Jan 032007
So many shows with so many international, national and homegrown bands throughout the 80s: it is hard to pick a favorite. For me, I have fun memories of New Music Nights and wonderful memories of Reggae and World Music. Does anyone remember December 2 and 3 1988 that Roy Orbison played before passing away to the Rock N Roll heaven? Or Mick Jones, of Big Audio Dynamite, stopping the show to calm down the stage divers? Or maybe how well Extreme played after their European tour? What memories do you have at the Channel?
I’ll never forget when Spinal Tap played there a few weeks after the movie first came out. It was no big tour like they did later playing at Great Woods type places. This was 5 guys and a tour manager flying around to do a total of 5 shows in 3 days. Two of which were at The Channel and myself and DB worked together to do lights for the shows, afternoon and evening the same day.
The first thing was that it had been raining like made for hours and you probably all remember the leaky roof over the stage. When the Spinal Tap guys walked in through the stage door they took one look up and saw water pouring down on the stage and their jaws dropped.
The impression I had was that they didn’t really BELIEVE the kind of stuff they made up for the movie actually happened in real life. Certain not to them ha ha. The universe was having a good laugh at their expense though for a second I thought they were going to turn around and walk out blowing off the gig.
Once they were calmed down and assured the stage would be cleaned up and the leaks stopped everything went ahead.
While that was going on BDand I had been working on adding some lights to the house system. I managed to steal that show right out from under Rainbow Lighting who the club usually paid to bring in supplements. Soooo… the universe decided to have a good laugh at my expense. Everything worked fine as we were setting up but sure enough a few minutes before the first show suddenly one of the extra dimmers I had brought in mysteriously stopped working.
DB and I frantically tried to get it back going but nothing actually SEEMED wrong with it. With the show only a few minutes away we were forced to repatch the whole system onto 8 channels fewer dimming and do it correctly and damn quick.
After that everything was fine. The rain had stopped, the stage had been cleaned up, the lights were all working, the shows went off great and DB and I had a blast. I still have the poster for the show and set list written in the drummers own handwriting on the back of what later I realized was “Any Band’s Guide To The Stage” which was a detailed little map of the club Andy Arsenault or someone in the office had made up to spoof the movie. I will have to scan them and upload them for the site.
LOVE the site!! This is a great work-in-progress. Would love to help get the word out to all the Channel staff from the old days and see where everyone is these days and what you’re all up to. Feel free to call/email me and I will try and organize some sort of master contact list if you’re interested. THANKS!!
Sean McNally
Security then Assitant Manager mid-late 80s
781-599-8499
Baystatetickets@comcast.net
Some of my favorite Channel shows in no particular order:
Ministry
Red Hot Chili Peppers w/ Fishbone and Thelonius Monster
Slapshot
Sam Black Church (of course, and YES I’m biased!)
Bad Brains
Slayer
Ramones
Neighborhoods
Hey this site is looking better every day…Dinky thanks for the site and all tose great nights!!! The Channel owed so much of its “mystique” to the end product…the amazing wall of sound Dinky brought in. Those big cabinets out in front had some great stories to tell…maybe Dinky will give us the history on those…?
I live out in LA now and have so many great memories of this club…for those years, my early 20′s, it was a really fun time and I look forward to saying hello to all of you the “Channel Crowd”. I see McNally started a thread here….”favorite shows”. I’ll leave some and start a new thread…”favorite bands”…how about favorite “rock gods” who showed up just to hang and take in the Channel.
So…some favorite shows for me were…
-Iggy Pop in 88′…Balaam & the Angel opened I believe This show was recorded by Westwood One’s mobile truck and the whole show is available on cd…look for it!
-The week we had Big Audio Dynamite…all the shows blur into one!
-The 1st time Social Distortion ever played Boston for the release of “Prison Bound”
-Big Black some time in 86/87?? This was the loudest show I believe I have ever heard…only “Slayer” came close…
-Tesla doing one of their 4 or 5 national “acoustic” shows at their peak of fame…btw…this show was recorded and songs from the show are on their “live” cd release with the Channel in the liner notes.
