'The Roar of L'Amour'

IRON MAIDEN - I "up-chucked" on Steve Harris and my involvement in the legendary night they played.

THE MAIDEN SHOW BEFORE/DURING

Iron Maiden played the single most legendary show ever at L'Amour on May 8th,1988

I was the ONLY DJ that night, there was some press that said otherwise.

Billed as 'Charlotte the Harlot', it was my voice on the answering machine that said "Run to the Hills and get your tickets now" as a hint to who it really was and still some were in disbelief.

Maiden knew about the venue before I was involved. The band (minus Bruce) even jammed with TT Quick one Thursday night, but I certainly put in time to try to convince them to play.

I knew Steve and the band years before I was at L'Amour.

I was invited to a private party at The Parker Meridian in 1982 and the next year had passes for MSG and Nassau and the one infamous night that began with Bruce in 1984, but my involvement in convincing them began in January of 85 when WASP played the venue as part of The Metal Massacre Weekend.

Rod Smallwood who manages Maiden, also managed WASP and remembered me from being backstage and we began to talk about my involvement in L'Amour.

Rod was amazed at how smooth everything ran (credit to Sandy, our stage manager) and saw I was becoming friends with Randy and Blackie, and we talked a good deal that weekend about Maiden possibly playing.

He mentioned "(H)Arry" loved the club and asked if he knew I was the DJ. I explained I started 14 weeks early, so no and on the Sunday show, he said he will tell him.

On a night during the summer of 1986, I get a call from Steve Altman who was working with Maiden, and he tells me Steve is at Electric lady mixing and wants to see me and go out.

I tell the story below. 

That night (as drunk as I was), I continued to push the "play Brooklyn" narrative, as well as that weekend when I told Steve to come to see Fates Warning.

The night of Fates Warning, the club and I pushed hard to convince Steve and, in all honesty, he always seemed into it.

I remember George asking me afterwards "What do you think?", I said he always tells me he is into it, but the logistics are not in his full control.

I saw George light up because he realized this wasn't a band member blowing steam up his arse (I used arse due to Maiden), but a real inkling the wanted to play.

It took a bit, but the club and Rich Sanders worked with Rod to make it happen.

The credit goes to them.

The idea of Maiden playing the club began long before me, but perhaps my constant convincing played a factor and for that I am proud.

Now it's "IRON MAIDEN DAY - aka Charlotte the Harlot at L'Amour on May 8th, 1988

I get to the club a little early to say hi and see soundcheck, but more importantly to make sure my Firebird had a good parking spot.

I park across the street, and a line is already formed, and some regulars call out my name to ask me about the night, etc.

I get in and say hi to Steve and Nico and the inside of L'Amour is already crowded.

Every staffer and regular who had access to the club is already there so they could witness the behind the scenes.

Steve asks me if the club is always this crazy the day of and I said only for you guys. The closest was Cheap Trick but nothing like this.

Nico asked where the after-party was going to be and SURPRISINGLY, I didn't even think of that.

So, I made a call (see below) but it didn't work out.

That night was a weird night for me as far as working (DJ).

I would usually have someone open the night (first 60-90 minutes) while I do admin stuff, but the club asked me to DJ the whole night because of how important it was and they wanted nobody else to work.

I agreed, but it kind of sucked because that meant "no hanging out".

When I was on, they were off and vice-versa.

I spun my ass off and Maiden killed it ... it was only the second show that I watched fully from the booth (Cheap Trick too) and I am proud to be affiliated with such a legendary undertaking

-

Both stories below are taken from Facebook

THE AFTER-PARTY/JAM I ALMOST PUT TOGETHER

I was so proud to be affiliated with this show.

Iron Fn Maiden at L'Amour - the club I was so affiliated with.

It was only the second show that I ever watched completely from the booth (Cheap Trick too).

Afterwards they asked me "where's the party?"

