Backstreet

I was blown away to read the posts here!!! When I was 18, I had an apartment near Holiday Park and would go to Backstreet almost every night!!! It was 1980. That is where I had my first date (Gary F., if you're still out there email me, I would love to catch up!), and later met my partner, where sadly, after 25 years we parted as just friends. Anyway...My gosh, I remember Art who was a sexy hairy buffed guy that worked as night guard in the front parking lot...great memories.... The music was THE BEST and will Never be replaced!! I am a native to Ft. Lauderdale, and have seen the changes in Wilton Manor, but NOTHING will ever replace the feel, look and attitude of Backstreet. You could talk to anyone, the bartenders were always happy and joking around, you could dance with anyone and almost anywhere. Several nights I was on top of the speakers on the sides of the stage. I think I lost at least a dozen shirts there - LOL!!! And the parties on the front balcony/west side...let just say it became very hazy...I remember seeing Grace Jones, Eartha Kitt and of course Mizzzz K (Belle) and SO many others. I remember when the pool area in the back was being built and how someone had discovered a "secret passage" to get there through the back fence. After many drinks a group of us climbed through, only to see our favorite bartender "having fun"...Ah, to be able to go back just for one night...hearing Tainted Love/ Right on Target/, seeing the crown trickle in below, watching from the inside balcony above, stepping outside to smoke, joking with the bartender upstairs, then having him wink as you try to focus on the stairs and hold your drink with a slight buzz and meeting your friends on the floor to start up the night.... What an Incredible place and time!!! The smell of Halston and Grey Flannel take me back there every time. Does anyone remember ShangriLa on 441 near Broward Blvd?? and then going to the Copa afterward? It's all coming back.....LOTs of stories.

I later moved to Atlanta (1982) and went to Backstreet Atlanta and the Armory. Both were fun, but neither had the relaxed southern charm and Great people like Backstreet Fort Lauderdale.

A Huge Thank You and Hugs to Everyone who has shared their memories. WE were and will always be a family!!!

Does anyone remember thename of the two Jai Alai guys that used to go on Friday and Saturday nights? I think they were friends with the manager

Yes, call me tomorrow Friday 11/17/11 (305) 962-1608

Thomas, I would love to have the collection. Do you still have it?

I have about (45) - 12" records from music back from the Backstreets days.
The list is below. If someone is interested let me know (they're free). You can
pick them up in North Miami.

Fancy Check It Out
Samantha Gilles Feel It
Phyllis Nelson I Like You
KajaGooGoo Too Shy
Rick Astley Never Gonna Give you up
Dhar Braxton Jump Back (Set Me Free)
Uptown (I know) I'm Losing You
X pose Point of No Return
Upfront Infatuation
Taffy I Love My Radio
Miami Sound Machine Dr. Beat
The System The Pleasure Seekers
Hazell Dean They Say It's Gonna Rain
Dianna Ross Eaten Alive
Joyce Sims Lifetime Love
Alisha Alisha
Brenda K Starr Pickin' up Pieces
Billy Crystal You Look Marvelous
Goon Squad Powerdrill
Trinere Trinere
Rock Master Scott and the Dyn 3 The Roof is on Fire
Trinere How Can We Be Wron
Nice & Wild Diamond Girl
Information Society Running
Aida Number One
Depeche Mode (Set Me Free) Remotivate Me
Sandee You're The One
Vicous Pink Cccan't You See
Jermaine Stewart We Don't Have To Take Our Clothes Off
Sequal It's Not Too Late
Lisa Lisa & Cult Jam Can You Feel The Beat
The Cover Girls Show Me
Kraftwerk Tour De France
Uptown I Know I'm Losing You
Shannon Stronger Together
Dead Or Alive My Heart Goes Bang
Expose Come Go With Me
Willie Colon Set Fire To Me
New Order Shellshock
E. G. Daily Say It, Say It
Vikki Love Stop Playing On Me
Pamala Stanley If Looks Could Kill
Tina B Honey To A Bee

I remember Backstreet VERY well. One Halloween, they were having a live broadcast with Studio 54 . WHAT A BLAST THAT WAS! In one of the photo's above it shows a bartender. His name is Thomas Schmidt. Remember him and Judy (she was my bartender). It was one of the best bars I have EVER been too. God what memories I made at that bar. Thanks to whoever created DiscoMusic.com.

Any thoughts about a Backstreet reunion? I think a local radio station did one in Miami a couple years ago. Not sure how it went. But I wonder if it's time to get the memories going again. Maybe at a place like Manor? You can see a few Backstreet elements in there.

Backstreet Ft Lauderdale was one of the greatest clubs ever. I still miss it after all these years. There was a bartendar there name Judy that worked the bar that was to the left of the DJ booth if you were standing right in front of it. A few years after it closed she moved to the Oakland Forest Club condo. Anyone know whatever happened to her?

Thanks for sending me notices that people are posting here, @ The Backstreet Ft. Lauderdale page. Very happy to read the recollections of so many that came to the most exciting night club Ft. Lauderdale has every seen. Besides the great dancers that came night after night, I also remember the bartenders, bar backs, bev. managers, door staff, off duty cops, lightmen & fellow DJs. It was the best of years, creatively and otherwise. The Copa, Ft Lau. showed the way with live disco acts & Backstreet upped the ante with a larger venue, huge stage, 2 floors high room with a 360 balconey & aggressive booking. Amazing. The drama before some shows was sometimes even more entertaining then the show. Vickie Sue Robinson, Sylvester with the Two Tons, Eartha Kitt jump to mind right away. Thanks again all who have posted & I look forward to seeing more.
-former Backstreet DJ, Mike Mayberry (still kicking it in Ft. La De Da)

I was 16 when I started going to Backstreet (not sure why everyone calls it Backstreet"s")....My parents and relatives would even come with me. Speaking of Belle.....I was in the rafters above the ceiling when Belle fell that night....the problem was her gown was to ruffled and would not allow the harness to lie flat enough for her leg to get into...she thought she would try to just hang on with her arms but the rope slippled through her arms. What a great place, so unique. The coolest thing about it to me was the inclusion of all different types of people...gay, straight, in between. A very progressive approach for the times. Still to this day I prefer clubs with a mixed approach. Bob Miro was amazing. I remember first walking in when the Backstreet outside area was not even open yet. The song that was playing was Tom Tom Club "Genius of Love". The formula of great music, alternating artists, mixture of demographics etc. still to this day has never been replicated. I accepted a job in Atlanta in the early 2000's because of Backstreet Atlanta still operating but it was nothing like Fort Lauderdale. BS Atlanta was run down and it felt like the owners (Vera brother and sister) were just milking profits from it and not reinvesting. But it did capture of the mixture of straight, gay and everything else that walked in "without" the eventual fights that the Fort Lauderdale had in the end. Amazing memories, everyone involved should be very proud of what they created. I have visited so many world class clubs and nothing compares.

I was 17 when I started going to Backstreets and I remember Belle Kincaid very well!!! Does anyone remember the night she fell when they were lowering her to the stage? She fell out of the harness. Sadly, she's no longer with us. I also remember seeing Billie Madley and Debbie Ohanian, Teddy Gunter and Danny Santiago, Richard Gray and Tonita(tall, fabulously fashionable and a REAL woman). Tonita looked and dressed like a drag queen and you couldn't tell the difference. Loved it when the Miami crowd would show up and dazzle us with their mysterious ways. We would start at the New Wave Lounge, then to Backstreets, then the Copa and lastly to SEDA in Miami until 10am and back to Lauderdale to the Diner on 84. We were so cool, coming out of SEDA with our sunglasses after dancing for 14 hours straight. MDA!!! Loved that whole scene. What a time that was! Confetti and disco balls and billowing smoke, not to mention the recreational drugs everywhere.

