Disco Music > Discotheques and Clubs Index > Bonds

Bonds

Times Square
New York, New York

Opened by the same owners of New York, New York.

Owners:
John Addisson and Maurice Brahams

DJs:
Raul Rodriguez (Bio)

Photos below of the original invitation sent out for the opening party for Bonds were submitted by Jose Luis Infante:

Please feel free to link to this page by using this URL:
http://www.discomusic.com/clubs-more/895_0_6_0_C/

I Heard Bert Bevans tear that club up with MG from the Garage on Lights!!!!

This was a terrible club....Too big, horrible location, no theme what so ever with its music programming.......

In all fairness, it opened when music was taking a hit downhill (the punk rock, new wave era) and it is very, very difficult to fill yet alone please 8000 people in this huge club with a sound system that though ambitious, still sounded like it was lacking punch, basss and energy...

Just my opinion....Like ***&&, everyone's got one! (opinion that is..)

i went twice and, i agree, it was awful. you're right way too big. i did like those big mylar baloons that dropped from the ceiling.

So cool, those baloons, however, the location was the pits, the club had no identity and most of all, the music was awful...

You cannot play Viola Wills, If You Could Read My Mind and mix it into Geraldine Hunt's "Can't Fight The Feeling" and then mix that into "The Flying Lizards," Money and expect to create any kind of vibe....

No consistency, no DRAMA and a sound system that although ambitious sounded AWFUL....

Bonds was DA BOMB and not in a good way!

Oh my...did this club miss the mark, Alex is correct, bad location, no real theme in music selection, and the mixes where not all there at times.

never went but have friends that did...still associate it to the clash!

I was a regular at the club (along with countless others). Some people just didn't get it. Its spaciousness, fantastic lighting, and surround sound created a Roman Coliseum type of atmosphere. The DJ in arms was Kenny Carpenter. He played Ain't no mountain high; Spasticus Autisticus; Disco Circus; Love Money; Powerline; Bostich; Moody; City; Country, City; Feel Up; Jah Wabble's How much are they; Sweet Potatoe Pie; Thousand Finger Man; Is it all over my face; Weekend by Phreek. Then he will calm us down with Rotation by Herb Albert, I want to thank you by Alicia Meyers, Nights over Egypt by the Jones Girls. Some of us have selective memories. But to many of us, we partied until noon the next day, and straight to the beach. The club was unique.

I rest my case.........All the songs that DJ4thx listed, I hate.......I was a white boy into DISCO and Hi -NRG and DOR, Dance ORiented Rock......Stuff they played at the Ice Palace, Studio 54, Xenon, The Saint, Tories, etc.........All the songs that Sir DJ4thX mentioned, in my opinion MAKE for a BORING and just plan DULL evening..........I reinstate my statment..........Bonds was a terrible club...................................

We all have different tastes, needs, opinions. But to critize a club simply because it didn't play your type of music, is inappropriate. Why would you go to a club that's not your type anyway?
I guess if I went to a club that played HI NRG all night long, I'd probably be bored as well. However, I'd probably just say that "it just wasn't my scene". By the way, Ken also played The Clash (Magnificent Dance & Radio Clash), Pete Shelley (I Don't Know What Time It Is?), Ian Dury (Reasons to be Cheerful Pt 3 & Spasticus Autisticus), and even The Steve Miller Band (Macho City). I'd say that these jams would even make a "who am i?/white boy/mr garcia/ move his "Saturday Night Fever" rump.

Again, I state and re-state my case, all the songs you have newly listed are plain BOOOOOOOORING........Ian Dury's "one, two, reasons to be cheerful, are" guess what..."REASONS NOT TO BE CHEERFUL........."

Steve Miller Band's Macho City, "oooofa, borrrrrrrrring............................

Pete Shelley's "I Don't Know What Time It is," oooofa, it's time to get out of BONDS and go to XENON and/or ICE PALACE or Studio or The Saint......anything but BONDS........

Again, I state and this will be the last time I say it, BONDS was a terrible club, no theme, boring music, horrible sound system and it DID NOT STAY OPEN that LONG.....................Why is that Sir DJ4THX????????????????????????

Drop it honey, you like the club, I DON'T.............Let's truce and move on!!!!!!!!!!!!

I have to agree, the place was too big, the music sounded at times like an echo. It was OK to see bands like the Clash etc but not for a night of dancing. It looked alot of times like people were walking around in a desert, HA HA.

