First Avenue
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History
Date Opened: April 3, 1970 (as The Depot)
Date Closed:
Owners
Steve McClellan, Jack Meyers, and Byron Frank.
Address
701 1st Ave., (1st ave & 7th st) Mpls., MN
(612) 332 1775
Staff
Background
Considered one of the pillars of the Twin Cities music scene.
Technically, the first gig ever played there was a two-night stand by Joe Cocker in 1970 while the venue was still "The Depot". After that, the space became Uncle Sam's, a disco, for several years and finally turned into First Avenue in the late 1970s. The 7th Street Entry opened in 1981.
Almost every band out of Minneapolis which has gone on to national recognition has played sets there.
Managerial infighting and financial difficulties caused the club to close it's doors in late autumn of 2004. Immediately, panic and grief set in with thousands of Minnesota music fans. Co-owner Steve McClellan reopened the club after a week, with the metal band Gwar rechristening the venue.
Related Web sites
First Avenue & 7th Street Entry Home Page
First Avenue & 7th Street Entry at the Minnesota Historical Society
Building history and photos by James Lileks on lileks.com
Source who owns First Ave.
Related Bands
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Categories: Venue | Stub