The best Sundays of my life were at tea dance. From the late 70's thru the 80's I NEVER missed one! Been to clubs worldwide and nothing could compare to Backstreet. The beautiful people, the greatest DJ's in the world and the best dance music, atmosphere, attitude, the whole 9 yards, Backstreet had it all. The guest artists made you scream with pleasure! I rode the mechanical bull and got thrown........... but the bartender in the bull room made it all better. Don't remember his name but what a beauty! And Mike Mayberry? Hey Mike, were you working at the Poop Deck @ the Marlin on July 4th. 1980? I used to make requests from you and you always managed to get them in for me. Thanks, Mike. I bought two tapes @ the Marlin the week after the 4th. which were recorded on the 4th. and I'm sure your name was on them. They're long gone but I still remember the songs. Love to all of you who made those years the happiest of my life! Alan

hey guys just found this and was reading flashbacks are a good thing(most of the time) when i moved to lauderdale i hung out at 825 and then switched to the copa that was back when copa was the place to be and gay skate i visit often and everything changed and was reading a posting from "chuck" the kelly you said died in NYC from the food was that kelly anderson that use to perform at the copa oh and if anyone remembers me "Gray " from nc feel free to get in touch piercingsbygray@ymail.com

Used to go there every saturday, best club in town,, Does anyone have music recordings live from the club?
Hard to find.THANKS
Dan

Mike Harris: I was near where you had your offices a couple days ago and I was thinking about you. I loved the sound so much at Backstreet, I bought BGW, EAW and JBL from you for the U of Miami Rathskeller. I stole so many audio and light ideas from Backstreet. The Rat is much smaller, but the same idea of a second floor overlooking a dance floor.

You sold me some great gear but it still paled in comparison to what you had built at Backstreet and Copa. Amazing sound. Standing in front of the EAW cabinets on the dance floor in the 1980s STILL makes my hairs stand up.

Look up Backstreet on Facebook. Many of us are meeting there again.

I loved Backstreet. I was 18 and straight but the mix of people was so cool and the music off the chain! Alas, the big club, gay or straight, is just gone. I was 15 first time @ the Marlin, 16 @ the Copa but BS was THE BEST! Had an energy none of the others had. Great music, debauchery if you wanted it, dancing on the speakers-21st birthday and fell flat on my a** on the dance floor (too mmany ludes and Champagne), but some "hand" extended down, pulled me up and kept on dancin." Every Weds and Sunday and many Sats too (great night for a girl to pick up guys-especially all those hot Latins from Miami). I remember Albert out at the pool bar. Such a great guy.
Ugh, now Wilton Manors is this gay mecca and has what? Georgies, Sidelines, Boom and that awful Manor and everyone stands around texting ("I'm 10 feet to your left"). Alas, wistful for those 80's.

Tainted love from SoftCell.Hit and run lover , Rocket to your heart, dancing the night away, Eartha Kitt, Ainit no mountainfrom boystown, ...man, can someone reopen this place? i am missing my eyeliner, my big hair, black shoulderpads and those leopard skin kneepants...dam, i was a pretty boy! LOL

Hi everyone
It was fun working at Backstreet, I was one of the 2 guys working at the front door checking ID’S Wednesday, Friday, and Saturday, it was a great experience, and lots of fun…………
Maybe someone can help me
I am trying to remember the artist, and title of some of the great music we loved back in our time at Backstreets like “Take me Tonight” “Chico Fernandez” amount many others.

Love
Rick, Ricky or Ricardo

The greatest place to dance ever! And you always went there first, before going to the Copa. I remember Belle Kincaid (is she still around?) paraphrasing the dialogue from the previous night's showing of "Dynasty" when Diann Caroll first appeared as Blake's long lost sister with Alexis!
And one night, they had this hot stripper on the dance floor, who got completely naked, but he covered his crotch up with a plastic bar cup! The spotlight stayed on him, and out of the hundreds of people around the dance floor watching him, he came to ME, and started flirting with me. And of course the spotlight was on both of us, literally. At the time I was slightly mortified at the attention. Now I look back and say, "What was I thinking?!" I definitely missed my chance! Would love to hear from other people who remember the good times there. Michael Miller, Glade Spring, Va
tenor_clarinet_1@hotmail.com

Does anyone know when Backstreet in Fort Lauderdale opened and when it closed? Backstreet Atlanta was open for 29 years. It was one of the best clubs in the south! In the late 80's it became a private club and could stay open 24 hours. The three levels were amazing and the floor above the dance floor was fun because of the lights going up and down each floor to the music. It was a great experience! Let me hear from you if you can give me more history of Fort Lauderdale Backstreet. Thanks a lot!

Hello from BOBBY ELLERBEE of HOT 105!

"We're gonna have a party, we're gonna have a party"

Remember that line from all the Backstreet commercials I did for our great Wednesday night parties at Backstreet? It was sung to the tune of the opening bars of Lime's "Babe We're Gonnna Love Tonight".

I hosted those great parties every Wednesday night from 1985 till 1987 and we had a BLAST! I've read every post on here and glad to see notes from my friends Bob Miro and Bob Rosenberg and SO MANY OTHERS!

I'm originally from Atlanta and started going to Backstreet there since my friends Joe Hernandez and Mendel Rohm first opened it in the early 70s, but I have to tell you...although it was great, it never held a candle to Backstreet in Ft. Lauderdale! I also have to say that it was one of the best clubs in the whole country!

The mix of people, the crowd size, the music, the atmosphere, the pool the bars...it was all really great. I have never seen a better looking group of people in my life. When south beach started to crank, it was all very pretentious but the Backstreet crowd always really had a good attitude and was ready to party, gay, straight, Latin or Angelo...just turn up the music and hand me another drink!

I remember Frank (the owner) and Barkley (the manager) and Belle (Miss Thing) Kincade well too.

Remember the Men's Best Buns Contests? I remember broadcasting live from there a few time and it was hard for me to do. I needed to hear Hot 105 on a radio to time the cut ins, but the walls were 2 feet thick and you could not get a radio signal in there. The building I believe was built during the civil war and that's why the walls were so thick.

God bless all of us that had the good fortune to party like few others in the world ever have and lived to tell about it!

Love to hear from you! tobeorellerbee@comcast.net

Looking at all the clubs listed I can't believe I was such a Disco Diva. I had some great times at Backstreets, my gay friends and I would head up for some great music and killer atmosphere.

Hey everyone, I posted a"Bacstreet" episode to my podcast, djBob Miro's Podcast BS#13 Let me know what you think!
Please click the link below to listen to it. http://djbobmiro.podOmatic.com/entry/2009-12-11T06_44_45-08_00

Small correction, I listened to Joy Division but I don't remember it ever being played there. Later on when they became New Order yes.

Wow, I can't believe this page exists. I was downloading some old club music and thought about Backstreets and looked it up. It did have the best music. I was one of the minors waiting until 2am to go in. I was 14. There was club 1235, Nepenthe, Playpen, City Limits... none like Backstreets. I got kicked out of almost all of them because of my age. Backstreets was the nicest. They just told me to wait a few hours. My brother Frankie and his friends would go in while I waited til 2. I remember Lime, Joy Division later New Order, and many more. I remember everyone singing Lime's "ohhhh babe we're going to love tonight" There was another version of that song too I'm sure many remember where the word love was substituted. I remember this guy Roger who was the guy who would always spoil the night with fights. Now I understand it was "roidrage" he was a body builder and a jerk. Mostly good memories and great music.

I cannot believe I found this forum. It dates back to 2006 and here we are 3 years later and it's still rolling. My cousin sent me a FB "80's in Miami's gift" and it got me reminiscing ..... Two things I didn't hear mentioned (I tried to read every post!) - the group TKA and was it just me or was the crowd constantly doing laps around the dance floor and dancing with the "sideliners"?
1235, Nepenthe, City Limits, etc...were all good clubs but Backstreets was out of control. Many "firsts" during my time there... I remember my friends being amazing dancers and I was the awkward one but I loved it.In my mind I was good...real good! lol These are just some of the names of people I remember, Gina R. and her brother James, Sylvia P, the crazy sisters that would leave their kids at home with their mom! and who can forget my first "player" boyfriend -- Julio Sanchez. Thank you for the memories people - you made my day =D
Sylvia

W.O.W. I FOUND THIS CYTE BCUZ AFTER ALL THESE YEARS I STILL LONG 4 THOSE LONG GONE DAYS.... THERE WILL NEVER BE A CLUB THAT WILL COME CLOSE TO BACKSTREET!!! I WAS A CUBAN MARIEL REFUGEE 16 OR 17Y/O ATTENDING MIAMI SR. HIGH @ THE TIME; USED TO DRIVE, HITCHIKE, WHATEVER IT'LL TAKE TO MAKE IT TO BACKSTREET ON A SATURDAY NIGHT!!!!I GET CHILLS JUST DRIVING BY THAT PLACE... I'D LOVE A REUNION!!!
EL GUAJIRO!!!BEATYFULL GIRLS, THE BEST MUSIC EVER!!!

