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Disco Music > Discotheques and Clubs Index > Inferno, The
Inferno, The
West 19 Street New York, N.Y.
I remember the club was large and loft-like with huge columns throughout. It had bleacher type seating toward the back wall. The crowd was mixed, but mostly hispanic and they took their dancing, THE HUSTLE, very seriously. It was the first time I ever saw the crowd circle around the hottest dancing couple, which at most times were guys dancing with guys. They were amazing and a memory I hold fondly.
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COMMENTS ON THIS DISCO / DISCOTHEQUE / NIGHTCLUB
YES, YES, I rememember INFERNO, I was gonna post it and decided to see if someone had already posted.
Besides what you just mentioned the thing that I remember most is the sound system, Ken Carpenter was the DJ and the music was really off the hook, the only systems that I heard that sounded better than at inferno where the Garage and Studio54.
I am surprised you have not gotten too many postings on this club, it was really the BOMB!!!
I remeber this club and sceen very well.after the fun house got really bad in its last year, The Inferno Sprung up. Some of my best times were spent there as a kid. The guys dancing with guys was pure competition, some may have been gay,but most were straight. Yes moslty hispanic, a lot of us were past gang break dancers. By this time break dancing had faded out, we were bit older but we still enjoyed show off our skills. We did freestyle dance. David Morales was our dj. The club tryed to create a members only club,where you had to have a card to get in , they even passed out mixed tapes to the regualrs that David would put together. I had them all, at one point. Vito Bruno was another dj as well,who happen to produce "slient morning" with Noel. Before Noel had his song produce he worked at the club as a barback. Quiet kid,hard worker. Then as all good thing come to end you know, the shoot out became to close for comfort. Lucky, I was in the vip area up stairs hang out when that happened. Come to think of it they tried to change the name of the club to "Pizza A GO GO"
They installed a pizza oven and began to serve, you know.... I know the owner was an older Italian gentelman(nice guy).
peace to everyone who went there especially Roger Sanchez(as in dj)
Now this place the epitome of what clubs should be like. Incredidle light show and the sound system was explosive.
Hey Jose Vaso:
Rene Hewitt was the dj at inferno, Kenny hung out with Rene and eventually got on. The club was very nice, not necessarily the bomb.
Hey Carl.
Just keeping it real here. breakdancing did not exist in the disco days, up-rock existed as well as the hustle, inferno was not open when breakdance (a derivative of hip-hop) craze came on the scene. Rene Hewitt was the dj at inferno, Kenny Carpenter hung out with Rene and eventually got on. Most of the guy on guy dancing at the inferno was gay. on occasion you'd have a str8 guy hustling with a gay guy becase gay men hustle (follow) much better than most women.
Vito Bruno was a DJ at the Roxy (1018) club. He was awful, he really was. he could not blend to save his life and only kept the job because he "Knew" somebody and the system was incredible. Play anything loud enough and everybody thinks you're great, what a joke. Vito did not produce silent morning. It was recorded at Power Play studios in L.I.C queens with engineer/producer Norty "El Calbo" Cotto. Get your facts straight.
I Often Attended This Club (The Inferno) With My Sister. Our 2 Favorite Clubs Were The Starship Discovery 1 And The Inferno. It Was Always An Adventure When We Went To This Place. Many Things About The Inferno Stood Out:
The Blood Red Membership Card (I Still Have Mine), The Themes, There Was Always A Theme To The Visual Look Of The Club. The Big Basket That Sat Just Past The Entrance Always Offered Somthing Special. Sometimes It Had Little (Live) Chickens In It, I Remember Pumpkins, Candy, All Sorts Of Things.
The Lower Floor With The Pool Table,
The Incredible Pounding Sound System (That Reverbated In The Restroom),
Those Beautiful SL 1100A's Bouncing On Rubber Bands And Last But Not Least Rene Hewitt (and then Kenny Carpenter). The Music Rene Played Was Always Different That Other Clubs. I Remember When He Would Pump The s*** Out Of The Bombers "Get Dancin'" and "The Mexican", Damn That s*** Rocked. I Also Remeber When Rene Started Letting Kenny Get On. He Was Funny Cause He Would Shake Uncontrolably As He Mixed.
The New Generation Of Club Goers Will Never Experience The Majesty Of Those Days. I Share All These Memories With My Child So That She Never Confuses The "Rap" Experience With The Incredible "Music" That We Expericed Many Years Ago.
What's up with DJFAN? We maynot have our facts straight but the memory is still there.
Everyone is entitled to their opinion I felt the club was the BOMB if he does not agree with me that is his opinion and I respect it. He does not to beet me over the head with the fact that Kenny Carpenter was not really the DJ until later.
If he is just trying to show every one up?
FACTS or no FACTS whatever, the real FACT is that the club gave me and all of us very fond memories.
Hello Jose,
I agree, the memories are what count. It's just so much better when the statements are truer to life (as in your entry Mr. DJ DOC) for those younger folks that read this stuff.
