L'amour (venue)
Encyclopedia
L'amour was a musical venue in Brooklyn
, New York
, run by Mike and George Parente, which opened in 1981 and closed in February 2004. L'amour was promoted as the "Rock Capitol of Brooklyn". It is commonly pronounced "La-Morz" by patrons. The venue was known as a familiar venue for some of rock music's biggest, including Iron Maiden
, Metallica
, Megadeth
, and Kiss
. But as familiar as it was for the biggest and best, it was for the up-and-comers. L'amour was never afraid to book over a dozen local acts to open up for a headliner and frequently featured underground bands from across the country and even across the globe. L'Amour has closed down and is not planning on returning to the club scene.
in Queens, not only had rock performers but also was the host of many "Freestyle" acts back in the mid to late 1980s. In the late 1980s, the club hosted some of the top Hair Metal bands of the time. Although it shared the lighter side of the metal scene (as opposed to L'amour in Brooklyn), it will be remembered as one of the top metal clubs in the country, only next to The Whisky, The Troubadour, and its Brooklyn counterpart.
At one point, it was one of the top five night spots in NYC. Due to Big Al and Big Rob's opening of 7700 Club Wednesdays, the "Freestyle" movement took off, and L'amour East became a dance club.
L'amour East and L'amour Far East were not open very long in comparison to the original Brooklyn L'amour. L'amour East, riding the coattails of the Brooklyn club's fame, only lasted a few years, and L'Amour Far East was an insignificant club that folded soon after opening.
The original L'amour in Brooklyn remained a relevant part of the rock/metal scene for almost 25 years.
scene. Some of the pioneers of this genre give credit to L'amour for starting and or lifting their career to new heights. Such bands include Biohazard
, Madball
, Agnostic Front
, Pro-Pain
, Sick of it All
, Candiria
, Full Blown Chaos
, Most Precious Blood
, Sworn Enemy
.
, Iron Maiden
, Nightwish
, The Ramones, Poison
, LIPS
, White Lion
, Guns N' Roses
, Metallica
, Overkill
, Toxik
, Carnivore
, Lillian Axe
, Nuclear Assault
, Anthrax
, Kiss
, Megadeth
, Motörhead, Hatebreed
, Dream Theater
, Faith No More
, Faith or Fear, Voivod
, Soundgarden
, Slayer
, Last Rites, Testament
, L.A. Guns
, Murphy's Law
, Sepultura
, Exodus
, Stryper
, Playground, Powerhouse, Big Bad Wolf
, Saigon Kick
, Trip, W.A.S.P.
, Twisted Sister
, Ace Frehley
, Richie Scarlet, Zebra
, and Rat Race Choir.Cities a local heavy metal band headlined and opened for many acts as (metallica,Anvil,Joe Perry Project,Anthrax and many more
was known as "The Roar of L'Amour". Kaye was the house DJ at L'Amour in the classic years of 1984 to 1988. Now the famed acting coach Jagger Kaye.
Brooklyn
Brooklyn is the most populous of New York City's five boroughs, with nearly 2.6 million residents, and the second-largest in area. Since 1896, Brooklyn has had the same boundaries as Kings County, which is now the most populous county in New York State and the second-most densely populated...
, New York
New York
New York is a state in the Northeastern region of the United States. It is the nation's third most populous state. New York is bordered by New Jersey and Pennsylvania to the south, and by Connecticut, Massachusetts and Vermont to the east...
, run by Mike and George Parente, which opened in 1981 and closed in February 2004. L'amour was promoted as the "Rock Capitol of Brooklyn". It is commonly pronounced "La-Morz" by patrons. The venue was known as a familiar venue for some of rock music's biggest, including Iron Maiden
Iron Maiden
Iron Maiden are an English heavy metal band from Leyton in east London, formed in 1975 by bassist and primary songwriter Steve Harris. Since their inception, the band's discography has grown to include a total of thirty-six albums: fifteen studio albums; eleven live albums; four EPs; and six...
, Metallica
Metallica
Metallica is an American heavy metal band from Los Angeles, California. Formed in 1981 when James Hetfield responded to an advertisement that drummer Lars Ulrich had posted in a local newspaper. The current line-up features long-time lead guitarist Kirk Hammett and bassist Robert Trujillo ...