The best place to party in the early - mid 80's. God bless all of you party animal that are still alive and kicking. I started going to BS at the tender age of 17 from S Miami to Ft Lauderdale - Broward Blvd East Exit on I 95. Used to arrive at midnight or after. USed to live when the lights were turned on. Best time in my life of party and #^%%#@!!. Man the girls were hot, and friendly.... Love you Backstreet, never e the same.... I remember peope jumping from the balcony on the second floor to the pool, it was crazy, you walked into Backstreet and you were in another place and time.

This was the best club ever! No other club comes this close, the music, the people, my favorite drink was Mutherf-cker Son of a b****...I remember all of my friends going there 84', 85'...etc We would drive in multiple cars from Miami to FTL....Henry (Colombiano), Billy, Eduardo,Carrollo, Pelo, Viquez, Mundito con el viejo Paco, Fred, Juan ROman, Guallo Escobar....the best looking girls at the time partied here, we would make bets of who picked up the most girls in one night.....The roof is on fire....

god i remember backstreet it was so much fun along with going to the marlin beach and a few other clubs like heaven which didnt last very long..i was and still am a dj in the detroit area and used to go to those clubs down there because they were so up on all the music..i still play some of the stuff from those days when i dj...funny how the younger crowd thinks these are newer songs.. and never heard them before.. i love djing and have been doing it since 1975.. and i will never stop until i cant do it anymore i still have some vinyl left but i copied most of my vinyl onto cds.. i just hit 60 this year.. the clubs now a days really suck compared to the clubs of the 70's and 80's i am so glad i got to live in and enjoy that era.. i will never ever forget all the fun i had all those years and all the djs who back then inspired me to get their music to play up here in michigan..i love all you guys so much!!!!

Jorge

I drank grren lizards from john the bartender upstairs between the two bathrooms i was there every wed , fri , sat, chuck

HI... by far the best night club by then. Sure before the South Beach develloping, and even till now if you asked me, THE FIRST TO MIX MUSIC; FUN; POOLSIDE; 3 MUSIC GROUPS AT A TIME IN DIFFERENT AREAS (indoor & outdoors); RADIO STATIONS LIVE; JAMMED PACK AND LINES TWO BLOCKS FULL; YOU DEFINITELY HAD TO HAVE YOUR CARD TO ASSURE YOUR ENTRANCE; LADIES NIGHT ON WEDNESDAYS; UNCOMPARABLE. Does anyone remember the famous "GREEN LIZARD SHOTS"?
BEST PARTYING TIMES OF MY LIVE. REMEMBER DANCING ON THE SPEAKERS SURROUNDED AND JAMMING AT ALL TIMES.
GREETINGS AND BEST WISHES FOR ALL THAT CROWD.
JORGE - PERU

Hi
Well Backstreet was the best night club in south Florida
I have to say that I’ve worked at backstreet in 1985 at the front door
The music was the best
I was only 18 years, am pretty shore there were many other clubs but to me this was the best

Chuck,

Sorry to hear about your sister. We need to catch up, You can e- mail me at gtirichard@att.net

rich



Whats up those where the fun days. hope everything is well did you here about kelly she passed away . she was living in nyc she ate some bad food and got ecoli. this was 2003 .

chuck

I met my wife in Backstreets. From the first time that I went to Backstreets, I knew there was no better club. I remember Lemon with his trademark hats, Bob playing the best music. I also remember the crazy Gringos Chuck and Kelly who were just the nicest people you could ever meet. My friends and I crashed at their apartment a few times. Does anyone remember a song with the Power drill? I have been trying to get it.

Thanks,

Rich

If you partied there in the beginning of the 80s, how the whole cocaine boom affected you? I mean cocaine cowboys, all the killings, availablity of this stuff...parents let you out during those years at all?:)
It would be meganice if you can spare your photos from this era. I'm junkie for that era:)

Thanks!

Wow. How fun to come across this site!! I went to Backstreets almost every weekend it seems in 84' & 85' mostly and some afterwards..So sad i couldn't make it to the final party in 88' (?). When i was 14 & 15 years old!! Catholic School girls during the day.. I remember we would save up our lunch money and stuff maybe 5 or 6 girls into a taxi since we weren't old enough to drive and were sneaking out or 'spending the nights' at a friends house. We were straight, but i had tons of gay guy friends and model (straight and gay) friends who went every weekend as well.
We had a membership card we would share. Whoever went in first would drop it back down to one from one of the upstairs balconies. Or we would do the lick the back of your hand and press against your friends hand. One of the policeman would actually get me in sometimes. He would warn us when they were going to raid the place. And i specifically remember him getting me in free on my 15th birthday. He'd tell me stories of vacations he took with his wife in their motorhome and was really nice. (Sounds terrible now, i realize).
I remember Frankie.. he was friends with the older sister of one of my classmates so i would get right up in front when he stripped and get to take of those boxing wraps. And Belle Kincaid called me Paloma Picasso due to my chin length dark brown bob i had back then. Over the microphone "Paloma Darling!!". We actually bought poppers for the head rush. Having no idea of their other uses.
And the drinks.. (remember we weren't driving & would usually share them) frozen orgasms, long island iced teas, kamakizes.
We also used to go to Miami for 1235, The Kitchen, Warsaw Ballroom...
I no longer live in Fort Lauderdale, but there still has never been a club like Backstreets. I went to the one in Atlanta in the early 90's but it couldn't compare!

I can shut my eyes and remember just about everything from my days at Backstreet.

Still being in high school and completely under age, I relied on my older brother to get me in every weekend. I can remember the good times with The Patrick Cowley Singers, Sylvester, The Weather Girls, Laura Branigan, The Flirts, Viola Wills, Mary Wilson, Claudja Barry and many many more.

Actually, I remember kissing a boy in the balcony when Donna Summer's unreleased version of 'Don't Cry for Me Argentina' came across the speakers. I was there! Oh the things you remember.

I also remember visiting Belle Kincaid in the hospital after the 'famous' drop from the ceiling, and we laughed for hours over that. Who couldn't love Belle and her 'champagne' cocktails served out back on the patio from the bartender, Albert on Sunday evenings.

But without a doubt, when you heard the beginning's of ABBA'a 'Visitor' back in '82, everyone ran for the dance floor, including myself.

That was fun, that was another time.

Thank you.

I was from the Backstreet Atlanta house. I was only there for 4-5 months, (1982) when I could go there, during assignment from Baltimore to Warner Robbins, GA. I had never been out of my state, and never been into my own city before I was sent down there. Boys on base took me to Backstreet and it blew my mind. I returned the next year, needing a fix of Backstreet. Then I went off to discover lots of other clubs, around the US and Europe. I got back to Atlanta, to Warner Robbins in 1989 and went back and it had lost it's familiar feeling. I was so disappointed. Like all of us, whoever created the environment at Backstreets was genius!

Hey, Mike Harris, thanks for the GOOD sound at Backstreet. Opening night we had lots of glitches but then it smoothed out incredible. The light system was rushed and never achieved what it should have evolved into. The expolsive (gun powder) bags we hung from the cieling used to scare the crap out of people. It was a good way to have people spill thier drinks as they jerked on the explosion and then go to the bar for a fresh cocktail. My light man Michael from San Francisco loved to make an extra large explosive bag to explode on a peak song and laughed his a** off as the explosion created a paniced reaction. Hey we got our yuks were we could.

Hi...we did the soundsystem for Backstreets...the original owner was Henry Vera from Boston.
I also did the Copa system with Jerry Cameron..now doing sound for the Angels...which had a much smaller dance floor & lower ceiling height.
My favorite component was the EAW BH880's we laid on the dancefloor...some big mofo bass cabinets, with EAW BH215's in the air.
Bob & Mike were really good at taking care of the system...tho i do remember the call i got asking how we did the special effect one New Years where smoke & flames came out of the upper speakers....the JBL K145's had caught fire !!

