Disco Demolition

Welcome to the *DISCO DEMOLITION* edition of the BUSHING AROUND THE BEAT newsletter. The picture in the Banner above was taken on the infamous COMISKEY PARK DISCO DEMOLITION NIGHT which happened on July 12, 1979 and supposedly marked the death of disco. WLUP rock jock Steve Dahl devised a promotion scheme that invited each fan to bring one disco record in exchange for a discounted admission of .98$ (The station's position on the dial). The records were dumped into a large bin and placed in center field during the White Sox vs Tigers game intermission, and then blown to bits by some explosives placed underneath the records. The explosion tore a huge hole in the field and immediately afterward a near-riot ensued, with about 20,000 rabid spectators rushing the field with some folks literally stealing the bases. According to the media, this event marked the death of disco in North America. But did it really die? For the US at large, yes it did mark the public demise of disco but for underground clubs such as the Paradise Garage, the Music Box, and the Warehouse it was business as usual.

This week's feature is the Chicago acid house label, TRAX. What does the disco demolition in Comiskey park have to do with the TRAX label? Answer: everything! Let's just say if it weren't for this event we wouldn't have labels like TRAX, artists like LARRY HEARD, or clubs like the MUSIC BOX. Let me explain my theory - Steve Dahl's disco demolition lead to the de-popularization of disco music in the US at large, which ultimately forced it to go back underground and reinvent itself. One of disco's later incarnations was Acid House, pioneered by Chicago labels such as DJ International and TRAX Records.If disco had remained overground it wouldn't have picked up the dark textures of the underground scene, and house and acid house as we know it may have never been born. Not saying that disco totally sucked at that time but perhaps it just needed a good kick in the pants which is what it got on July 12, 1979. So thank you Steve Dahl for giving us acid house!