, Megadeth
Megadeth
Megadeth is an American heavy metal band from Los Angeles, California which was formed in 1983 by guitarist/vocalist Dave Mustaine, bassist Dave Ellefson and guitarist Greg Handevidt, following Mustaine's expulsion from Metallica. The band has since released 13 studio albums, three live albums, two...
, and Kiss
KISS (band)
Kiss is an American rock band formed in New York City in January 1973. Well-known for its members' face paint and flamboyant stage outfits, the group rose to prominence in the mid to late 1970s on the basis of their elaborate live performances, which featured fire breathing, blood spitting,...
. But as familiar as it was for the biggest and best, it was for the up-and-comers. L'amour was never afraid to book over a dozen local acts to open up for a headliner and frequently featured underground bands from across the country and even across the globe. L'Amour has closed down and is not planning on returning to the club scene.
L'amour East
The original L'amour East, located on Queens BoulevardQueens Boulevard
Queens Boulevard is a major thoroughfare in the New York City boroughs of Manhattan and Queens connecting communities from Midtown Manhattan to Jamaica...
in Queens, not only had rock performers but also was the host of many "Freestyle" acts back in the mid to late 1980s. In the late 1980s, the club hosted some of the top Hair Metal bands of the time. Although it shared the lighter side of the metal scene (as opposed to L'amour in Brooklyn), it will be remembered as one of the top metal clubs in the country, only next to The Whisky, The Troubadour, and its Brooklyn counterpart.
At one point, it was one of the top five night spots in NYC. Due to Big Al and Big Rob's opening of 7700 Club Wednesdays, the "Freestyle" movement took off, and L'amour East became a dance club.
L'amour East and L'amour Far East were not open very long in comparison to the original Brooklyn L'amour. L'amour East, riding the coattails of the Brooklyn club's fame, only lasted a few years, and L'Amour Far East was an insignificant club that folded soon after opening.
The original L'amour in Brooklyn remained a relevant part of the rock/metal scene for almost 25 years.
NYHC
In its later life, L'amour gave rise to some of the most promising acts in the hardcoreHardcore punk
Hardcore punk is an underground music genre that originated in the late 1970s, following the mainstream success of punk rock. Hardcore is generally faster, thicker, and heavier than earlier punk rock. The origin of the term "hardcore punk" is uncertain. The Vancouver-based band D.O.A...
scene. Some of the pioneers of this genre give credit to L'amour for starting and or lifting their career to new heights. Such bands include Biohazard
Biohazard (band)
Biohazard is a band originally based in Brooklyn, New York. They are acknowledged as one of the earliest bands to fuse hardcore punk and heavy metal with elements of hip hop. The original lineup consisted of Vocalist/Guitarist Billy Graziadei, bassist/vocalist Evan Seinfeld, guitarist Bobby Hambel,...
, Madball
Madball
Madball is a New York-based hardcore band that originated in the late 1980s, as a side-project of Agnostic Front .- History :Madball was founded in 1988 and featured most of Agnostic Front's members...
, Agnostic Front
Agnostic Front
Agnostic Front is an American hardcore band. The band began playing hardcore similar to their contemporaries, and were thrust to the forefront of the burgeoning New York hardcore scene in the mid-1980s with their widely regarded 1984 classic Victim in Pain before evolving to incorporate thrash...
, Pro-Pain
Pro-Pain
Pro-Pain is a New York-based hardcore band formed in 1991 by vocalist and bass guitarist Gary Meskil and drummer Dan Richardson, both former members of Crumbsuckers. Debut album Foul Taste of Freedom was released in 1992, displaying hardcore punk and rap metal influences, after which the band...
, Sick of it All
Sick of It All
Sick of It All is an American hardcore punk band from Queens, New York. Formed in 1986, the band consisted of brothers Lou Koller on vocals and Pete Koller on lead guitar, Rich Cipriano on bass, and Armand Majidi on drums. There have been only two member changes since their inception, with Max...
, Candiria
Candiria
Candiria are an American band from Brooklyn, New York. They blend various styles of music, including heavy metal, hardcore, jazz, hip hop and ambient. Candiria have often dubbed their sound "urban fusion".- History :...