Hey Scotty Blackwell. It's me Mike Mayberry. Doing good. I see Bob Miro around town (Wilton Manors & Ft Lau.) every now and then and always say hi. Always thought about how you and your family were doing and would see your name every now and then in the music business. For the uninformed, I opened Backstreet, Ft. Lauderdale as primary DJ with Michael Tompkins as alternate. (The DJ from Backstreet, Atlanta came down for the opening as well). We were a smash hit from day one. Bob Miro came in a few months later from San Francisco and we then shared the busy nights. I got canned after winning David Magazine's DJ of the Year award for 1981 or 1982?. Bob and Scotty were super talented. Scotty was (and is) the most flawless mixer of music I ever heard. Scotty and I used to see each other in NYC after he moved up there. I remember a night at Backstreet, Ft Lau. where Scotty (still single) had a hot date that he climbed up to the roof DJ booth to be with and I proceeded to play every disco love song I could think of while he was "in flagrante", we laughed for days on that one. I remember Lime, my Disconet re-mix of the Weather Girls "It's Raining Men" with the Gene Kelly "I'm Sing In The Rain" slow intro, the Viola Wills test pressing of "If You Could Read My Mind" (they recalled the test pressing and I refused to return it because Backstreet loved it!) and a Donna Summer's unreleased track of "Don't Cry For Me Argentina" (Gergio Moroder produced) that nobody else had. I remember Backstreet getting Laura Brannigan in So. Florida first and a reunion gig with Sylvester and The Weather Girls (Two Tons of Fun). Backstreet's gay customers (it got straight as time went by) were loyal, loud, ready for new tracks and the best freestyle dancers I ever had the pleasure to entertain. Great reading the comments about the club that was certainly the highlight of my career as a DJ. You can search for me on facebook and as me to be your friend and would be happy to do that.

Chuck.........I'm sure it was a good club but with my schedule I never had much time. City Limits and the Candy Store were no mere bag of shells either though!

rob

you did not get backstreets if you only went there a couple of times. All those other places where OK at best compared to backstreets.

SIDENOTE;
Nothing at all against gays.........It was just fun to play back then. I hung out at THE COPA sometimes after work at CITY LIMITS. This one time though I was making out with this female bartender we just hired at LIMITS inside THE COPA and this gay bouncer comes up to me and taps me on the shoulder and says how would you like it if I came into your club and was making out with my BF? I said you'd probably get beat up but knock yourself out! Again in closing "NOT A GAY BASHER" Peace.........

JOEYGHOST.........You most definitely partied at CITY LIMITS after we closed up at THE CANDY STORE @ 2am LIMITS was open until 4am Copa until 5am Button South until 6am then back into town at ITB's or
B & W's(Paulie & Daniel) until whenever........You could drink 24 hours a day back then. What a freak show on the beach at 10am all hung over!

I actually went to BackStreets a couple of times. Anyone remember club MIRAGE out west on University and Studio 51 on Oakland Park. How bout CONFETTI on Commercial or Casey's Nickelodeon in Hallendale or how bout KOZ's on Federal, Summers, and the infamous MARLIN BEACH HOTEL next to THE CANDY STORE. When I worked the door at the CS I would send all the drunk idiots in there for a room(gay hotel)samething at CITY LIMITS if you were an A-HOLE I sent you to THE COPA. Thanks for letting me ramble.......Stay safe and god bless!

Hey I forgot a real important friend. Steve Innerfeld. He was the MC of all the wet t-shirt contest and bikini contest back when I bounced at THE CANDY STORE. Mind you I always had the pleasure of working all those contest with him. Man If I could write a book I'd be worth friggin millions today. The sh*t we did in the dressing room before the wet t-shirt contest with the girls was off the hook!I know I missed so many names of friends but you all know who you are and that the Rose-Man always kept you safe and had your back! Just want to shout out to the females also.........I loved every bone in your bodies! ESPECIALLY MINE!!!

Wow! All this 80's talk got me hungry to chime in. 87-91 was the thrill for me. I was a bouncer at The Candy Store for 2 years then onto City Limits for 3 more as the front door guy there Dave Frasier was the owner of Limits back then & Bobby Van was the owner of the CS back in the day and he was a really good guy to me. I lived in the hotel connected to the CS and had a different girl in the room every night. I thought life couldn't get any better as a young guy. JOEYGHOST would like to know your real identity??? I hung out with some DJ's from the CS. Little Ali was my boy and Ray who had a brother that DJ'd for Power 96. Good people! I miss guys like Big Bob, Johnny Hot Dog, Manny, Tommy(The Hit Man) Shook, Dancin Sam, Andy, Dominic(Cracked Engine), Mook, the list is endless! Listen, I will never forget the females I met and hung with at THE CANDY STORE and CITY LIMITS. I even married one from The Candy Store. What a friggin mistake that was! Shes long gone now but I'm living back in Ft.Lauderdale with a girl 20 years younger than me. Now that's the sh*t! I know I'm off topic a little but just wanted to share. Much love for all the Ft.Lauderdale cops I met along the way(Dave Lewis, Scott and Ira Israel and so on) and my cousin(Jeff Marano) who is still a Hollywood cop nd all my friends from City Limits and the great Hollywood Officers I met there in my stay. Mikey Saffrin, Kevin Companion, The Two Archies, Greg Saladino,Jeff May, the list of friends and officers is endless at both these World Famous Establishments. I love all you guys and gals. I hope you are all doing well. Look me up sometime as I am now a Corrections Officer for our Sunshine State! God bless you all!
yanksfan69@rocketmail.com
Rob(ROSIE)

OMG!!!! This was the best club ever. All my friends hung out there every weekend. After the Copa in Ft.L kind of faded out, this was the place to be on Friday and Saturday night. I loved dancing on the speakers. The people there were great. Even when it was so packed you could hardly move and you could get buzzed off the smell of poppers in the air, the place was incredible. I'll have to dig through some boxes of old pics and post a few.

Eve Electro - Take A Bite

Found it on youtube.

Good Memories of Backstreet, friday nights.
The DJ always played a song which I have not been able to find (Take, Take, Take a bite) can anyone help me find it.

@RICK:

So what was the Camerons' role at the Backstreet?
Owner front?...upper mgmt? Club ownership is a murky
undertaking.They were just the ones I saw walking the place & pointing fingers.

Rick, were you the bartender that worked the upstairs outside bar? If so, you were my favorite bartender. My friends Michael, Jamie and me used to sit and talk to you all the time.

does anyone remember john upstairs bartender serving green lizards.

Wow, reading all of this is so much fun. I was a bartender there for years, even lived with Barclay and Bob and Maria Miro. Backstreet was owned by Frank Cashman and a man named Henry Vara from Boston. Ken and Betsy Cameron didn't own even a brick in the place! Angelo the door man/bouncer passed away last November at 85. We were close friends, I miss him. It would be a blast to have a Backstreet reunion, but who would actually be there?

I loved this place! The DJ played my favorite song at closing all the time "Electric Dreams". Very good memories, sometimes I wish I could go back :(. Will find my pictures and upload them soon.

bob and bob

kelly's brother chuckie hope everything is well would love to chat miss the music all the time never missed a wed, fri, or sat at backstreets for years
chuckie

I am speechless... Backstreets changed my life. Every time I pass the building I get chills. It is amazing seeing how many people felt like I did.

I remember seeing Laura Branigan, Hazel Dean, Donna Summer, Claudja Barry, Sylvester, Uptown, Gloria Gaynor, Expose, Sequel (remember them?), Lime, and so many more... These memories fill me with so many emotions. It is so sad to see how pathetic So. Fla has become. Wow...

Man I loved this Nightclub back in 83-85. Spent many a Sat night there. Thanks for the memories. Will have to see if I can find my membership card.

Thanks for posting the picture of the Flirts, I remember coming down there with them, My ex - GF is on the left, The red hed Holly It was like an almost surprise semiengagment weekend for us! We never did get marrie3d but had a great time! Had a lot of Fun! I still have by Studio 54 at Backstreets t"shirts.
Any chance of getting a copy of the poster? I was basacally there manager at the time.

thanks
Bruce G former GM Of the Underground

After discovering Ft. Lauderdale's gay life in the early 80's and constantly vacationing here I stumbled across the Backstreets. I've never seen a club like this (and really haven't to this day). It was enough to help me decide where I wanted to move to (couldn't stand the New England winters anymore and wanted to eventually live in a warm gay place).