The statement made was that in my opinion the inferno was "Not Necessarily" the bomb, not that it was not the bomb.
No one is showing anyone up, just stating the facts. Many people here state the facts which is refreshing.
Who's gonna believe that there was breakdancing in the 70's LOL!
Let me put this to rest, I made a mistake
I just realized I had the wrong address. There was a club called "Infernos" Located around 30th st in midtown back around 1985/6 .This is where the Singer "Noel" worked as a barback.If you still have the original record sleeve take a look at who the producers were! The support for that project(Slient Morning) came from Roman Recardo and the Club(owner was vito burno a mob guy),where Noel worked of course. The djs were David Morales,Roman Recardo and couple other ones. After david left he went to dj at the World.
check this link out:
Noel
If you look real hard you can see who the excutive producer was:"Vito" at the bottom of the label.
So recap, My bad! I meant "Infernos" not "THE infernos" But I was right about the rest!
Hi Carl,
not quite correct yet!
An exec prod puts the money up to create the record, he does not actually "produce" the record and if you are in any way involved in the music business you know that most credits on a record are strictly for profiling, never the real hard workers that make the record.
I'll tell you what, if you actually know Roman Ricardo just ask him who was in the studio with him recording "Silent Morning".... I GUARANTEE YOU, he'll say Norty Cotto! Mr. Cotto (as well as other eng's) was the secret behind all work that bears his name. An artist sits there until the person behind the boards gets the right sound and rhythm on a drum machine and screams "that's it" "that's it" and that's something the consumer NEVER hears about.
And yes, Noel did work in a bar and during his rize he shared heavy drug problems with his brother eventually pushing his brother to rock bottom. Do your research dj carl, you'll see i'm right.
Keep rocking the music :)
Oh, by the way carl,
if you look even harder at the label you provided you'll see "Norty Cotto" listed as I've been saying from the get-go.
Wow folks people people are amazing.There are some that cant let this rest! I admitted I a made a mistake, I show proof that perhaps everthing else i said was some what true. Or to say s*** " I was in the scene back then." I know NORTY COTTO was part of 90% of all club records produce out NEW YORK back in the DAY!! I was a f****** dj and i could read on just about every record i own had his name on it!
He even wrote his stupid name directly
on the VINYL its self out side the lable with shout outs!! thanks dude you now made me whan to forget those day now!
Hey DJ Carl,
It was my pleasure :)
Hey guys, yes the Inferno was the ONLY place to hang out at. Hey, this IS Rene Hewitt from the Inferno. How's it going? Actually, we need an Inferno Reunion party. My website is: www.renehewitt.com You can email me any day at: djrene@optonline.net
Love is the Message
Rene Hewitt
To much drama on the reviews of this place. I remember this club very much, it was the hang out of the West 96 Street boys and the boys form the 77th - 70th on the West Side. You guys know who you are, Pat, Laz, Al, David, Ramon (ChiChito) and the rest of the gang. I use to love the downstairs bar area with the tables full of fruits. Nice big pillows to hang out on. The dance floor was hugh, yes, very loft looking and if I remember correctly, the DJ booth was out in the open elevated a bit. Great Halloween parties. And yes, the dancing was fierce, everyone competing but no attitudes, no flexing. If you wanted to show your stuff, you did the hustlle or you waited until It Just begun or Give It Up or Turn it Loose was played, then you went at it. A lot of times most of us would hang outside the club during the summer and just chill out, I git into my first car accident coming out of that place, a cab hit me as I was pulling out of the parking space. Wow, what good times.
I'm glad you enjoyed going there. I recently saw Kenny Carpenter at Mike Stone's funeral.
i hunged out at the inferno...it was the bomb...and it was real dark....
my brothers and cousins and many friends hunged out there...
the music was great...we would come out at the crack of dawn and head to the deli for sandwiches....
My fondest memories were at Roseland Ballroom...the place to be at the stroke of midnight.......
At midnight the music came alive.......
DISCO....hustle all night long....
i was a disco diva......
What a trip to find this site! I worked security,(front door), at the Inferno from 78 to 80 and had a great time doing so. What comes to mind most of all, is how this club was "family". It wasn't like most other places, where you had to jump through hoops to get in, then it was all business. At the Inferno, the owners Angelo and Pepino treated everyone like family and did all they could to make sure everyone had a great time. They were good people and I miss them dearly. RIP.
Here's a blast from the past for all you Inferno old schoolers out there. It's a video of Gil Scott Heron's, "The Bottle". Speaking of Inferno old schoolers, where you at: Billy, Jose, Noel, Buggin-Out, One-Way?
