'The Roar of L'Amour'

FRANK FAILACE JR. AND MIKE FAILACE (RIP) - Their place in my and L'Amour history

Some unsung staffers from the heyday of L'Amour were Frank Failace Jr. and his brother Mike (RIP)

They were the two sons of venue owner Frank Failace Sr. 

In 1986, when I asked for another raise the owners said, "how about we give you every Thursday and whatever Sunday nights you want instead?"

I never wanted to be a "promoter" but I needed more money, so I was open to the idea.

We went back and forth regarding the agreement and I said yes.

The deal was one owner would be at the door with myself, and I would have Dave Gizzo DJ.

After 4 weeks (one night each) the owners saw I could run the club myself without issues and told me they would no longer run it with me.

Sounds awesome, right?

NO

I didn't want the responsibility if something went wrong that wasn't under my control.

If an underage was served, if someone was injured, etc.

I wasn't making enough to have that responsibility and at 23 years old, I didn't want it.

After a back/forth, they understood and agreed to have Frank Sr. two sons alternate and take that responsibility on and it began an amazing friendship.

I knew both from them working the venue as security and liked both, but you never know a dynamic until you are in it.

Within a month, I knew we would work great together.

They alternated who would partner with me and both were very different, but had one common denominator ... they watched out for their father (as they should).

They saw first-hand that despite my "out of control" rep, I took the responsibility seriously.

After about 2 months, I hired Peter Lomenzo to assist me and work the box office. I trusted him 100% with my money, who to comp and to pay bands and he ran the front perfectly with the Failace brothers.

Over the course of my night (dubbed AYI nights in nod to my catchphrase 'Ah Yes Indeed"), both brothers heard about my vision for the club and supported it 100%.

One night their Dad called me over and thanked me for treating his sons so well and said "they think we should turn the club over to you, but sadly it won't happen". I remember that moment vividly, because it was the biggest compliment I could ever receive and it scared me, while also showing my forward movement in L'Amour was hitting a ceiling.

It also made me realize that perhaps it was time for me to leave.

I was scared, because I never wanted to be a "promoter", heck I never wanted to be a DJ, but the club offered me both because they saw something in me.

I expressed this to the brothers and they were awesome in that they understood my side.

You see they were in an interesting position, they knew the dynamic between the 4 main owners and like any relation they saw the conflicts, difference of opinions and what they all agreed on.

Like their Dad, they told me they wanted the most success with the least hassle and that was my mantra as well.

As much as I love sharing, it's not my place to tell others "story" and as much as I knew, there was a lot I didn't.

But I can TRUTHFULLY share that the Failace brothers were a huge reason my AYI nights were successful and they are both unsung when it comes to the history of the club.

It was actually Frank Jr. that convinced me to "return" to tell stories and within 5 minutes of talking on the phone, he said "please call my Dad, he misses you".

I called him ASAP and Frank Sr. said the nicest thing "thank you for making the best years of my life, so special" ... I was floored.

I can get into things that angered him about the "narrative" of L'Amour, but he told me that he trusted me still and to tell the story of the heyday so he could see it before he passed.

Yes, that was heavy for me to hear and I had a lot of thinking to do.

I talked with his sons (my AYI night partners) and I saw how much they wanted their Dads legacy to be told, not theirs, but their Dads, so I agreed. 

Sadly, Mike passed May of 2024, so he couldn't see that I tried, but anything I do is partially dedicated to Mike (RIP).

MIKE FAILACE:

in 88, I broke my rule of dating a regular. Let's call her "Lisa'. Lisa was a firecracker and our dynamic was combustible. Because she was there 75% of the time I was, it wasn't always pretty. We were/are both stubborn and if the club served popcorn, sales would have been through the roof watching us fight, make-up and fight again.

Mike saw this first-hand and befriended Lisa and after the first public display of stupidity, went up to her and interrupted her conversation to tell her that he heard me call her to the booth  and to get up there. I had no idea of any of this until June of 2025, when she told me that Mike would leave wherever he was and tap her on the shoulder and just say "its time". that was their "thing".

It happened at least a dozen times according to her.

Mike explained once that if she smoothed everything over that the club, staff, bands would all appreciate it.

Before Mike passed, he asked me not to tell his dad and brother certain stories, so ... umm ... err ... I won't <cough> ROANOKE <cough>

FRANK FAILACE JR:

When there was a band Frank Jr. would want to see (White Lion) he would not work, but hang out with his girlfriend (now wife) and right before White Lion would come on, he would come up to the booth to ask if he and his gf could watch from the booth. I always said "yes" even though I didn't want to.

When the headliner went on, the booth was my private getaway. I could just rest, SKITTLE, be with a girl, etc.. I respected Frank Jr. enough to not do anything in front of him. He was far more 'straight-laced" than Mike was (Mike got a kick out of me) and I respected him enough to keep anything sordid away from him. Was it "my booth"? Yes, but it was the right thing to do.

In May of 1988, White Lion played the Ritz in NYC and we were both VIP'd and when I got there with my date Nancy, Mike yelled "Chuck" and called me over. He had a private booth on the balcony level overlooking the stage and saved us two seats.

He told me that was his "thank you" for always treating him and his gf so great when it came to my booth and how he knew I respected him enough to keep certain things away from him.

He was brought up correctly.

The biggest compliment I could give Frank Sr. is to acknowledge how great both his sons turned out.

In December, I told Frank sr. that and the notoriously tough S.O.B. got in his feels.

I can't thank the Failace brothers enough for everything they did for me and the club, and I am ecstatic to let others know.

"The success of L'Amour was a team effort but the captain of our team was Chuck Kaye" - Frank Falaice Jr. (L'Amour manager and owners' son)

"Thank you, Chuck for making the best years of my life so special" - Frank Failace Sr. (Owner and head of security)

"Don't ever tell my dad and brother about ... <insert situation here> - Mike Failace (L'Amour manager and owners' son)

Chuck Kaye

Ah Yes Indeed

BACK