Unfortunately by the time I moved here, the club was gone. However I've watched a series of clubs come and go in this location. Since the mid 90's there have been occassional gay parties at the venue but nothing that matched the greatness of Backstreets. In the mid 90's they had a Sunday gay night in part of the complex but that didn't catch on. I believe they essentially reconfigured the large dance floor into 2 parts and made 2 clubs out of it.

A few years ago a local promoter had a wondeful White Party event Labor Day weekend. They opened up almost all of the clubs where the former Backstreets was. It was the closest experience I've had in this venue to match the good old days. At least 3 clubs plus the outside area (now a club on its own) were open for business and the place was packed!

The promoter has had some subsequent paties (even trying a gay Friday night party called Berlin held in one of the clubs -Revolution) but it didn't catch on. I believe that parking and mixing with the Hip Hop crowd in downtown Ft. Lauderdale didn't encourage many gay people to attend especially the ones old enough to remember Backstreets.

The South Florida nightlife (SOBE and Ft. Lauderdale) is currently horrible as all the big gay clubs are gone. I long for the days of the mega club events to come back but in this economy I won't hold my breath.

I so agree w/ Jules comment about now feeling old (w/ a boring life now)! Oh the bliss of being young, carefree at backstreets at 4am !!
Listening to 'circus disco' cd here on a Sat. night at home hearing 'babe were going love tonight'.... closing my eyes, recalling the place, and very much wishing that it was a sat. night exactly 22 years ago! Imagine 1986 again...

Oh well. This site is wonderful to recall all the splended parts of the disco. Apparently circus disco in LA was playing many of same songs that were spun at bst. There is a cd 'circus disco 25 anniver.' to get the bst. sound. Remember Mandolay song?

Anymore photos on this site would be FAB!

First Gay club experience. Used to go with Chai early enough to get in before they checked ID. Belle Kincaid, the music, the shows, the pool. Even worked there for a short time and sold memberships. Very straight latin crowd on Saturdays and gay Sundays. Still good friends with Chai who worked the door. I forwarded him this site.

Wow Backstreet sounds like a great club! What's available in FLL now that plays 70's and 80's music? We have a large crowd of fun partiers that are looking for a club we could frequent and party to the classic sounds!

Please provide us with options!

BACKSTREET...amazing! Much to the annoyance of the core gay crowd that made the place-BACKSTREET became a de-facto melting pot of cultures.Miro had this thing where about 2a.m.-after everyone was sufficiently liquored up-he would shout into the mic:"WELCOME TO BACKSTREET! YOU ARE NOW STANDING INSIDE THE WORLDS LARGEST GAAAAAY BAAAAAR!!!" This would be met by loud cheering...and a few looks of shock & surprise by newbies.He would usually then drop the needle on LIME:BABE WE'RE GONNA LOVE TONITE...or MIQUEL BROWN:SO MANY MEN...SO LITTLE TIME.
Michael Loebs was Bob's light man & VJ.His favorite line when he knew he & Bob had the crowd by the soul was :"YEAH!...YO' MAMA!!!" You would see lots of trends at that club that paved the way for the acceptance of gay culture.You don't see it so much these days...because gay culture is no longer a "sub-culture".It is a MAINSTREAM ELEMENT of life in large cities.That being said-those trends were:

* Straight women would go to gay clubs to get away from the crush of horndog straight men.Those men would then of course follow them to the club.This is also how South Beach blew up.

* "Curious" men would go with their girls in "kill two birds with one stone" mode.

* Latin men "ON THE DOWN LOW" would come up from Dade County to satisfy that element of their double life.You could always pick them out in the crowd.They were the belligerent macho acting ones who had to punch the power bottom they were later going to make out with.Had to let him know who was boss. ;^D

* Gay men of all colors & backgrounds would come from the four corners of the Earth to be who they really were.

I remember the owners being an affluent married couple...Ken & Betsy Cameron.I think both were attorneys.Ken could drink like a fish.Betsy was a Hillary Clintonish power babe.I remember the "Gay Dude Ranch" murals in the area where the mechanical bull was.Also the mall like area with the pool & hot tub out back.Mostly I just remember Scotty Blackwell and Bob Miro rippin' it up night after night.Thanx guys.

I can't believe I found this thread about Backstreets! Absolutely the best club EVER! I remember every artist and every song mentioned above. Whatever happened to wonderful music like that? I spent many, many nights at Backstreets dancing for hours on end on top of the huge speakers1 No wonder I was so skinny back then. I actually met my husband there (didn't last though, imagine that). I haven't lived in So. Florida for a long time. Miss it. Reading this made me feel like I'm old and boring now : (

I remember Backstreets circa 1983-84. The club had a very mixed crowd, but was tipping from gay to straight. There were problems arising from the fact that the straight people were sometimes very belligerent to the gay clientele. By the time 1985 rolled around, the makeup of the club was about 75% straight to 25% gay. Most gay people stopped coming and it wasn't long before the it closed. Things were different back then. The generation coming up now seems to be alot more open minded about sexual orientation, race, etc. Times change and people change, but our generation paved the way.

Amazing memories. I just had an 80's party last night and was trying to remember the name of this club that I frequented back then. The carousel was so memorable..I actually thought the club was called "Carousel". Backstreet...yes...that was the coolest club ever! At my young and tender age (16 or so...fake i.d....it was a simpler time) it was really my first :-)

We were all about the music and the DANCE, DANCE, DANCE. Yea, Rupaul. My first drag :-)

Oh, one other thing.About the last time I went to BS.Likely early 1987.I was burning a J in my car parked s. w. of the club across the street.And I see either a security guard or cop chasing a guy.And the guy turns around and pops off several shots.The cop falls down,then realizes he ain't hit.gets up and keeps looking for the shooter.Who ducks behind the hedge and changes clothes.And later when a bunch of cops arrive.He's blended in with the spectators,watching the cops.After that I saw many more shootings in south Fl.What a show heh heh never went back.

Interesting place.I had a few gay friends that were into the party scene(not gay)Went from '83-'85.Lee & Chi at the door.Although into dance music,not into disco per se.But it was the first place I heard Blue Monday (NO) when it was f-ing new!!Saw Ron Woods there,steve martin,sylvester,Burt Reynolds etc. noone bothered them and they mingled.I went for the latin babes (anglo) and did very well.Hi suzy&Vivi!!Lots of hot latinas.Most of the music wasn't my taste,But the women were top notch.didn't see many fights then.went couple x's '87 and yes more fights.By that time my tastes changed to Fire & Ice,more my style,and music taste.My gay friends started to call it Backstraights.heh heh.Did see sisters of mercy and ministry there in 2006.Ah the eighties legal XTC good times,good times

I miss Backstreets. Wow, reading all of these memories is a great trip back in time for me. I loved watching Belle Kincaid do Dynasty. I loved the music and the amazing energy in the place. I feel so lucky to have been there for it.

I was a "mojona" back then all of 16 and my boyfriend Bernie was 18. He would get in first, get stamped with the invisible ink and then come back out to the parking lot. I'd lick the back of my hand press it together with his..and in we'd go until 5 a.m. The excitment of driving all the way up from Miami and the possibility of not getting in...I can still feel the high! Now I'm a Mom of a 16-yr old and her curfew is 11:00 PM. How times of changed!
Marilyn

Christ I miss this place, Was the best ever club. The music, Bobby O, TAPPS, Lime and more. I used to drive up from Miami beach with the boys then with my gorlfriend who became my wife. I will never forget the music, the energy and the good times. Was really a well sorted mixed crowd. I used to love to ride the bull on the left. I would tip the guy a buck, most times I stayed on the wholes time. Would draw a crowd of guys, man, white shoes, blue pants, polo shirts, wish I could go back in time. 81 to 84. Will never forget.

What a great flashback... thanks to all who posted earlier. Reliving the early 80's, and yes Bob Miro best spinner - bar none! I dj'd parties and every dollar I made was spent according to Bob's play list. I would try to write down names of songs or phrases on napkins and then go back down to Hialeah and buy the vinyl from the record store at the Palm Springs shopping center next to Richard's and Woolworth...taking you back huh? I remember the Puerto Rican Princess "...pa ya aire de lluvia..." and the bar tender on the first floor north bar (think he was pictured above), who would offer 'his newest concoction'. HUGE Lemon the bouncer. Best times, I can remember... Recently went to a show near there and remember the train tracks! Heard of the fights, and yes the bouncers had no problem "helping" a$$holes outside. I MISS BACKSTREET.
BOB MIRO, happy to read you're still around. Are you still spinning?