I did lights for Bonds on Saturday nights. Wednesday through Friday was reserved for the yuppie crowds that enjoyed Hi –NRG and Dance Oriented Rock music. Raul Rodriguez was the DJ and Richard Sabala (RIP) did the lights on those nights. I would fill in for Richard when he had to work at the Saint on some weeknights when Richard Tucker was unavailable.
I am proud to have worked beside such talented people. Raul was the only DJ in the 80’s who could combine any style of music and make it work. That kind of mixing was done intentionally to please the yuppie crowds that came from Long Island, NJ, and the Upper East Side of Manhattan. Kenny and I worked the Saturday night parties. Kenny played more like David Mancuso or Larry Levan. Although, I did enjoy more the Saint type of music, Kenny Carpenter helped me appreciate the underground House music that Larry Levan and others were developing at that time. We made a good team on Saturdays. I always thank Kenny for influencing me and showing me that there was another side to the music and it had to be heard.
The sound system was a Richard Long Sound System, but it did lack bass. It was something that would have been fixed if my bosses had not gone to jail for tax evasion (thanks to Steve Rubell and Ian Schrager) a year after it opened.

I went to Bonds a couple of times only on Saturday (oh, wait, and once on a Thursday.......).........While there is a lot to say about how you view a club based on your tastes and expectations, I found the club to "lack warmth and intimacy" while Palladium (just as big) had it all together and anyway, I only went to Palladium on Thursdays and Sundays to hear the Saint DJs.....Robbie and Michael to be specific..............Look, the place was too big, too "lacking of theme" and just a co-habitation that all had different tastes and just simply this, that scene to did NOT make for a good PARTY....It was also a time when their was a great need for good DISCO music (the early 80's) so DJs did not have a lot to pick from...I walked in once and heard, "Lauren Taylor's I Got Dancing In My Feet (TK Disco 12" mixed into V Wills If You Could Read My Mind) and I said YES, this is the place, only to find out that into Viola Wills came THE FLYING LIZARD's Money, mixed into Queen's Another Bites the Dust, mixed into Lipps' Incorporated's How Long, mixed into Revolution Rock (Clash...) Really just PISSED me off to hear this Musical Rollercoaster of Genres that I just WAS NOT into at the time...If I wanted to hear Flying Lizard's and Clash I would have gone to hear David Arzarc at the Peppermint Lounge, or I would have gone to the old venue (Now Webster Hall) that was called, THE RITZ(where they featured great Punk Rock/ New Wave band and they played Lene Lovich's Lucky Number, The Normal's Warm Leatherette, Billy Idol(Generation X and Mariane Faithful - Broken English and all that stuff.....) This is why I did not appreciate Mark Kamins' Danceteria style either because he played all over the place.........

Raul Rodriguez was a master remixer however, ask any of his peers and they would not put him in the same category as the Jim Burgess', John Ceglia's, the Robbie's and Wayne Scott's and the Frank Hulihan and the Bobby DJ G.....

The club may have worked had it been opened years before and had it stuck to hard core disco anthems...........Smaller venues might have accomadation the musical confusion of BONDS, but BONDS just did not...

XDRIVER, I appreciate your candor and your opinions on BONDS, they are very consistent with mine.............

I remember getting "picked" to go in on opening nite and there was no one in there! I was so mad, that place was just that,waiting for something to happen and never did. Was that the place with the musical stairs? That was fun.

The Night of The Panther event was okay - they sequed Voyage's "Lady America" out of "Hot Leather" by the Passengers. Hardly any new wavish stuff that night at all. This was the first time I saw one of those large inflated man figures who wiggle as air flows thru it' limbs, I was dumbstruck with awe, boy, they don't have those at home...

By the time Bonds opened up, you could "smell it in the air" that disco was just about through.........it never really clicked.........

BONDS wanted to be but never was.

Hmmmmmm. Bonds. Bonds International Casino. CASINO??? OK. I recall opening night. I also remember GRACE JONES performing. THe REAL ORCHIDS were a nice touch. I met Randy JOnes fromthe Village People there. Liza was leaving as I was arriving ( that should have been a cue to leave). Those stairs making noises. MEN in s high heels working there. And the underwear. It was the combination. The Islanders Club night was fun. Halloween was fun since there weren't many clubs open ( STUDIO 54 was closed during that period) I got invited back to FRANCE. The dancing water fountains were left-overs from the LIBERACE TV show. Other than that no one seemed to like going there. I hated the neighborhood . Just a few years ago Iwalked by theplace and the door was open. It looked horrible and smelled worse. Sure wish someone would re-open STUDIO 54.

I went to Bonds only once - while the art-deco style lobbies and lounge areas were nice, the dance floor area was like going to a dance in a high school gym - absolutely no atmosphere. I never went back.

