Talk:Crossroads

From WikiSCUM

I must tell you that Monday nights at the Crossroads were known as "Open Mike" nights and we had many many local people get up onstage and perform whether it was poetry, music or as one female did....set her hair on fire...no lie....I was there. I owned the Crossroads. And that is why "Open Mike" nights were stopped. Eventually Monday nights were changed and we also had Eddie Money play one Monday night a few weeks before he made it to Madison Square Garden under Bill Gramham's management. So few people showed up that I stopped the band around 11 pm and closed the bar. The next day they went to several local radio stations and did interviews so that Tuesday night was better. Eddie did make it back to Santa Cruz and played the Civic Auditorium! The Crossroads also sponsored Disco Duck nights along with 3rd Reef Productions and Disco dancing contests! Let's just say that the Crossroads was the best nightclub in Santa Cruz while it was open and unfortunately the City of Santa Cruz took away the music permit which turned out to be for "acoustic music" only. The prior owner had lied about having the "electric music permits" and everything in order. I found out the day I took the club over and knew the whole time I owned it that I was doomed. That is the real reason I was forced to stop having New Wave or for that matter any amplified music. The neighbors signed a noise complaint against the Crossroads and the city council of Santa Cruz changed my hours of operation and forbid amplified music. I fought it and had volume from the Crossroads and Highway 1 nearby tested by Santa Cruz Sound and was told that Highway 1 was louder. Still the City Council refused to give me an electric music permit and with my hours changed and no amplified music allowed I was forced to close down. On top of the the landlord used the situation to evict me as I had promised from the start to open a pizza place with music. Since there was another succesful restaurant nextdoor I did not open the pizza restaurant and focused on music. That is the true story! I also managed Bruce Springsteen in late 1968 and part of 1969 but after being approached by Columbia Records and having contracts drawn up, when I told Bruce he decided to quit the band. As I said back then, "I get all the blame and none of the fame". Of course he went up to Columbia Records and got a contract "on his own". If you buy Springsteen's book about his songs you will see him on page one Chapter one sitting on bed playing a Gold Les Paul. I had driven him up to Manny's Guitar Center in New York City and loaned him some extra money so that he could both a new guitar and amplifier. I lost money on Springsteen and all I can say is that I have zero respect for him. In fact I booked the "band" into the "Upstage" in Asbury Park, NJ and he refused to ever play there. Those of you familiar with the E Street Band may be surprised to hear that. I have done many things in my life and have yet to hear one story told that was actually the truth. Please get your facts straight before you print anything about me. Other performers at the Crossroads included John Lee Hooker, Ramblin Jack Elliot, Steve Marriot from Humble Pie, Robert Hunter lyricist for the Dead, Queen Ida, Gatemouth Brown, Son Seals, Albert Collins, The Fabulous Thunderbirds, Rober Cray, Clifton Chenier, Merle Saunders, Charlie Musslewhite, Nick Gravenites, George Thorogood, Leila and the Snakes, the Humans,and of course Neil Young in the band called "The Ducks", and many other bands. The Ducks were written up in Rolling Stone and I received an apology from Third Reef Productions for lying to Rolling Stone Magazine and not mentioning the Crossroads where the Ducks "started", they gave a bigger local club the credit. The summer of the Ducks was one of the best in Santa Cruz and let us not ever forget Moby Grape or "The Grape" or "Jerry Miller Band" as they were almost a house band and were the last band to ever play at the Crossroads. The most ever charged for admission was $3.00 It was a fantastic place to hear excellent music up close and personal. I have also put on concerts here in Hawaii over the years. It is my hope the stories of what happened eventually are known and the lies stopped. I was part of the "NewWave" scene and have the posters and paperwork to prove it. Including one from June 23 and June 24th 1978 with the Readymades, the Mutants, the Avengers, and the Dills for $3.00 It was called "Catch a New Wave". I also had the Sleepers..I tried to bring "New Wave" to Santa Cruz and yes they were loud and obnoxious with many of their friends underage and not allowed in the night club. But that was not the reason the Crossroads closed down.