Oh I remember Backstreets very well, what a great club. Bob Miro was a fantastic d.j. and played all the best dance music. He used to come into my music store "Fast Trax" from time to time.

This thread brought me many great memrories. I worked the back bar behing the stairs from opening night till June of 1984.

It was a great place to work and party! I live in Arizona now, but would love to hear from people I knew back in the day.

wayneroot@cox.net

OMG life goes on.. wot an amazing memory, Backstreets.

The incredible Bob Miro. The acts sunday nights! pocahontas) the pool. belle Goodness...great great times. life is good

That's it!!! I need a Backstreet CD so I can download into my ipod.

Nepenthe was also a great place. The Nepenthe Special, by far the coolest drink I've ever had.

Thanks BOB,I did find somebody on google selling the record.
Can't find the cd though.If someone has the song on cd for sale please contact me at jfm19@netzero.net .

Thanks Again!!!!





'





'

Well it's time for me to jump in !!! Just to set the record straight the song I played is called "Take a Bite" by an artist named Eve Electro, Belle Kincaid passed years ago.

Hey Beni,thanks for the response. I don't think it's Marlena Shaw,I checked her out on Amazon and she seems purely R&B.I did an artist search on Limewire and no "Take A Bite".I don't know if that's even the real name of the song.I'm still hoping someone can come uop with something.

Bille Kincaid. I remember her. She also use to entertain at the Copa. I heard she passed away many years ago. I think the artist for "Take a Bite" is Marlena Shaw. That was a good tune.

i was just going through a old box of mine and found flyers promoting backstreet! i have alot with so many cool artists like debbie deb and lime! and more! wheres belle kincaid, that drag queen who did dynasty!? this was our studio 54! it was the time of my life~!!!! we need to bring it back!

I loooove that song used to hear it all the time at Nepenthe!!!!

OMG I can't beleive there are others still talking about Backstreets. That was the greatest club ever.Hey Bob I saw you there plenty of times.I found this site because some friends and I are looking for any info on a song we remember from Backstreets.The lyrics I remember are "take,take take, a bite". I would like to go to a reunion.

A Backstreet reunion party would be awesome!!! but not at 94th aero squadron, it would have to be at revolution of course. A freestyle event would work. Many freestyle artists tour extensively (i.e. lime, debbie deb, etc) though not per se backstreet music but pre-freestyle was starting to play at backstreet just prior closing, correct?

I am going to say that Backstreet IS the best club ever. As a Hot Mixer for Hot 105 and performer for Will to Power, no place comes close to the fun and audience response that I got there.

The first place I brought the Acetate of Dreamin' was to Backstreet. Bob Miro put it on and the crowd was already singing to the second chorus.

We played every club in NY and although there were some nice ones like Paladium and 1018, nothing came close to the "Energy" that was felt in Backstreet. It had the warmth and familiar feeling of a local bar yet it was huge, the DJs were fantastic and there were so many sections you never got bored. NY is mostly hype.

Bob Miro was like a "Big Brother" to all the male and female patrons. He was never stuck up and he read that crowd like a book.

Will to Power did a show there while it was Chili Peppers but went by a different name on Sundays which was a Gay crowd. I forgot the name, Thunder or something.

As always we did an early and a late show. The Police busted the club between the 1st and 2nd show for serving minors and when we returned for the second show, they were closing.

We had to get our equipment. I tried to go in through the pool entrance and a bouncer stopped me and would not let me in. I told him I was with Will to Power and he told me to "leave the property now!"

He called the manager on his walkie talkie and gave me dirty looks for 10 minutes until the manager got out there. He told the manager "This dude is claiming he is supposedly in Will to Power". The manager confirmed I was and everything turned out ok except we did not get paid for a second show.

Hey Rigo (305Disco)! Why don't you put together a "Backstreet Reunion"? That would be hot except don't host in at 94th Aero Squadron.

Hey 305, thanks for the pic. Wow what a difference!! Though I still prefer the old backstreets, I mean it had a pool and jacuzzi and a riding bull!! FYI all, I know this is off topic but there is a 10yr renunion party at what used to be Amnesia on South Beach on July 16th with DJ David Knapp. I doubt its a foam party but it would be great if it where.

They did an amazing job remodeling the old Backstreets,it is now an events venue,not really a club,they host concert events there more then anything.

See for yourselves.

http://www.jointherevolution.net/catering/index.htmlt

Hey Ya'll have many many fond memories of backstreets and the Copa.. hey does anyone remember "patty cakes" and "kelly anderson".... I wish I knew what became of them..and a bartender at the copa..he worked the upper bar..his name was joel..

That's right, but there are plenty of Gay Clubs near-by!!

Thanks for the update, Vynil... next time I'm in FLL I'll definitely stop in. Gather its not gay anymore...not without disco! Ciao

Frank, it's not closed!! The place remains a club, just not the famous BACKSTREET. I think there is a live house band, and dining. No more DISCO!

I did Backstreet a handfull of times when visiting from NYC. It was a great place really loved the set up, had that whole "southern belle/Charleston" look and,I thought, was attitude-free. I didn't catch any fights either, but I wasn't there often. When did it close? Any idea what's there now? The matches say: 200 W Broward Blvd. Peace.

I didn't get better...Backstreet was the place to be!!!! Viola Wills and Hazell Dean...And who could forget Belle Kincaid! Does anyone remember Belle Kincaid's Dynasty routine? Crystal after a few lines...Claudia in a state of depression and of course Steven. I still laugh about it 23 years later. I loved Belle...the world became a little more somber when she left us.

Did you know that RuPaul actually was a high school basketball star? She always had a thing for BALLS!! She loved to play with them. As for that big speaker you were talking about, it was actually a regular horn and bass bin, but was exaggerated for the purpose of letting people dance on it.

How about danceing on the big a** speaker!And how about Roopaul.One big shemale

While BACKSTREETS was a pretty incredible place, it was THE COPA that made the Fort Lauderdale area DANCE. Every other club was trying to get whatever The Copa had. The problem was that BACKSTREETS didn't have the deejay longevity of Bill Kelly. It did have Scott Blackwell for a while, but that was for a short period of time only. This is a good comparison though.

Hi guys, well I do agree that the club seen was great at Backstreets but you have to admit that The Copa had a better sound system. I remember standing right in front of the DJ and looking over the dance floor and you can almost visually hear the music moving from one end of the dance floor to the other. The crowd dancing to Bill Kelly's great mixing. That to me was the place to be!

Point Taken. You are right. On a Wednesday night this was the best place in town. everyone got that. There were some Clubs in New York that had FANTASTIC Wednesday nights though!

Hey vynil,
Did you read the first line of my post?
Been to every club you mentioned. All were fantastic in the day. I don't remember any of them packing the crowds on a Wendsday nite like Backstreets did. No disrespect to NYC. I'm from City Island orig.
Peace

You definitely needed to get out more. The Copa had better music. Many clubs had better lights and sounds, a quick example. BIG DADDY'S in North Miami on 163rd street. Finer women, should have gone to CASANOVAS or 1235. Better gay clubs, two or three on the beach, easily. Ambiance,1235,CLUB MYSTIQUE to name two. DeeJays,now there BACKSTREETS was tough. But still, CASANOVAS had TWO great deejays. So to call BACKSTREETS the "greatest club ever...hands down" is both foolish, and a lie. Ever been to New York City?? There were hundreds of better clubs there!

There was no other club to be on a Wendsday nite in the mid to late 80s. The nite started at the strip but always ended up back dancing to those incredible mixes that building pushed out for hours after hours. I can still remember the build up while waiting in line to get in....That was the greatest club ever...Hands Down!

I saw Laura Brannigan perform GLORIA there, while Scott Blackwell was there. An excellent club, as everone before me can attest to. A very strong 10 on my scale.

