'The Roar of L'Amour'

I NEVER WANTED TO BE A DJ, BUT …(Part 1)

I thought DJ's were cool in the early 80's in rock clubs, but most were just filler between bands/sets.

I always thought the idea seemed fun, but never wanted to do it.

Then one day in 1981/2, I am in The Factory Rock Club in Staten Island and I start talking to the DJ as he is setting up.

See my first “club” job was at the Factory. I opened the club at noon, answered phones, told bands what to do as far as set-up, stock bar, etc.

I saw it as a way to get in the club and drink for free and make spending money.

The DJ and I start talking music and hit it off.

Eventually he would let me spin a song here/there for fun and he told me I had really good instinct.

One night he calls the club and I answer and he tells me that he is sick and ask if I can DJ … WHAT?

“I don't think so" I replied and he kept asking and I replied if Bill (owner) says ok, sure.

He said OK and eventually the crowd liked me good enough for me to be hired as a DJ

The Factory eventually closed in early 83 (I believe) and that was it for me as a DJ, until I am at L'Amour and hear …

“Hey Chuck, you were the DJ at The Factory?” George Parente one of the owners of L'Amour ask.

“Why didn't you tell me? Maybe you can DJ here?”

I didn't tell George this, but the thought scared me.

L'Amour was the one club where the DJ wasn't “filler” in-between sets.

They talked on the mic, they were elevated in a perched booth and … they played a mixture of rock and dance in-between the bands/set.

I explained to George that I had no idea how to keep people dancing. The Factory didn't have a dance floor with lights and it was not what I did, but George insisted I give it a try and asked me to audition.

He tells me to come to the club the following Fri and spin for a bit before the first set and in-between and to play “dance” in-between.

I replied “wait what are you telling the DJ? He said “I will lie and say you are there to try out for East”.

I was uncomfortable but agreed.

The DJ at this time was Alex Kayne (who is now a DJ in large venues and killing it) and while we knew each other by face, we never really talked.

I get there and he shows me the equipment and then vanishes and I spin music I am comfortable with and George tells me it was great.

I intro the band and was nervous, I never talked on a mic … EVER, but did decent.

Band goes off and I spin a few commercial rock songs and panicking about the “dance”, I remember bringing a Fixx 45 and cue it up and … DISASTER.

The people dancing looked at me like I was a loser and Alex just grinned.

See I had no idea George told him I was there to possibly replace him, that was a very uncool way to treat him in my opinion, but not my story to tell.

George says “You had the job and lost it”.

I reminded him that I never asked to DJ and told him I can't do dance and he just muttered something and walked away.

Eventually in early 84 the club stopped with the dance and George saw me one night and said “No more dance” and I just nodded and said that I am good and we never discussed it again.

Until one day I get a call from Sandy the stage manager and he said “George wants to call you” … ok?

I answer and he tells me they need a DJ that week in L'Amour East and would I do it?

I explained I don't have a car and I really don't want to DJ, but he stopped me and offered to drive me there/back and threw in my face I always get in Brooklyn for free and said “do me the the favor”.

“OK, for this week only” … 4 months later I am still there.

One night in early October 1984, George confides in me that the Brooklyn owners are leaving East and not to tell anybody.

I replied “cool, I don't have to DJ anymore” and he tells me they are moving me into Brooklyn.

What? I didn't agree to anything.

I was smart enough to know that I am in a position to negotiate and we did.

He discussed things him and his brother wanted different and what my vision was and we were on the same page, so I agreed.

I was the DJ and VJ in East, but in Brooklyn they had 2 people.

George told me I would be replacing both and I said “no way”.

There is no way I am coming into Brooklyn as an outsider and taking TWO jobs away from two locals who were very popular with the staff. Its suicide.

George said we will keep the VJ, but you do all the programming and tell him what to play and do.

I agreed, but …

I was supposed to start on 10/25 on a Thursday, but on Fri 10/19, Zebra was playing and it was my 22nd birthday.

George knew I was a huge Zebra fan and knew the guys, so I asked if I could start a week earlier and he said I couldn't (some agreement with the East partners), but I can DJ that night while Alex goes East and then we will switch back.

Again, I think that is weird and a shitty thing to do to Alex, but its not my story.

I walk into Brooklyn and all eyes are on me. Why is he here? Is he taking our buddies job?

I had to put on blinders and just do my job. I almost get to the booth and Randy (Zebra) see's me with crates of albums and ask if I am the new DJ and I confide I will be next week, but I am here tonight because of you guys.

Randy helps me up to the booth and ask if I am nervous and I explained that I was a little.

He tells me "Be yourself and show your personality and you will change this place".

WHAT? How do I show personality by playing Ratt? What is the difference in me or anybody else? I am confused.

Now Jo (VJ) comes to the booth and he kids "I am here to push the buttons". I didn't think how weird it would be to take his creativity away, but me being there certainly did. To his credit, he was cool about it.

I DJ'd that night and people really liked it, the other three main owners all welcomed me with open arms and said they were excited I passed the audition ... HUH?

Now I get why George agreed to have me do one night before I started. In case his brother or the others hated me they had an out.

But I did the job and Brooklyn was now mine.

Part 2:

It all comes together on my first full weekend and how Randy's advice made sense

Chuck Kaye

Ah Yes Indeed

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