Favorite “Local” Bands to play the Channel
The Titanics
The Neighborhoods
The Neats
The Nervous Eaters
The Bosstones
Bullet Lavolta
The Atlantics
The Lyres
The Bags
Barrence Whitfield and the Savages
I’ll put up some stories later on…some Rock Gods that walked through those doors to hang out…Bono and U2 on the back of Harley’s…Jimmy Page and his tour manager when they played Providence, RI on his Outrider tour…Fleetwood Mac (just to visit their friend Dinky Dawson, or how about this “bizarre” sighting, Brian Adams at the peak of his fame taking in a “King Diamond” show.
I remember the shows but I remember the people more. We had a lot of great times there…and where ever the staff ended up after.
Foleys…yacht club…staff houses!!
But I think my favoite shows there were probably Tesla playing acoustic at Necco Place or Warrant & D’Molls in the big room.
Best day for me (birth of my son)…worst day for the Channel family…December 30, 1991.
Miss you guys!!!
Who was there for Stevie Ray Vaugh? What was an amazing show turned into an embarrassing moment for me! I was actually assigned to stage left behind the ropes, selling beer out of a galvanized can (didn’t want to say trash can!). I got to talking to Stevie’s bus driver. He asked me if I wanted to go on the bus after the show to meet Stevie. Duh! Well, during that time, too much partying had actually drove me to sign up for the Air Force! Everyone used to tease me about the movie Dr. Schivago, that I was going to be like Slim Pickens character riding a nuclear missile over to Russia. When I met Stevie I told him I was going to Texas to join the Air Force, where he’s from obviously. He said “That’s great. We need good people like you”. Then out of my mouth came, “Yeah, I’m going to be the first one to ride the missile over to Russia”!! I neglected to say, that the people I worked with teased me about it. He put his hat down over his eyes and said, “I can’t believe you just said that” and walked to the back of the bus. I was escorted off. When he died shortly after, I prayed to him trying to explain myself!
I also remember when Spinal Tap played there. The next day I was opening the bar and who should walk in but Michael McKean, aka David St. Hubbins! He said he left a pair of sneakers there the night before. So we both looked for his sneakers. Luckily we found them. But it was pretty weird, in that great big club to be in there alone with David St. Hubbins!
I grew up going to the Channel seeing everyone from SSD, the Dogmatics, DRI, Suicidal Tendancies, Butthole Surfers, Slapshot, Moving Targets, and so many more unforgettable shows. I moved acrossed the street onto A street finally and then it shut down. Thank you for all the memories and experiences, and very fine women…Ha!
Hi All Channel fans
who remembers seeing Hells Angels at the
Big Audio Dynamite concert in ’87 ? The support act was a rap band.
Sean
I remember being there when The English Beat played,something happened with passports or something at the airport and they came on wicked late.When we were leaving the clash,who were playing the orpheum were coming in.loudest show ever.loved the channel,still have my t-shirt
One of the best shows i ever helped set up and worked ,was a hard core show 89 . pantera,supeltora,slayer.
the pit was crazy and i thought it was a swet pit with 22hundread people not includeing staff we had to go outside just to get from one part of the club to the other ,when slayer came on w had a sound board in on the floor infront of our house board, the whole floor was moveing up and down i was waiting for the floor to fall in but it didn’t that was many one of many great hard core show at the club ..pantera made the channel thier home away from home ,
I can remeber the day we set up for GWAR and me and franco were working the stage , we were tossing people who passed the splash board back in to the crowd, i was struck by a foamy club and i atced like i was falling back. we ended up covered in blood , what a mess . the club was trashed the staff was trashed ,blood every where . including our white staff shirts. what a show ..I miss them shows very much and all my friends the club was my home away from home ,the staff was and is still like family to me and i hold you all close to my heart , hope to see you all soon ,
i truly miss the channel— some of the shows i remember were the buttholes, bad brains , chillipeppers and fishbone (people hanging from the duct work on the ceiling going nuts)- johnny winter, bongwater — great reggae shows– so many fun times–
what a great location – the excitement of pulling into the parking lot to head into the mother of all roadhouses— so this is what nostalgia feels like — can’t believe this site exists
Damn! The Channel! Practically lived there in the 80′s. My two favorite and the loudest bands I ever saw there were the Del Fuegos and the Fools. Absolutely f%ckin rocking. The Joe Perry Project, Roy Orbison, Black Jacks and as as matter of fact I was stuck in the parking lot after a show when WBCN announced the Phil Lynotte of Thin Lizzt died. Great story on how a jeep got out of there real quick, I almost pissed myself! Lots of great stories amd memories of that place. The bouncers were ruthless, but there were plenty of bars scattered about so there was no waiting in drink lines. If you’ve ever been to a club in Boston, that was a major problem.