It appears a lot of "reviewers" have some long-term memory problems, a distinct bias against a club that was racially and sexually mixed (not entirely gay), or just plain bad taste in music. Bottom-line - Kenny Carpenter used to rock the house on Saturday nights with a wide variety of current and cutting-edge hits, and great underground imported finds, mostly from the UK. Kenny actually spent time in record stores and bought many of his own records, unlike many other DJs who only played what they got for free in record pools. If someone didn't like Kenny Carpenter's musical selection - especially hits like Spasticus Autisticus by Ian Dury or Mama Used To Say by Junior at Bond's, then you couldn't have liked them either at the Loft or the Garage either. Midtown Manhattan was always a great location for clubs. If 45th St was an awful location for some reviewers, then you couldn't have liked Studio 54's or Xenon's location either. It also sounds like a lot of nay-sayers weren't into the intense drug-scene either. Listening to Kenny Carpenter at Studio 54 or at Bond's on a Saturday night was one of the best mescaline trips on the NY top club scene. A more objective analysis would be to acknowledge the positives of the club, and say that the music wasn't quite what you were into. I could easily trash some of the gay white clubs some reviewers have mentioned and say their music was boring too. Bottom-line, if you wanted to ear more hi-energy / italo-disco / euro-disco, you went to sertain clubs. If you wanted to hear more soul / funk / boogie / disco classics / British jazz-funk, you went to clubs like Studio 54, the Loft, the Garage, and Bond's.

I totally agree with your post Mr. Muniz.Hi energy wuth its over the top camp and cheesy lyrics was never the type of music favored by us music enthusiates.It had no real singers except sylvester and the weather girls and it was just awful.Most of the people who listened to hi energy and went to hi energy clubs never really knew what they were listening to because they were either using drugs or having endless sexual encounters something that was strongly indentified with the gay hi energy culture of that time which lead to a whole generation of men dying or becoming affected by aids.Also those classics from clubs like the loft and garage and bonds have had a lasting affect you can go to any club in the world and i have been to clubs from chicago to japan and i have geard stuff like love thang let no m an put us under,music from places like the saint has gone forgotten.

i've been there in 1982, and as far as i can remember i thought it was excellent, the music was great. Melba Moore, Evelin King, LA connection, Con Funk Shun, you name it, they had it all. It wasn't very busy that's right, but i came for the music.

hello to all,
its great to see that there's still some intrest in Bond's International Casino and i believe that the full story of this mamouth club has yet to be told. i'd like to set the record straight. Mike Stone Productions took over operations at Bond's in 1981 because Mike had lost the contract for Studio 54 after Steve and Ian got of jail. they wanted the club back because they wanted to somehow pick up from where they had left off but the fun of the 70's was not to be recaptured. i played @ Bond's from 1981 till 1983 and i will say that when i first saw the place i hated it because the sound system was small for the place and there was a terrible delay or echo in the room. the dancefloor alone held 2000 people and i couldn't imagine how i'd keep people entertained. i struggled for two months just to get used to my new space but after that i really started to love the place because i had so many loyal fans and when you had 3000 soles in the place it somehow absorbed the delay and made the sound fantastic! the music was very different than it is today because i was able to play almost anything i wanted and i loved experimenting with my dancers, i played many imports from the uk, i loved Modern Romance, The Clash, Talking Heads, Ian Dury, and Heaven 17 as well as all the current american jams. i was also a great admirer of Larry Levan from the Paradise Garage and David Mancuso from the Loft because those guys had great styly and fantastic equipment. i believe if you're serious about playing music then you must do your homework that's why i always go out to hear people that i like because i want to play what they play but in my own way and style.

I would like to thank all the people who did fill Bonds up the two nights that I performed there. You all were very much into my song, hell you made the song the number one requested club song and number two on the Billboard Dance music chart. I even won the best new female artist of the year award for my performance on the song.It was a wild time in music and tons of crooked producers and agents. Alot of recording artist never saw a dime of there money and to this day have joined the place we all refer to as ONE HIT WONDERLAND !! Hey what I've found out, is once your record comes off the charts we all join the rest of us in "One Hit Wonderland !
Keep love alove
Your Diva
Sharon Brown
I Specialize In Love

MR. KEN CARPERTER, I GOT TO HEAR YOU MIX, BECAUSE I KNEW PETE FROM COAT CHECK AND A FEW OF THE BUSBOYS. YOU HAD AN UNREAL SELECTION OF STUFF THAT YOU MADE WORK. CHAS JANKEL, KONK, AND EVEN HALL AND OATES "I CAN'T GO FOR THAT' REMIX. I REMEMBER THAT IN THE BOOTH WAY UP THERE IT WAS QUIET, BUT YOU COULD SEE THE CROWD LOOSING THEIR MIND WHEN A NEW MIX CAME IN. I LEAVING THERE WAY AFTER 7 AM EXHAUSTED. THERE WILL NEVER BE NIGHTS LIKE THE ONES I SPENT AT INFERNO, MIKE STONES 54 AND BONDS.

ed!