, Full Blown Chaos
Full Blown Chaos
Full Blown Chaos is a metalcore band from Floral Park, Queens, New York. According to the band, their whole direction "is to keep a wide range of music, not to necessarily pigeonhole ourselves into metal or hardcore"...
, Most Precious Blood
Most Precious Blood
Most Precious Blood is a metalcore band from New York City, formed from the ashes of the band Indecision. They blend the song structures of hardcore with heavy metal, and the band cites Sick of it All, Aphex Twin, The Sisters Of Mercy, and The Obsessed as influences, among others. They were signed...
, Sworn Enemy
Sworn Enemy
-Biography:The band formed in 1995 as "Downfall" and later on as "Mindset", a product of the extremely expansive and influential New York Hardcore scene...
.
Notable acts
Some notable acts that performed at the venue are Type O NegativeType O Negative
Type O Negative was a gothic metal band from Brooklyn, New York City. The band also incorporated elements of doom metal and thrash metal. Their dramatic lyrical emphasis on themes of romance, depression, and death resulted in the nickname "The Drab Four"...
, Iron Maiden
Iron Maiden
Iron Maiden are an English heavy metal band from Leyton in east London, formed in 1975 by bassist and primary songwriter Steve Harris. Since their inception, the band's discography has grown to include a total of thirty-six albums: fifteen studio albums; eleven live albums; four EPs; and six...
, Nightwish
Nightwish
Nightwish is a Finnish symphonic metal band from Kitee, Finland. Formed in 1996 by songwriter and keyboardist Tuomas Holopainen, guitarist Emppu Vuorinen, and former vocalist Tarja Turunen, Nightwish's current line-up has five members, although Tarja has been replaced by Anette Olzon and the...
, The Ramones, Poison
Poison
In the context of biology, poisons are substances that can cause disturbances to organisms, usually by chemical reaction or other activity on the molecular scale, when a sufficient quantity is absorbed by an organism....
, LIPS
LIPS
Linguistic and Intercultural Preparation of Students for the workplace is a European Commission-funded project.It has developed pilot measures to improve students' skills and competences for their successful completion of work experiences abroad .LIPS developed an online course which is based on...
, White Lion
White Lion
White Lion is an American/Danish hard rock/heavy metal band that was formed in New York City in 1983 by Danish vocalist Mike Tramp and American guitarist Vito Bratta. Mainly active in the 1980s and early 1990s, the band achieved double platinum status with their #8 hit "Wait" and #3 hit "When the...
, Guns N' Roses
Guns N' Roses
Guns N' Roses is an American hard rock band, formed in Hollywood, Los Angeles, California, in 1985. The band has released six studio albums, three EPs, and one live album...
, Metallica
Metallica
Metallica is an American heavy metal band from Los Angeles, California. Formed in 1981 when James Hetfield responded to an advertisement that drummer Lars Ulrich had posted in a local newspaper. The current line-up features long-time lead guitarist Kirk Hammett and bassist Robert Trujillo ...
, Overkill
Overkill (band)
Overkill is an American thrash metal band, formed in 1980 in New Jersey. They have gone through many line-up changes, with singer Bobby "Blitz" Ellsworth and bassist D.D. Verni remaining from the original lineup. Along with Anthrax , the band is one of the most successful East Coast thrash metal...
, Toxik
Toxik
Toxik is an American thrash metal band from Peekskill, New York. The band plays a style of thrash metal with elements of progressive metal, which would later be named "progressive thrash metal". Initially active from 1985 to 1992, the band reformed in 2007....
, Carnivore
Carnivore (band)
Carnivore was an American crossover thrash band formed in Brooklyn, New York by Peter Steele , and was formed out of the ruins of the Brooklyn hard rock group Fallout in 1982.-History:...
, Lillian Axe
Lillian Axe
Lillian Axe is a hard rock band from New Orleans who write and perform music from acoustic ballads to full out heavy metal anthems. Four studio recordings were released before they disbanded in 1995...
, Nuclear Assault
Nuclear Assault
Nuclear Assault is an American thrash metal/crossover thrash band formed in 1984.-History:After the release of Anthrax's debut album Fistful of Metal, bass player Danny Lilker, a founding member of the group, was fired by the band...
