The stage of the Grande Ballroom where many important bands of the 1970's played. It is abandoned and crumbling away.
Cooper and Bob Seger. Russ Gibb, visited San Francisco and was very much impressed by the success of the Fillmore Theater. He returned to Detroit and developed plans that eventually led to his ownership of the Grande Ballroom. He very successfully promoted innovative music at this location. This has been called psychedelic music, Detroit Rock and Roll or the music of the stoner counter-culture. For a few years, he was extremely successful so this ranks as one of many key sites in the long history of Detroit’s contribution to the world’s music. The Led Zeppelin, Pink Floyd, the Grateful Dead, Janis Joplin, The Who, Chuck Berry, Howlin’ Wolf and the Velvet Underground performed here before enthusiastic audiences. For some time, the MC5 performed as the house band at the Grande Ballroom. Modern jazz was also featured here with performance by John Coltrane and Sun Ra. Many people who were in their late teen years or early twenties in the 1960s have vivid—if not necessarily accurate—memories of tremendous concerts held at the Grande Ballroom. Young people today would be extremely surprised to realize the tremendous quantities of non-prescription drugs consumed at these concerts. The pungent—and pleasant—smell of marijuana permeated the premises. You certainly did not have to smoke to inhale at places such as the Grande Ballroom. Observers note, at the time, that the crowds at this venue were overwhelming young white people from the suburbs. Architect: Charles N. Agree Date of Completion: 1928
Size: 4967px × 3312px
Location: Detroit, Michigan, USA
Photo credit: © Cynthia Lindow / Alamy / Afripics
License: Licensed
Model Released: No
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