugent]], [[Tim Bogert]], [[Karla DeVito]] and [[Southside Johnny]].
* [[The Michael Stanley Band]] recorded the live album ''Live at the Ritz'' at The Ritz on September 26–27, 1983.<ref name="SarzoMemoir">Sarzo, Rudy (2017). Off the Rails (third edition). CreateSpace Publishing. {{ISBN|1-53743-746-1}}</ref>
* [[Bo Diddley]] recorded ''Live at The Ritz'' with [[Ronnie Wood]] in 1987.<ref>{{Cite news|url=https://www.nytimes.com/1987/11/28/arts/pop-bo-diddley-tour.html|title=Pop: Bo Diddley Tour|first=Jon|last=Pareles|newspaper=[[The New York Times]]|date=November 28, 1987}}</ref>
* The second disc of British metal band [[Venom (band)|Venom]]'s live double album, ''[[Eine kleine Nachtmusik (album)|Eine kleine Nachtmusik]]'', was recorded at The Ritz on April 4–5, 1986.<ref>{{cite encyclopedia | url = http://www.metal-archives.com/albums/Venom/Eine_Kleine_Nachtmusik/2859 | title = Venom – Eine Kleine Nachtmusik | accessdate = September 14, 2011 | encyclopedia = [[Encyclopaedia Metallum]]}}</ref>
* [[Dirty Rotten Imbeciles|D.R.I.]] recorded ''Live at The Ritz'' on June 27, 1987.
* [[Guns N' Roses]] recorded their February 2, 1988, concert for a live video<ref>{{Cite web|title=A Look Back at Guns N' Roses' Legendary Live Show at the Ritz in '88|url=https://www.insidehook.com/article/music/guns-n-roses-live-show-ritz-1988|access-date=January 24, 2022|website=InsideHook|language=en-US}}</ref>
* The August 13, 1988, concert by [[Kiss (band)|Kiss]] was recorded and has been released several times on video, cd and vinyl<ref>{{Cite web|title=Kiss – The Ritz on fire (Broadcast 1988) – (Vinyl LP) – musik|url=https://www.ginza.se/product/kiss/the-ritz-on-fire-broadcast-1988-/503989/|access-date=January 24, 2022|website=Ginza.se – Musik – Film – Retro|language=sv}}</ref>
* [[White Lion]] made a television recording at the club in 1988. This concert was released as the second disc of the 2007 compilation ''The Definitive Rock Collection''.
* "Memories Can't Wait" from the [[Living Colour]] EP ''[[Biscuits (album)|Biscuits]]'' was recorded live at the club on April 22, 1989.<ref>Living Colour Rocks The Ritz. ''East Village Eye''. December 1986. p 6.</ref>
* [[Tin Machine]] (fronted by [[David Bowie]]) recorded a megamix [[Tin Machine (album)#Music video|video for their first album]] at the club, released in June 1989.<ref name="19ilyos">{{cite web | url=https://www.ilikeyouroldstuff.com/news/david-bowie-and-i-socks-sax-sex-shops-interview-reeves-gabrels |title=David Bowie & I: Socks, Sax & Sex Shops | date=June 3, 2019 | accessdate=August 18, 2021 | last=McLennan |first=Scott}}</ref>
* The first US show for [[Sepultura]] was at The Ritz opening for [[King Diamond]] on October 31, 1989.<ref name="metallipromo">{{cite web|url=http://metallipromo.com/sep.html|title=Sepultura Tour Dates|publisher=metallipromo.com|access-date=July 10, 2021}}</ref>
* [[Stormtroopers of Death]] recorded ''[[Live at Budokan (Stormtroopers of Death album)|Live at Budokan]]'' at The Ritz on March 21, 1992.<ref>{{cite web |last1=Bradley |first1=Torreano |title=Live at Budokan Review |url=https://www.allmusic.com/album/live-at-budokan-mw0000614921 |website=AllMusic.com |access-date=March 16, 2023}}</ref>

== References ==
{{Reflist}}

== Further reading ==
* [https://www.nytimes.com/1980/08/08/archives/after-politics-theres-rock-disco-or-pop-clubs-to-visit-rockdisco.html After Politics, There's Rock, Disco or Pop Clubs to Visit; Rock-Disco ....]