What about those hot dog lunch’s with WBCN , tank realy running around yelling like a chicken with its head cut off , open these doors before time let the people in and start up the band get to bars open and surve up the hotdogs ….it was too funny sometimes ,but it was a good afternoon and the people from corp jobs , to small time workers, to people on the street just looking to chow down on free dogs amd music from WBCN .
the good ole day’s
Great stories…just read some of the newest comments…the fact that Stevie Ray Vaughan played tripped me out a bit…I thought his first time in Ma. was a Theatre in Worcester or at the Opera house in Boston. Apparently, it was the Channel…thanks to Kathy Sullivan for that story! The BCN’ lunches with Tank and Cha Chi Loprete were fun…I almost forgot those. Speaking of BCN’ it should be noted though the great jocks from the station were never full time at the Channel except Carter Alan he was really the 1st official regular Channel DJ…later on he Mc’d a lot of shows. A few of the other WBCN DJ’s did spin records for certain shows… Albert “O” was one of them, as well as Tami Heide, Shred, my pal Bradley “J” Huckins…Peter Choyce, Bill Abbate and of course “Metal Mike” Colucci was a regular for our Metal Shows…though I ended up doing quite a few as I had a “Loud Show” myself on WGIR called Whiplash.
So here’s a classic Channel scene…I’m in the DJ booth spinning records (a very busy Fri or Sat night)…some guy was bugging me on and on…he wanted to hear Ozzy…(was he drunk?…absa loot lee!)
I told him Ozzy sucks and the guy punched me in the eye…right through the plexi-glass! The bouncers where able to find him after he ran…LOL!
As I was typing tonight…a sad story appeared on the web…my condolences to Brad Delp’s family and friends.
=============================================
Brad Delp, Lead Singer of Rock Group Boston, Found Dead in New Hampshire
Friday, March 09, 2007
AP
ATKINSON, N.H. — Brad Delp, the lead singer for the band Boston, was found dead Friday in his home in southern New Hampshire. He was 55.
Atkinson police responded to a call for help at 1:20 p.m. and found Delp dead. Lt. William Baldwin said in a statement the death was “untimely” and that there was no indication of foul play.
Delp apparently was alone at the time, Baldwin said.
The cause of his death remained under investigation. Police said an incident report would not be available until Monday.
This was one of the most talked about shows that ever took place…this is the complete setlist from the night that Metallica played the Channel…this was researched for Ralph Moore and “Metal” Mike Colucci.
>Encyclopedia Metallica
Kill_em_all_for_one_-_tour
22 Jan, 1984
City: Boston
Venue: Channel Club
Country/ State: Massachussets
- Hit the Lights
- Four Horsemen
- Jump in the Fire
- Fight Fire With Fire
- Ride the Lightning
- Phantom Lord
- Call of Ktulu
- Seek & Destroy
- Bass Solo
- Whiplash
- No Remorse
I moved out of state in ’86 but from the time it was changed from that disco, the Mad Hatter, till then I must have been there hundreds of times. Biggest thrill was when some friends of mine who I used to play in a band with had a gig there and I hung out with them back stage. I felt like I was in hallowed ground thinking of all the bands that had been there and about all I did was check every square inch of the walls for autographs.