, Anthrax
Anthrax (band)
Anthrax is an American heavy metal band from New York City, formed in 1981. Founded by guitarists Scott Ian and Danny Lilker, the band has since released ten studio albums and 20 singles, and an EP featuring Public Enemy. The band was one of the most popular of the 1980s thrash metal scene...
, Kiss
KISS (band)
Kiss is an American rock band formed in New York City in January 1973. Well-known for its members' face paint and flamboyant stage outfits, the group rose to prominence in the mid to late 1970s on the basis of their elaborate live performances, which featured fire breathing, blood spitting,...
, Megadeth
Megadeth
Megadeth is an American heavy metal band from Los Angeles, California which was formed in 1983 by guitarist/vocalist Dave Mustaine, bassist Dave Ellefson and guitarist Greg Handevidt, following Mustaine's expulsion from Metallica. The band has since released 13 studio albums, three live albums, two...
, Motörhead, Hatebreed
Hatebreed
- History :Hatebreed was formed in 1994 in Bridgeport, Waterbury and New Haven. They began by recording a three song demo and selling it to locals. Those three songs would eventually be released on a split seven inch with New York's Neglect in 1995...
, Dream Theater
Dream Theater
Dream Theater is an American progressive metal band formed in 1985 under the name Majesty by John Petrucci, John Myung, and Mike Portnoy while they attended Berklee College of Music in Massachusetts. They subsequently dropped out of their studies to further concentrate on the band that would...
, Faith No More
Faith No More
Faith No More is an American rock band from San Francisco, California, formed originally as Faith No Man in 1981 by bassist Billy Gould, keyboardist Wade Worthington, vocalist Michael Morris and drummer Mike Bordin. A year later when Worthington was replaced by keyboardist Roddy Bottum, and Mike...
, Faith or Fear, Voivod
Voivod (band)
Voivod are a Canadian heavy metal band from Jonquière, Quebec, Canada. Their musical style has changed several times since the band's origin in the early 1980s...
, Soundgarden
Soundgarden
Soundgarden is an American rock band formed in Seattle, Washington in 1984 by singer Chris Cornell, lead guitarist Kim Thayil, and bassist Hiro Yamamoto...
, Slayer
Slayer
Slayer is an American thrash metal band formed in Huntington Park, California, in 1981 by guitarists Jeff Hanneman and Kerry King. Slayer rose to fame with their 1986 release, Reign in Blood, and is credited as one of the "Big Four" thrash metal acts, along with Metallica, Megadeth and...
, Last Rites, Testament
Testament (band)
Testament is an American metal band from Berkeley, California, formed in 1983. They are often credited as one of the most popular bands of the 1980s thrash metal scene...
, L.A. Guns
L.A. Guns
L.A. Guns is the name of a hard rock group formed in Los Angeles, California, of which two rival incarnations currently exist due to numerous line-up changes. The first incarnation of the group was formed, by Tracii Guns, in 1983 but disbanded in 1985 following its merger with fellow Los Angeles...
, Murphy's Law
Murphy's Law (band)
Murphy's Law is an American hardcore band from New York City, New York, formed in 1982. While vocalist Jimmy Gestapo remains the only founding member of the band, the line-up has consisted of former members of bands such as Skinnerbox, Danzig, The Bouncing Souls, Mucky Pup, Dog Eat Dog, Hanoi...
, Sepultura
Sepultura
Sepultura is a Brazilian heavy metal band from Belo Horizonte, formed in 1984. The band was a major force in the death metal, thrash metal and ultimately groove metal realms during the late 1980s and early 1990s, with their later experiments melding nu metal, hardcore punk and industrial.Sepultura...
, Exodus
Exodus (band)
Exodus is an American thrash metal band formed in 1980 in Richmond, California. Spanning a career of over 30 years, Exodus has gone through numerous lineup changes, two extended hiatuses, and the deaths of two former band members. Guitarist Gary Holt remains the only constant member of the band,...
, Stryper
Stryper
Stryper is a Christian glam metal band from Orange County, California. The group's lineup consists of Michael Sweet , Oz Fox , Tim Gaines , and Robert Sweet...
, Playground, Powerhouse, Big Bad Wolf
Big Bad Wolf
The Big Bad Wolf is a term used to describe a fictional wolf who appears in several precautionary folkloric stories, including some of Aesop's Fables and Grimm's Fairy Tales.-Interpretations:...