== External links ==
* [http://squattheatre.com/article04m.html 1980 New York Times club scene article]

{{East Village, Manhattan}}
{{Authority control}}

{{Coord|40.73175|-73.98912|type:landmark_globe:earth_region:US-NY|display=title}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Ritz}}
[[Category:Former music venues in New York City]]
[[Category:East Village, Manhattan]]
[[Category:Nightclubs in Manhattan]]
[[Category:Event venues established in 1980]]

Latest revision as of 00:16, 28 June 2024

The Ritz was a New York City rock club in the 1980s and early 1990s.

History

[edit]

The Ritz was founded in 1980 by Jerry Brandt in the historic Webster Hall ballroom and concert space on 11th Street between Third and Fourth Avenues in the East Village neighborhood of New York City. The address was 119 East 11th Street. The Ritz focused primarily on live performances, often of newer acts, but also featured dancing. The Ritz was one of the first clubs to incorporate video screens into the club experience with a 30' screen and a projector which cost $120,000. MTV made its debut at The Ritz. In April 1989, The Ritz moved to the site of the former Studio 54 on 254 West 54th Street, where it was called "The New Ritz" and continued to host concerts for several years.[1] From 1990 onward it reverted to the name "The Ritz". The original 11th Street space reverted to the name Webster Hall after The Ritz relocated.

MTV's "Live at The Ritz"

[edit]

MTV aired a series of concerts called "Live at The Ritz" on Saturday nights in the 1980s. Performers included Guns N' Roses, Gene Loves Jezebel, the Saints, the Cult, Nik Kershaw, the Smithereens, Oingo Boingo, Julian Cope, Great White, Hoodoo Gurus, Pseudo Echo, White Lion, Iggy Pop, Eurogliders, Blancmange,[2] and Simon Townshend.

Public Image Limited appearance

[edit]

The club received national attention after an antagonistic performance by Public Image Limited on May 15, 1981.[3] They were a late substitution for Bow Wow Wow, who were originally scheduled to perform.[3] 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.[3] Taunted by lead singer John Lydon (formerly of the Sex Pistols), the Ritz's unhappy patrons rioted, throwing bottles and garbage cans, and pulling on the video screen that covered the front of the stage.[3][4][5]

Notable shows and recordings

[edit]

References

[edit]
  1. ^ "Minor Musings: The Ritz – NYC!". October 13, 2012.
  2. ^ Blancmange – Live at The Ritz 1985 – Taped from MTV on Betamax on YouTube
  3. ^ a b c d "New York, Ritz, USA, May 15th, 1981 (Review and Setlist)". Retrieved August 18, 2021.
  4. ^ http://www.furious.com/Perfect/pil.html Ed Caraballo's account of Pil @ The Ritz.
  5. ^ https://www.webcitation.org/5ko1g5zoE?url=http://www.geocities.com/rstevus/pil2.html Rolling Stone review + other remiscensenses of Pil @ The Ritz.
  6. ^ "Official Misfits Discography". Misfits.com. Retrieved August 18, 2021.
  7. ^ Sarzo, Rudy (2017). Off the Rails (third edition). CreateSpace Publishing. ISBN 1-53743-746-1
  8. ^ Pareles, Jon (November 28, 1987). "Pop: Bo Diddley Tour". The New York Times.
  9. ^ "Venom – Eine Kleine Nachtmusik". Encyclopaedia Metallum. Retrieved September 14, 2011.
  10. ^ "A Look Back at Guns N' Roses' Legendary Live Show at the Ritz in '88". InsideHook. Retrieved January 24, 2022.
  11. ^ "Kiss – The Ritz on fire (Broadcast 1988) – (Vinyl LP) – musik". Ginza.se – Musik – Film – Retro (in Swedish). Retrieved January 24, 2022.
  12. ^ Living Colour Rocks The Ritz. East Village Eye. December 1986. p 6.
  13. ^ McLennan, Scott (June 3, 2019). "David Bowie & I: Socks, Sax & Sex Shops". Retrieved August 18, 2021.
  14. ^ "Sepultura Tour Dates". metallipromo.com. Retrieved July 10, 2021.
  15. ^ Bradley, Torreano. "Live at Budokan Review". AllMusic.com. Retrieved March 16, 2023.

Further reading

[edit]
[edit]

40°43′54″N 73°59′21″W / 40.73175°N 73.98912°W / 40.73175; -73.98912

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