Paul & Diana
If you guys want to email me an address where I can send you a CD each, It'll have "I'm losing You" on it! BobMiroBackstreet@gmail.com

Bob and Diana,

Let me know where I can download "I know I'm Losing You" by Uptown. It used to be on the Oak Lawn Record label out of Dallas

Diana, It's the Uptown verision I used to play, I have many CD's recorded live with that song, if you can't find the download.
dj Bob Miro
Backstreet

Thanks Kam, Thanks Mair, the one by Uptown is the version I'm looking for. By any chance do you know from what site it might be available for purchase via download? Thanks!!!

I belive it was remade after the Temptations by a girl group called "Uptown"....

I remember dancing to that at Backstreet,awesome jam...

Hey Diana!

Are you talking about the Temptations, "I'm Losing You"

http://www.justsomelyrics.com/610185/Temptations-I'm-Losing-You-Lyrics

Does anyone remember the name to a song that went like this? "I can feel the presence of another women, its all over you face, someone's taking my place, ooh babe, I'm losing you". If anyone can tell me the name of the song and who sung it, I would be grateful. Thanks in advance!!!

Wish I had every dime I ever spent in this location on drinks and recreation. Spent many a happy times there from 1982-1986. Mostly Sunday "Tea Dance". When I hear the music and shut my eyes, feels like only yesterday. The thing I remember the most was the tolerance. Everyone was accepting of differences, Gay, Straight, Black, White, etc, just didn't matter. Even within the gay community, so many 'branches' of the family tree, it was a place everyone could enjoy the party. Feels like that's been lost. Society seems so segmented these days, it's a loss. If we do go to heaven and we get to create our own versions, I know mine is gonna have a Backstreets in it. :)

Its great to hear from so many who had the privilege of calling Backstreet home. Remember the killer Rum Runners from the outside bar. Or the greatest bartender Bernie, who always had a waiting drink for me. Hearing the songs "The Dominatrix sleps tonite" or "The Mexican". Backstreet was my home from Wed thru Saturday. The only club I would drive from Miami to Ft. Lauderdale to and it was worth every mile. I still remember the saloon bar, the riding bull that became the piano room, the pool, the jacuzi, the outside stage, the gym and so on. My club membership and how I skipped the line that wound around the block. Good times, that I cherish to this day. I partied during Sobe hayday and it still doesn't compare to Backstreet back in the day. Before the fights started, all got along, gay, straight, black, white, hispanic, it was the most divsersified club of its time. None has come close to its glory.

The best Club south of Club Studio 54 no club can ever get close to that.I make the drive from Hialeah every saterday. I started going there before the pool patio was open 1980 to 1983 was my place to Party and meet grils most gays new me and never had a problem. Hialeah ,Carol City ,West Chester,and Northmiami all went to have fun, the fight's started after people sall we were having fun and destroyed the Best Club Ever But nothing last for ever.Best Memory's

Bob Miro was fantastic mainly in his ability to read the crowd. That is why people from Dade County even took the drive to Backstreet. I did many DJ appearences with Hot 105 (Wednesday nights with Bobby Ellerbee) and also used turntables in Will to Power show.

This pic is from 85-86. I have my turntables on stage (in front of DJ booth). The kid on stage watching is DJ Laz.

I spent many a night at Backstreet. I was listening to a Bob Miro mix today as a matter of fact. It was Easter time and Debbie Jacobs was performing. Bob did the mix of her medley. She said it was a killa. I was there that night. I am friends with Debbie so when I turned 30 my friends Steve and Sue ratted me out and Debbie sang Happy Birtday to me on the Stage at Backstreet. Later that year, Debbie performed at Uno in Miami for New Year's eve and would be at backstreet the next night. Went to Bob Miro's house and laughed as he told of Belle Kincaid falling from the ceiling on New Year's eve. The only one I missed! Maybe some time...we can do it all again!

Backstreet was a great club. I remember hearing Kraftwerk's Number as I waited to get in. The music was always fresh and you can hear it from the outside. You can see everyone from the second floor looking down having the best time. The size of the club and energy was wonderful. I spent Halloween 1981 there. It was the perfect place to see the largest and most spectacular customs. The place reminded me of Moulin Rouge. Everything was happening at the same time.

Wow Bob Rosenberg!My best friend and I loved you & Suzie Carr back then,your music was amazing and we still listen to it today!I used to work at Publix on sheridan street back then and waited on your mom many times and she would always brag about you!Coming out with something new soon?

I had my best times at Backstreet both with Hot 105 appearences and perforning as Will to Power. It is actually Backstreet where I first took my acetate of Dreamin'. Bob Miro was loved by everybody.

Wow so cool to hear from all you Backstreet people!!!My friend Carlota and I used to steal her father's van while he slept so we could go to the club!We were in high school(Hollywood Hills)I have no idea how we got in all the time!I remember seeing Secret Society,Nocera,Taylor Dayne,Bonnie Pointer,and the guy who sang "Boom Boom Boom lets go back to my room!!Those were the greatest times!!!I still love the clubs today,but it's not even close to how it used to be!!!

Wow! What great memories. Backstreets was the best. I can remember the Jai Alai guys Freddy and Pete were always there on Fridays and Saturdays having a good old time. Does any body know them or if they are still around.

This was my favorite of all time Discos. I went around 1981/82. It was still pretty Gay the best music and the best vibe. I don't remember any fighting. I remember guys dancing with huge fans or with a snake wrapped around them or playing castanets. I remember the men in chaps riding the mechanical horse in the room to the left of the entrance . I remember smelling amylnitrate in the air. I remember a lesbian girl grabbing my a** while I was dancing with my future husband. I saw Claudja Berry and will always regret not seeing Sylvester. I remember guys diving into the pool naked. There was a rumor that a guy in the parking lot would give you $5.00 if you let him suck your feet. I was straight out of highschool and this place made quite an impression on me.

Does anyone know if the building is still there? My daughter goes to concerts at The Revolution and I'm wondering if that's the same building.

Great place, great times!

Frankie the stripper was my favorite too!!

Henry, nice hearing from fellow Dade commuters ending up at Backstreets...I totally agree with you that Backstreets was head and shoulders above the rest..but lets not forget that in the 80's, there was no shortage of great places to go Nightclubbing in Dade and Broward County...Also, I understand that Backstreets was not that shortlived, it was happening as an predominantly Gay Club long before we Heteros infiltrated in the mid to late '80's. When I first was introduced to Backstreets it was already mixed...my wife remembers going in '82 before we met and she remembers it predominantly gay....but ALWAYS the music was it!!! Best song memories.. Color my Love - Fun Fun, White Horse - Laid Back, My Forbidden Lover - Tapps, When Doves Cry - Prince...too many to list! Great Hi Nrg, Italo Music, Disco and later Freestyle...Early Freestyle was great - The Mexican - Jellybean, I Want it to Be Real - John Rocca...Divine, Bobby O, it goes on and on....

Thanks to all for sharing the memories. Me being the nostalgic type at my current age, these posts bring back incredibly wonderful memories. Some of them of things that I would now not want my own kids to do! Like getting drunk on the drive from Hialeah (yes I was one of those Cubans that made the drive up 95 to enjoy the ONLY dance club worth going to back then) so we only had to buy a couple of drinks (we was poe!); I�d sip a couple of Long Island Ice-Teas the rest of the night, having gotten thoroughly buzzed on the drive up. Then head to Denny�s at 4 am when we had our fill of the music, the women (for a �gay� club, there was no shortage of beautiful and approachable women) and dancing. Then home to sleep most of Sunday. And then work all week with the anticipation of the next Saturday at Backstreets! It was the first night club I experienced where everybody danced with anybody. You could even dance by yourself and it was cool. I don�t remember all the fights mentioned by some previous posters; not denying that there tensions or fights, but I remember it as a place where most got along. There wasn�t all of the posing that went on at other discos, where you had all the macho boys hanging by the bar waiting for you to look at them the wrong way to get into a fight. As I recall, if you were on the first floor by the dance floor it mostly meant you wanted to dance; and most danced the night away. And yes, I also recall the �Burn the MF Down� chant. I clearly remember one night arriving late, and as I was walking from the parking lot to the entrance the chant of Burn the MF down could be heard clearly and loudly outside! What a place, and what a moment in our lives. It was short-lived, reflecting back on it now. As with most great things in life, they last but for a relatively brief moment. Eventually other clubs emerged and South Beach was reborn. I eventually moved on to clubs like Fire and Ice and the Kitchen; and then I just got old.