, Saigon Kick
Saigon Kick
Saigon Kick was an American rock band from Miami, Florida that formed in 1988.-History:Saigon Kick was formed by lead vocalist Matt Kramer and guitarist Jason Bieler along with bassist Tom Defile, and drummer Phil Varone. They gained a following on the local club scene and generated enough of a...
, Trip, W.A.S.P.
W.A.S.P.
W.A.S.P. is an American heavy metal band formed in 1982. They emerged from the same Los Angeles scene that spawned Mötley Crüe, Ratt, Quiet Riot and others. The band's popularity peaked in the 1980s, yet they continue to record and tour, making them one of the most enduring of the West Coast heavy...
, Twisted Sister
Twisted Sister
Twisted Sister is an American heavy metal band from Long Island. Musically, the band implements elements of traditional heavy metal bands such as Iron Maiden and Judas Priest, along with a style that is similar to early glam metal bands...
, Ace Frehley
Ace Frehley
Paul Daniel "Ace" Frehley is an American musician best known as the lead guitarist of the rock band Kiss. He took on the persona of the "Spaceman" or "Space Ace" when the band adopted costumes and theatrics...
, Richie Scarlet, Zebra
Zebra (band)
Zebra is a hard rock band founded in 1975 in New Orleans, Louisiana. It features Randy Jackson , Felix Hanemann and Guy Gelso . Their mainstream debut on Atlantic Records was in 1983 with their eponymous album, highlighted by the singles "Tell Me What You Want" and "Who's Behind The Door"...
, and Rat Race Choir.Cities a local heavy metal band headlined and opened for many acts as (metallica,Anvil,Joe Perry Project,Anthrax and many more
L'Amour In Print: "Rock Capitol of Brooklyn"
Long-time L'amour DJ Alex Kayne has put the tales of his time at L'amour into print in a book entitled Rock Capitol of Brooklyn: The History of L'amour, the World's Most Famous Heavy Metal Nightclub. The photos for the book have been attributed to Frank White. The book is set to be released in the fall of 2012, and a FaceBook page named L'Amour Book has been set up for L'Amour patrons and bands to friend and send in photos and stories about their most memorable times at the venue for inclusion in a section of the book. L'AMOUR BOOK PRESS RELEASEDJ Alex Kayne
A name that is synonymous with L'amour, DJ Alex Kayne is considered the venue's most popular and influential DJ. Born and raised in Brooklyn, New York, he started out as a mobile DJ in the mid 70s. His club DJ career began at just 18 years old when he beat a multitude of other DJs, winning a borough-wide turntablist "Battle of the DJs" mixing contest at the Night Gallery Discothèque in Brooklyn. Word spread quickly and Kayne began DJ-ing in several local clubs. Over the years, he has worked at various clubs large and small in and around the New York City area. Kayne came to work at L'amour in 1979 and DJ'ed at L'Amour on and off until the venue closed in December 2009. He is the venue's original metal DJ, and its longest resident DJ. His raspy, booming voice and more importantly his unique brand of rock and metal spinning style gave the venue its unrivaled personality, directly contributing to the venue's worldwide fame. He is widely credited as the first club DJ in New York to spin Metallica, Biohazard, Y&T, The Rods, TNT, Queensryche, Anthrax, Megadeth, Manowar, White Lion, Helix, Talas, Motorhead, Metal Church, Tygers of Pan Tang, and Slayer among many others, breaking and expanding their notoriety on the east coast. His production company ROCKMACHINE CONCERTS presents original hard rock/heavy metal shows throughout the tri-state area. With a career spanning more than 30 years, DJ Alex Kayne is still actively working the New York club scene where he is highly regarded and respected as a legend among rock and heavy metal DJs.DJ Chuck Kaye
This local New York metal DJ from Staten IslandStaten Island
Staten Island is a borough of New York City, New York, United States, located in the southwest part of the city. Staten Island is separated from New Jersey by the Arthur Kill and the Kill Van Kull, and from the rest of New York by New York Bay...
was known as "The Roar of L'Amour". Kaye was the house DJ at L'Amour in the classic years of 1984 to 1988. Now the famed acting coach Jagger Kaye.