Big time memories include the Dead Kennedys, Cramps, Dickie Betts, Roy Buchanan, James Cotton, James Montgomery, Joe Perry, Black Flag, SS DeControl, Gangreen, The Dark, Unnatural Axe, etc. Speaking of Gangreen I can remember Springa up front getting to sing a few lines & wondering how he got away with being so public there, he was about five years underage. I can’t remember who it was, maybe Iggy Pop or one of the guys that used to be in the Sex Pistols. Another time at then of the set the singer from the Cramps pulled down his pants and ran through the audience and out the door, I always wondered how he got away with that. Jello Biafra from the Dead Kennedys was one of the most intense shows I ever saw. Lots of musicians who split up from their original band and were on their own came through like Perry, Brad Whitford, Betts, etc. One time my girlfriend and I went in, had no idea who was playing, and after about a half hour we figured out it was Eric Burdon from the Animals with a new band under an assumed name and he was great. It would take me days to remember all the great acts I saw there.
How about when the Butthole Surfers tried to light me on fire. That was awesome.
I vividly remember the Naughty By Nature show when the RSO crew wanted to come in the front, and we got bum rushed.
Good times, good times.
I don’t remember that Ralph, but I do remember when you used to make my drink so strong it was like rocket fuel and I would have to give it back to you to re-mix. Instead of pouring some out to dilute it – you would split it between 2 cups and fill each of them up to the top so then I had two drinks that were too strong!
good times (‘hic’)
I also remember you were the champion rat trapper
Speaking of rat trappers…Mike Smith is my HERO! I remember being in the concession stand and this small dog…aka a Channel Rat…just wondering around back there with me. I was standing on a stool until Mike came to rescue me. All the while trying not to let the customers see what I was hiding from!
I don’t have a story just a question. My buddy and I were talking about the Channel last week and we were wondering how long it was open. I know that the last show I saw there was Farrenheit in probably mid 1990, I have no idea when the club officially opened/closed. Thanks in advance for any reply/s I may receive. JimC
Living Colour opened for Big Audio Dynamite is \’87. I remember sitting by the front door with some friends, just waiting for BAD and not really interested in the opening act. A little into the LC set, a few of us looked at each other and realized the band onstage was really friggin good and we moved right up to the stage. They put on a great set, but most of the audience was hooting on them pretty hard. I later heard Vernon Reid say that night was one of worst experiences on stage. (Vernon Reid was the opener not the full Living Colour and no one was interested who opened for B.A.D. Dinky Dawson)
ATTN: Channel Employees –
Up for an afternoon reunion on Sunday August 5th? Was talking it over with Sean Mc and Jackie – I’ll be on the East Coast the weekend for the Rock And Roll Reunion show at the ‘dise on Sat night.
Give me your thoughts @ Channel_Queen66@yahoo.com
most psychotic show i’ve ever been to was on april 23, 1991 when the butthole surfers graced the Channel stage and nearly burned the place down, literally. setlist: hey \ edgar \ bong song \ no rule \ roky \ blindman \ creep in the cellar \ suicide \ to parter \ psychedelic jam \ graveyard \ you don’t know me \ booze, tobacco, dope, pussy, cars \ negro observer \ helicopter \ 1401 \ watlo \ alcohol \ gary floyd \ concubine \ the shah sleeps in lee harvey’s grave. cameras were rolling that evening, i wonder where that footage got to…
and yes, that big audio dynamite show was fantastic – wasn’t it on easter or something? i do remember the local rap outfit opening for them…but i don’t remember vernon reid or any hell’s angels…
Channel Employees: OK – It’s for real:
Sunday, August 5th at Foley’s somewhere between 2 and 3:00.
Be there!
~Kelly
not sure if the old Channel Employee’s were notified, however it is with sad regret that I need to inform you of the passing of Frankie Channel (Krilivich). Passed in May.
to reply to Joanne’s last post…sorry to hear about about Frankie Krilivich…he was a good guy…”shirt off your back type” who really loved comin to work!
