Antenna Retrospective Mar 09

A Brief Journey Through A Hazy Recollection of The Glory Days of The Antenna Club in Memphis, TN. This retrospective begins as The Well, a beer soaked watering hole that featured cutting edge underground/punk music, located on 1588 Madison Avenue , eventually gave way to the Avant Garde stylings of The Antenna Club, a New Wave/Art Gallery/Video Club concept. Antenna was started by Jimmy Barker on weekends down on Front Street, later taking over The Well with financial partner Philip Stratton. It subsequently morphed into a video club in the old Well location at 1588 Madison Avenue, and later, after Stratton brought in Steve McGehee, made an indelible mark as one of the nation's pre-eminent new music venues. These shots are quasi chronological, with my best recollections from the 1980-86 era, and a mish-mash of some, but certainly not all of the great groups that may have called The Antenna home, those who just passed thru on their way to fame & riches, and all of the great people who came to support Live Music in Memphis, TN...our little slice of pop culture history. With thanks to Gigi Carson Williams, Jeff Golightly, & Chuck Spencer.

- John Barlett Palm Beach, FL

Category:

Music

Tags:

• Antenna
• Retrospective
• Mar
• 09

[blueskies123]

Stumbled in every weekend, 1983-86.  I'd like to go back again for just one night.

[johnnybhitter]

Come to the Antenna Reunion this weekend 8.14+15...about 25 Groups from back in the day for a two day jam! JB

[HeadNtheClouds]

I am from the old days of the early 80's.. Started going there 4 nights a week since summer of 1982, so many stories, so many bands!! Wish Steve or Mike would put up a website of pictures... They didn't really have cameras back then too much,, the only band I actually saw that had a photographer was REM, we were all looking at them, thinking they were narcs... Best time of my life, then I moved to CA where I got to see more punk bands in Long Beach! How do I get in touch with 80's people?

[johnnybhitter]

Go to FACEBOOK and search for ANTENNA REUNION...there is a great site with all of the old crowd and pix & posters, etc...JB

[KIMLWALKER]

This brought back some great memories. Bands I haven't thought of in years... The Modifiers, The Randy Band, Panther Burns Barking Dog, Calculated X.... man those were great times! But the best shot in the whole video has got to be the toilet!! LOL!!! Man that thing was nasty!! One glaring omission...the poo flinging G.G. Allin!!! (& a song from a Memphis band would have been better then Iggy Pop) Thanks for posting a great video.

[McCelesteUNO]

My my

hey hey

rock and roll is here to stay

LONG LIVE MEMPHIS MUSIC... and the folks who love it!

[tjelect7]

Thanks for bringing proof that the Ant existed to the clowns out here on the Central Coast in CA. They did not believe Memphis would have a "hole" like that. Cherish the memories. Thanks, Bro.

[shaunfossett]

I was never old enough to go to the Antenna. By the time I was, they'd shut it down :(

[laogong2007]

glory days! i sweated beer every night! thx for creating/posting

[artbango]

Bring back the 80's. Except the Mullet.