Wow, this is a great site, and thanks everyone for sharing the memories. just to be back there once again....

somone above was very right-on saying that seems everyone just could easily get caught up in the music. time flew there. no pretenses like s.beach bars.

Recalling backstreets, another thing that stands out in my mind are the hottie male strippers on (some) friday nights! dare to remember Frankie...I was 18 yrs old... he was my first 'crush'....Frankie.. the amazing puerto rican hottie!
remember, they legally let us kids in after 2am!

I have a surprise for everyone reading this.... want to really bring back the memories? get these 2 cds! Exactly the Backstreet music from 87-89!
My favorite was 'wake up' --you'll know it once you hear it... and the hits by LIME.
1. circus disco
2. freestyle's greatest hits
both are avail at cduniverse.com

pleae email me if you have photos of backstreet, club 1235, or casanovas
taken before 1990.

Hey Scott, I'm doing well and it sounds like you're a survivor also. Send me your email address or phone # at bobmirobackstreet@gmail.com and we'll catch up. Keep them dancing !!!

Hi Bob,

How are you doing. You did s great job at Backstreet. Remember the dj vs dj session in basement at Tory's? I would love to catch up. Hope all is well with you and yours. I am still spinning. I have had a fri and sat residency here in LA @ Padri for the past three years. I am a low voltage contractor during the week. I would love to connect with Michael too. Hope to hear from you soon.

Yes Scott, I know were Mike Mayberry is !

So you we're the culprit behind the Laid Back tricks!! Fun stuff, I know you had a lot of tricks up your sleeve to raise the vibe of the crowd! Would love to hear some of our hilights,

Marco

I was wasted most of the time...but the music and energy reverberated deep inside and both you and Bob knew how to work a crowd...Excellent programming, well thought out sets....superb mixing and welcomed surprises throughout the night! What I'd give for one more night dancing until the wee hours when the tempo went to sleeze and driving music....at the time we'd chase the sun to make it home before the sun came up over Dade County...Scotty do you still spin as a hobby? It seems all of the vinyl is just about gone in Ft. Lauderdale....except for the Punk stuff at Uncle Sam's....Thanks for the good times and unforgettable memories!

DJ Bob Miro was a great DJ, But Scotty Blackwell the DJ prior to DJ Miro, was the absolute best! Scotty's partnered with God now and is doing the best of the best in music production. Too many stories to tell about Backstreets, and definitly one of the best Dance clubs EVER!

I remember going to Backstreets on my spring break and deciding that my life would never be the same after that. There was such a sense of celebration and harmony. My highlights were;

Hearing Mike Mayberry (sweet, generous, talented) play "It Feels Like I'm in Love", "The Visitors", "Ain't no Mountain High Enough (Boystown Gang).

Gazing at that hunky bartender, Dwight...Grrrr.

My first dose of MDA.

Belle Knincaid (RIP)

and Angelo the bouncer.

Backstreets was definitely the place of all places. Remembering people like Lemon (the bouncer) and Ira ( the door man) who unfornutely is no longer with us. If we could only turn back the hands of time for a few weeks!!!!

Well I had some of my best timed spinning at Backstreet before I moved to NYC. I loved that crowd. Actually I was the one that use to cut in "b****" for "white" in white horse. heeeee. a little tongue and cheek. Anyone know where Mike Mayburry is?

Wow. What memories. I actually flew home to Miami from Tallahassee (while at FSU)just to go to Backstreets in October 1985. It was Halloween weekend and the line was all the way out to Broward Blvd.
This was a club like none other. The music, crowd, energy, and I guess most of all the time in my life. Carefree and just into the music and energy while dancing the night away.
During the day, I actually went to the pool and got sun, went home, ate, gym, napped, and returned for the evening.
What a great time. I still have all those 12" dance singles being played there at the time.

MiamiDisco,

The lyrics "morning sad morning" are from the song, The Mexican...in the 80's, Backstreets played the version of this song from John "Jellybean" Benitez.....I don't remember "I poppy", except from another song...."Clave Rocks" by Amaretto....it was probably mixed together....These tunes were definitely from the mid to late 80's when the club started changing and turning for into Freestyle Music and the Latin crowd....Up until about '84-'85...the club played predominantly Disco, High Energy and lots of Italo....those were the good ole' days!

Some of my best memories of the early 80's is from Backstreets.That was the greatest club, there will never be another one like it. I wish there was a cd available with Bob Miro/ Backstreet music. Does anyone remember a dance song, some of the lyrics:
"Morning Sad Morning(I Poppy)"

Having spent my time during the mid 80's and beyond as a booking agent and events promoter in Miami I had the honor and sometimes headache of working with nealry every club from the tri country area,as well as getting my groove on the dance floor.

Backstreets did not only break the gay/straight barrier, but it also helped break a cultural barrier between Anglos and Latinos as hundreds of Miami Latino club goers would drive off towards Ft. Lickerdale (lol) while getting off at mile marker 28 to get to Backstreets.

Ft. Lauderdale as it always has been was very Anglo populated,and tensions were already high between Latino's and Anglo's but esculated further after the arrival of fleeing Cubans during the 1980 Mariel boat lift.

Backstreets may have been one of the best venues to go to,but it was also one of the most dangerous venues.

I cannot remember any Friday night I was there on business or play, that atleast two fights didnt break out during the night,thank God for Backstreets quick to react bouncers,who I considered the best out of any clubs security staff.

I can till remember being in the booth when fights broke out,as myself,Bob Mero and his wife Maria,who also worked for Backstreets at the promoting end of things,as well as hiring acts, just stood there shaking our heads.

If you ever took a good look at Bob, you'd know he looked like the main DJ for the Hells Angel motorcycle gang, yet I as a Latino can say there wasnt an ounce of racism in Bob's body.

But thats how both sides thought of each other,and sadly one night some pour kid lost his life for simply looking to Gringo like,if you can stomach that notion.

Those commonly growing issues is what ultimately lead to Backstreets closing,as even on Gay nights it had become dangerous for Backstreets lifeline, which was their strong Gay following.

I have never been ashamed of being Latino, even though I was born in this country,but watching the crap that went on at Backstreets was the first and last time I did feel some disgust.

Either way,the times and experience I had there are times I wouldnt want to replace.

Sorry for the long post,Im just a detailed kind of person.

Get use to it! lol

it was city limits...ty

No I think you might be thinking City Limits....Backstreets was by the train tracks in Downtown where all the little cafes and Broward Center of the Performing Arts is now...Also, there is a place close by called Riverwalk

i was a DJ at "the Candystore" on the strip in Ft Lauderdale in 86....

Most the employees after work (we closed at 2) used to head to backstreets after work for some nitecappers....Being from NY....I used to live in a hotel at the time, and used to spin at Candystore 6 days a week, and from what i can remember, we used to alwayz go Backstreets after work...kool place
kool time in my life....was it by the airport?

I used to go to Backstreet all the time. It was the best place to have a good time in the early 80's. "Live" performances (Sylvester, Lime, Hazel Dean, etc) dancing, all the bars...they don't make clubs like Backstreet any more...sigh.

my fondest memory was the the song from backstreet that everyone sang. it's the roof is on fire we don't need now water burn mf. well, that's were i first heard it.

This was THE club. I have never been to a club which had the energy of fun that Backstreets had. It is the club which I was taught how to spin fans. And YES the stories are all true about what went on in there......including tales of shots of "special punch" being handed out to friends of the bar.

BTW....Backstreets Atlanta closed last year....no more 24/7 service

...I forgot to mention the fireworks that would go off every night...

Backstreet was phenomenal!! This was pre-South Beach, where the best nightlife existed in Ft Lauderdale. The energy, music, men & mixed crowd made it such a fun club. No attitude, no dress code, just be yourself & have fun, pre-aids 80's.
Great times!!

Oh my god, I remember Backstreets in Ft. L soooooo well!!!! It was the only club to go to in Florida (where you didn't have to hear commercial drivel). I first heard ABBA- the Visitors EP of course - there. Blew me away.....

amazing cool place bigger than most at the time (1982) and anything went....

Thanks for bringing back some GREAT memories!!!