I just got a message on my cell phone…some eerily familiar voices from the past on there…It was great to hear from Ralph Moore, Debi Longo, Kenny Dushane, Jackie Mahoney…Dinky and Kelly!!! Sounds like you all had a great time catching up at the Channel reunion this past Sunday…wish I could have been there! It got me thinking about next year…we should do something really fun…Foley’s was our old hang after work but… maybe a real club with bands…this time! Let’s put this out to the peeps that made us famous…the bands…anyone want to do this next year “get the band back together”…and play for us? Please post your interest…Dinky could fire up the T-shirt machine…lord knows I need a new one…hell I’d buy five.
On another note…I was music supervisor for an indie film called “Gameface”…you can see a little bio on IMDB.com -the producer cut out a scene with a Johnny Barnes tune I had plugged in…bastid. But, got a song in from Fat Nancy…(Billy Tsounis/Kid Crash) when we get promos I’ll hook you all up with a copy it just screened a few weeks ago at the Dances with Films Festival here in Hollyweird…
I was at the King Diamond show .. we tried to sneak a peak at him back stage and his tour manager threw an ash tray at us! Brian Adams and his guitarist were at the bar chillin .. that was really cool seeing him there.
I also remember the Prong, Pantera show .. Slash was hanging out behind the stage with some chick on his lap. I think GnR were in town doing a show that night.
At the Alice in Chains show, I tried to interview Layne Staley, and his publicist freaked out on me .. telling me to “get the f out of here.” I saw a pitiful Layne on the floor on the side of the stage with a bottle of Jack in his hands, totally wasted.
My band got to open for Blue Oyster Cult, The Outlaws, Molly Hatchet and Stevie Ray (we were St. John). Good times
How about when the Butthole Surfers tried to light me on fire. That was awesome.
I was at this show. Gibby poured lighter fluid all over a cymbal and began to smash the cymbal causing flames to jump 5-8 feet in the air. You could feel the heat of the flames on your face. I thought a security guard did cath on fire?
That was a great show.
just a fan here, but I would have to put the Mojo Nixon & Dead Milkmen show right up there. I also remember getting slot with my band at the time Highlander opeing for some crap hair band from DC & them sitting at the side of the stage with mouths on the floor. Apparently we did something they liked…
i have to mention 3 actually. i played the channel frequently and can recall one of those gigs when my drummers ride cymbal decided to tip and fall from the drum riser and the cymbal found its way right to the main cord in my guitar set-up and actually cut the cable in half…..embarassing. another was seeing one of my favorite bands there (on 2 occasions) savatage. and last but by no means least….backing up vinnie moore. great club….could never forget it!
Wow, this is incredible!
I find myself in Dorcester on business today, which always brings me back to the 80′s and coming into Boston for yet another boozecruise or to a local club, when I see a car with a “Channel” sticker on it. So I run back to my laptop and punch-up this site, and I’m blown away!!!
For me, The Channel will always be the un-official home of The Stompers. I can’t tell you how many nights were spent there, pressed up against the stage and loving every minute of it.
I remember driving in from the north shore, winding through the narrow streets to our rock oasis. The Channel was the perfect rock club; dirty, dark, crowded, loud… and I loved it! I can close my eyes and see it as if it were yesterday.
The Stompers always filled the place, esp in the early to mid 80′s when they were at their peak, and we were always there with them. Their energy on stage was contagious and the crowd fed off of them. How many nights did we end up drunk, our ears ringing from the PA system and banging on the stage for another encore? Not enough…
I’ll never forget the great times I had there with my friends from Marblehead. As time goes on I realize how special they were and how much I miss them.
Thanks for keeping those memories alive at this great website!!!
R.I.P Jim “The Guiding Light” McKenney
I remember the Spinal Tap show, hell I worked it! It was a lot of fun. I really miss those days, except the pricks that were between Dinky and Peter, they can never know what I did for that club.
I am so happy to finally see this site. The bartenders at THE CHANNEL WERE THE BEST I have ever worked with. Hi Debi, Bongo, and Mike Smith my favorite manager ever. Debi, I remember the rat incident it was histerical. We had so many great times. I only wish I had worked with everyone longer.