The Bottle Video by (Gil Scott-Heron)
INFERNO WAS IT . 5 BUCKS TO GET IN GOT YOU A FREE DRINK TICKET. GAYS ,STAIGHTS, IT DID NOT MATTER. IT WAS ALL ABOUT THE MUSIC. THE BACK STAIRS LED TO THE DOWNSTAIRS BAR,POOL TABLE AND WHAT ME AND THE BOYS CALLED THE CUCHI ROOM(DARK ROOM BIG PILLOWS PEOPLE DOING WHATEVER). THE BLEACHERS ALWAYS HAD SCENES FROM WHAT I BELIEVE IS DANTES INFERNO PROJECTED ON THE WALL. SOMETIMES PAINTED PEOPLE WOULD STAND LIKE STATUES RIGHT AFTER THE ENTRANCE AND MOVE EVERY NOW AND THEN. I SAW MACHINE PERFORM THERE. SOMETIMES THE COPS WOULD SHOW UP AND EVERYONE HAD TO LEAVE THROUGHT THE BIG EXIT ON THE DANCE FLOOR. THE PEOPLE THAT HUNG OUT THERE WENT ON TO MIKE STONES 54 AND BONDS, THRILLA. YOU KNOW WHO YOU ARE.
ED!
WHEN DID MIKE STONE DIE?
ED!
Yes, the INFERNO was the best. Hopefully, one day we can have a reunion party some where.
Love is the Message
Rene Hewitt
Mike Stone passed on September 21, 2005. I went to his funeral and it was very, very nice. Even Kenny Carpenter showed up from Italy.
Love is the Message
Rene Hewitt
www.renehewitt.com
Mike Stone passed away on September 21, 2005. I went to the funeral and it was packed with his followers. Even Kenny Carpenter showed up from Italy.
Love is the Message
Rene Hewitt
www.renehewitt.com
I partied at Transit Hall in Brooklyn, Pippens in Manhattan, other venues throughout NYC and gave many of house parties in the early to mid 70's. In 1976 I retired from discoing. As I was exiting the club scene, breakdancing was an underground dance form in the clubs in 1976, in the 80's breakdancing became a phenomenon to the masses. Breakdancing in the 70's statement is believable I lived it.
i was fortunate enough to spin at Inferno for a one night showcase of VIP record pool jocks...sound system was all that and more....
b4 i played i remember smokin fatties in the bleachers absorbing the vibe...will never forget the one night i spent at Infernos.....peace
I remember the first time i went. New Years Eve 1977. It was a big deal because i came in a group from brooklyn. i went back at least once a week throughout 1978. Many great memories. Funniest memory was when i was so f---ed up that i couldn't fine the exit. there was a partition wall that blocked the door from the dance floor. All walls were black. smoked much dope in there. many fine women. and some not so fine at 6:30 in the morning, but you did what you had to keep the party going. i remember there was also a pitch dark room downstairs next to the bar where alot of crazy s--t went down.
As I read this I was blown away. YOu see apparently there were 2 Infernos and that's why you have conflicting opinions between those two guys. When I used to go, it was in the 80's when David Morales was the house D.j. remember him playing that great cross over jam "Luck at Love, yes I got the winning touch". And the mix tapes, yep I had them. This place was known for the music man, I remember as I the Garage was almost closing, NyC was searching for some place to keep it going, but it never quite made it back. I also have an older friend in his late 40's who me and him have this arguement all the time regarding the Inferno or Inferno's. Like I said before, he told me that there was another one, the original one in the late 70's. So I think it is due to the fact that there were 2. anyway, later
Jay
Rene Hewitt and Eddie Cruz are ready to thrill your Body and Soul LIVE with House and Classics, starting Friday, November 3rd from 3-6pm and every Friday thereafter.
Go to facethebass.com/live.htm. After you're in, register and log in.
Remember, that FaceTheBass.com broadcasts some days as early as 9am and until 10pm, so don't miss any of the daily shows.
We're looking forward to providing you with the Best of House and Classics. Taking you Back, Way Back into Time.
Don't forget to visit my site for more music, www.renehewitt.com
Love is the Message
Rene Hewitt
If you have a myspace page, please place a request on mine at: http://www.myspace.com/renehewitt Let's keep the Spirit alive.
Love is the Message
Rene Hewitt
Hello to all the inferno family,the original infernos on 19 st. will never forget those crazy nights and all the fine ladies in there,What was the name of a club near chinatown that alot of people from infernos went to ??close to the bridge? Rene the master glad your still active, tell me kenny is in europe? because i live in europe now would love to visit him or where he plays?
peace and keep on jamming.
Yes, those were the better days and yes, i'm active and producing now. Kenny still lives in Italy, but I don't know this address. However, please send me you priv. email address and I'll keep in touch.
I have a Bozak mixer that came out of one of the Inferno clubs. Does anyone have any info about the systems in these clubs?
Well INFERNO was a Latin meat market. On weekends, it was 5 to 1 women to men. A fantastic spot, that had awesome sounds and lights. Didn't go there too often, but enjoyed it when I did. On my scale of 1 to 10, it gets an 8.
Thanks for that Vyniljunkie.
Love is the Message
Rene Hewitt
Rene, what are you doing now??
SHARE YOUR Inferno, The KNOWLEDGE | MEMORIES
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