Without a doubt, a venue can make a huge difference to a live gig, especially for classic rock artists. The dilemma these days is that with so many people clamoring to see the top rock and roll acts, the size of the venue is growing and becoming larger all the time.
Those can still be great shows; they allow for spectacular staging and special effects, but something is often lost along the way with the huge scale. Watching from afar, often via a large screen with a second or two delay on the sound, just doesn't cut it.
Smaller venues can be more lively, more atmospheric, and definitely more intimate. Sure, they can be a squeeze, sweaty, and noisy too, with boisterous audiences. But that adds to rather than detracts from the fun. The trend for many years has been to move towards larger venues, arenas, and the like.
As a result, many of the most iconic classic rock venues of the 1960s, 1970s, and 1980s have been lost. Closed, down, abandoned, and often demolished, it’s a sad tale of many memories buried with the bricks and dust.
12 iconic classic rock venues that bit the dust
Let’s look at 12 of the most iconic classic rock venues that many top bands and artists have played over the years. Were you lucky enough to be in the audience at any of these? Given that many of them closed down in the 1970s, that might be a stretch for some readers. Luckily, some others on the list survived a bit longer to give more of us a chance to have sampled them.
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Capitol Theatre, Passaic, NJ
This building had been an entertainment centre of various types for many years, but its peak was the rock concerts in the 1970s and 1980s. It was a key East Coast stop then for Pink Floyd, Genesis, Bruce Springsteen, and many others. With a 3,200 capacity, it was a decent size at the time and became a favored stop for many bands.
Those included many of the top names mentioned at other venues, but also more local New Jersey stars like Southside Johnny and the Asbury Jukes and Bruce Springsteen.
It opened for rock in 1971, setting the tone with a bill of the J. Geils Band and Humble Pie. A formidable lineup indeed at that time. The sound quality was also remarkably good, and the venue went on to be a notable source for many bootlegs over the years.
Like others, it was overtaken by bigger locations and closed as a venue. It too fell into disrepair before being demolished in 1991 and replaced by the Capitol Plaza shopping center.
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