When is there another reunion? I would love to say hi to everyone and see them again. You were all amazing people.
Hey where is Keith Fanning?
Wasn’t Tony Raine the hot english guy who always wore patchulli? Where is Mike Smith, Chuck, Peter Limbo, all the unreal security team, Debi Longo, Bongo, Ardie, Ali, etc.?
Hi Robin, You can find a Debi and Bongo on MySpace. Bongo is married and living in NJ when he isn’t on the road with some huge band. Mike Smith got married last summer – he is still in the Boston area as is Debi and a lot of people. Domingo I believe just got married again and should be a Dad by now. Brian Washburn (on myspace) and his wife Donna are in Florida. Don’t know whatever happened to Chuck or Lembo. Ralph is still around as is Sean McNally, Johnny Barnes (on myspace) and of course, Dinky Dawson.
We had a very small reunion last summer – Dinky and I are trying to put a music event together for next summer which I am sure will include an employee get together at Foley’s. We’ll be making announcements on this site when the time comes.
Take care! ~Kelly
Hi Kelly,
Thank You so much for the info. I would love to be a part of it. I’m am currently managing a soon to open Tapas Martini bar in E.Boston where
Sablone’s used to be. It’s called Ecco. We open in September and I would love to see any Channel friends at the opening. I’ll check out my space to see where everyone is. It is so nice to hear from someone in the know.
By the way, I have heard Peter Limbo works for BU.
Robin
Hey everyone i just located this site i worked there in the late 70s and the 80s. Would love to hear from anyone who remembers. the channel days were the best days
Hey out there. Anyone remember Jackie Roach? I am so excited to read all these updates and would love to know when the next reunion is. As I read all these updates I remember almost everyone of you. Please let’s get together soon.
Does antone remember the huble, where we all got together after we closed the club?
Hey Dinky,what’s up. what you forward my email to kelly and no response from you. I would love to hear from you I have so many stories to add to the pot. Do you remember “When the weather is hot and stiky?” Hope to hear back from you. We all need to get together again. I don”t mind if you publish my email.
I have just run through the thread and it brought back a lot of memories, most of which I can’t publish here.
I do remember my birthday week in 87 watching John Entwistle from the monitor board with Dinky.
I remember the King Diamond show with Brian and crew sitting on the horseshoe.
I remember the Roy Orbison shows and Helen gushing how he never sounded better, then watching her breakdown a couple days later.
I remember so many Extreme shows.
I remember the EU’s “Da Butt” contest with our friend Matt trying to compete.
I remember the Ramones not leaving till 3:30 am.
Todd, I remember the night you couldn’t make it and I had to fill in for you at a John Mayall show.
I remember Bo Diddley played.
I think I remember Aerosmith at a Sunday all ages show.
I remember Bono and Carter kicking it backstage for Face to Face, when Carter tried to introduce me to Bono I just saw him from the back and thought Bono was his date!
I remember so much, more than I thought.
Anyone heard from John Visser?
Hello Roland, long time.
Where is Teddy?
Where is Big Paul?
Sorry to hear about Mario and Big Al, RIP.
Any word on the Booras family?
Sorry, forgot Debi, hey there.
Where is “Tow” Joe?
What happened to John Messina and Studio TCB?
Where is Rubbarb the Killer Coed?
I do have trouble with some names, but I do remember most of the crew from 84 to 89.
Het Mantis, Great to see your still around. How are things with you? We do indeed need to get together soon. This site is really picking up. I am living in Chelmsford, MA noe. I finally left Southis last year to move loser to my fiance’ family. Please Mantis, and all others lets keep up this site and get together when possible. This is a site with friends till the end even if it’s been a while. All my best.
the channel was my second home for most of the eighties. the parking lot before most shows was always a highlight and sometimes better than the show inside. john butcher was a must see regular. wendy o’williams was a crazy show. buddy guy, the tubes, til tuesday…and of course physical graffitti (led zep cover band) was always a blowout. thanks for flipping a switch and a flood of wonderful memories.