I said I will have my buddy Woody open up 'Sink The Pink' rehearsal studio in Flatbush, bring your guitars ...

They were going to, but I think Nico said they were ready and willing, but something happened where they couldn't

Imagine if that happened?

In the middle of the night, Maiden jamming in Flatbush?

Pics of me, with a girl SKITTLING with Maiden playing behind me ... oh so close.

-

CHUCK "UP-CHUCKS" ON STEVE HARRIS

Sometime in 86, Steve Harris and Martin Birch were mixing Somewhere in Time at Electric Lady on 8th Street.

I get a phone call on a Wednesday afternoon from Steve Altman, who worked with Steve Harris and Maiden

I forget how I met Altman, but I remember one night going all over Manhattan with him and Steve in 1983 (see pic), a year before I was asked to take over L'Amour.

For the record, I DJ at L'Amour East from 6/84 and then asked to take over Brooklyn in 10/84 and grew into a management/booker/promoter role in 85.

I quit in 11/88.

Altman tells me Steve Harris is in town mixing the album but wants to go out that night after.

So, they thought it over and ... (cue Ghostbusters theme) ... WHO YA GONNA CALL? CHUCK KAYE.

I call my buddy Big Sal, and we drive to Manhattan.

I was specifically told only to bring one person because Martin Birch didn't like hangers-on.

We get to the studio about 9 and they were still mixing, and Altman says can you come back in 2 hours, we were like OK, let's drink.

In the 80's and in the village that meant THE CACTUS CAFE on W. 3rd.

Before I was at L'Amour, every Thursday I would meet Tower legend Billy DePasquale and all the staff because Thursday was payday and ... umm ... let's just say they wanted "SKITTLES" and I had SKITTLES and we would drink and SKITTLE at The Cactus.

So, Sal and I start pounding pitcher after pitcher of Tidal Waves (gin, vodka, tequila, triple sec and OJ).

2 hours and 6 pitchers later we go back to 8th Street and were told it will be another hour or so, I say "just meet us at Cat Club".

Tommy Gunn always took care of me there, so why not.

We get there and get walked right in and I tell the guy collecting money "Steve Harris is coming", he said "Steve who?" ... we are not in Brooklyn anymore.

I see Gunn and he makes sure Steve gets in.

About 30 minutes later Steve comes in without Altman and security walks him to Sal and I and as I turn to Steve to say hi, I ... TIDAL WAVED all over his boots.

I am fn embarrassed but Steve can't stop laughing.

He won't stop calling me "UP-CHUCK" ... pretty funny 39 years later.

I go outside for air and call my friend Anthony Monti who idolized Steve. He has to be up at 6am because he is a stockbroker so calling him this late had to be for a good reason.

I wake him and his fiancé up and say "hurry to Cat Club, bring SKITTLES (sniff) and you can hang with Steve Harris"

He was at CC within 45 minutes.

I was ok the rest of the night thanks to fresh air and SKITTLES and Steve asked if anyone good was at L'Amour that weekend.

I told him, he would like Fates Warning so he said "see you there"

He limos to the club and George and Mike go "Chuck said you were coming" and Steve told them the story of "UP-CHUCK".

Before Steve can make it to the booth, I get called on the intercom and George says "Hey UpChuck can you stop puking on national acts"

MoFo Harry was telling everyone.

He gets to the booth and starts modeling his boots like a chick on the runway because he got them cleaned.

I am not living this down.

I made sure to stick to beers for the rest of the night but remember all the Maiden fans freaking out that Steve was hanging with me.

I never threw up on a rock legend again ..

The lesson of the story:

STICK TO BEER AND "SKITTLES"

PS: Because Anthony Monti's finance was pissed, I called so late and pissed he left, I was thrown out of their wedding party lol.

PS2: There are a lot of other "Harry" stories including the night Maiden played and Steve was in the booth while I was DJ-ing, but maybe down the line I will tell them.

Chuck Kaye

Ah Yes Indeed

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