'The Roar of L'Amour'

THE L'AMOUR DJ AND BOOKER TIMELINE

I was asked to put together a timeline for someone on L'Amour and myself.

They saw conflicting info, so here it goes.

DJ:

Mike Pace was the original DJ when L'Amour started doing rock and when he quit the venue Alex Kayne took over.and there was a weird period of time where 2 different guys were VJ's with Alex in the booth in 84.

During Pace era, I was a DJ at The Factory in SI and would play Maiden, etc

Sometime in 83 (after The Factory closed) I was asked by George (owner) if i was interested in working L'Amour.

At the time the club was still having Alex mix in dance/commercial with metal. To Alex credit he was pushing it towards metal, but George asked if I can spin "new wave".

I explained I never worked a dance floor before, but he asked me to try it.

I spun hard rock/metal and George said it was what he wanted, but fucked up a dance mix ... oh well ... I didn't ask for the gig, they asked me.

The club eventually went all rock/metal but I had ZERO interest in accepting an offer. I didn't want to have to be somewhere 3 nights a week. I was 20/21 years old and liked different clubs and concert possibilities.

Then one day ...

George needed someone ASAP in Queens at L'Amour East and I said no but then was asked to just do it for a weekend and George would drive me there back.

That turned into 4 months and the offer to take over both DJ/VJ positions in Brooklyn in October of 84 and I accepted.

They explained they liked my music knowledge and playlist and wanted me to be "the face" of the scene that was getting bigger and bigger.

They also wanted my input on bookings, because the owners had no idea of many of the bands offered (Loudness for example)

I was the DJ/VJ/Host/MC in Brooklyn from 10/84-11/88. 

During that time, I had several backups so I could take off nights, do radio spots and work in the office.

Those included, Ken Kriete, Michel Gutman, Dave Gizzo (who worked the most) and Alex Kayne.

Also, Jeff the barback would do 9-10:30 on commercial nights (but never a full shift)

I cannot thank everyone I mentioned above enough for their help.

My DJ position grew into an MC position as well and the club was happy as long as I was ready to spin/talk by the time the club was packed

To be truthful, Towards the end, I would take off more and more nights due to burnout and partying. The club should have fired me, but I guess they still thought I had value.

After I quit in 11/88, they had a hodgepodge of DJ's until settling on Tony (Bones) Mecha until the original venue closed.

When they re-opened, it seems Tony began again as main DJ with Alex getting some nights.

BOOKING/PROMOTING;

I got involved in that aspect in 85 and in 86 started my own AYI Nights.

Dave Gizzo spun on those nights while I ran the venue.

After I quit, Ken Kriete took over those duties and more

In the 90's, Ken was the booker and stayed that way until the venue closed

Chuck Kaye

Ah Yes Indeed

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