BONDS was the cream of the crop from the Garage, the Loft, Studio 54, etc. Kenny is the cream of the crop. He teased us all night playing anything from The Mexican (Babe Ruth) to Time Warp (Eddy Grant). We would beg him for more music at 8am, and sometimes he would give it to us. Other times, he would keep us yearning for more. I'm just waiting for a blowout reunion. Kenny, think about it. Bring back all the performers (D-Train, Sharon "Red Hot" Reed", Mr. Bob Lee, etc.) , all the people doing their own thing from dancing, making loving, riding bike, rollerskating, etc. -- Not sure if you remember, but Bonds had a poster out titled, "Remember the fun in '81". Bonds and Kenny Carpenter had much to do with who we are today. PEACE TO ALL OF THE BOND'S INTERNATIONAL CASINO DANCERS.

Does anyone know the exact address of this club? I don't really care about the club, but my grandfather worked his whole life at the Bonds department store, so I want to check out its location.

Thanks

i remember following mike stone and ken carpenter from sudio 54 to bonds..yes the place was huge..and the sound got lost...i saw many a disco and dance artist there....my favorite show was instant funk live with instuments..the tore the house down

I would like to tip my hat to Ken Capenter for being one of two DJ's that radically changed my listening taste. Ken, it's because of you & Tony Humpries (club zanzibar Newark) that I have the record collection that I have today. Yes, I was also a DJ back then. However, I was not playing in massive clubs which could hold up to 3,000 people. That must have been one hell of an experience! I was one of your loyal fans on that massive dance floor every Sat. night. They just don't make music like that anymore... Thankyou for your creativity. PS. Shame we never met. I did get a chance to meet Tony in the control booth at Zanzibar.

I went there once, it was in a cool part of the City but it was way too big

I'VE ONLY HAD THE CHANCE TO GO THERE ABOUT THREE TIMES. FROM MY EXPERIENCE THE MUSIC WAS LOUD AND VERY MOVING. IN FACT IT WAS A TRIP,CAUSE I WAS TRIPPING ON MES....THE HIGH ISN'T WHAT MADE IT ALL HYPED UP.. IT WAS THE MUSIC, THE D.J. (CARPENTER), AND THE PEOPLE. DA-LE WEBO! WEEPA... THAT WAS THE s***! THE SOUNDS OF THE UNDERGROUND, THE LOFT, AND THE GARAGE... I WANTA' .. GO BANG! THOSE WERE THE DAYS. THE DAYS OF FREEDOM ON THE DANCE FLOOR.. FREEDOM TO EXPRESS YOURSELF...I STILL BELIEVE IN THOSE DAYS.. DANCE THE SAME MOVE.. NEVER FORGET... KEEP ON DANCIN' ... MUSIC IS MY LIFE... GOTTA KEEP ON DANCIN'

PEACE,
MY FELLOW DANCERS!

HI KENNY,
THIS IS SHARI. I AM SO HAPPY TO FINALLY FIND YOU. I HAVE BEEN SEARCHING FOR YEARS. THE LAST TIME WE SAW EACH OTHER, WAS IN MANHATTAN SOMEWHERE, MANY MOONS AGO. IN CASE YOU FORGOT WHO I AM, YOU AND DAVID MORALES, HELPED ME WITH MY COLLECTION OF VINYL RECORDS.MY COLLECTION COMPILED OF IMPORTS, BOOTLEG(GO BANG)AND MUSIC THAT DAVID MANCUSO PLAYED AT LOFT, AS WELL AS MUSIC PLAYED AT BONDS, GARAGE AND THE LIST GOES ON. THIS WAS WHEN YOU BOTH WORKED AT ROCK AND SOUL AND I WORKED AT MACY'S. WE ALL IMMEDIALTELY CLICKED AND BECAME THE BEST OF FRIENDS. WHEREEVER YOU GUYS PLAYED, I WENT.
I LOVE BEING AT BOND'S WITH YOU TWO. I HAVE SUCH FOND MEMORIES. MIKE STONE'S PARTIES,BABY POWDER ON FLOOR AND THE MUSIC THAT PUMPED THROUGHOUT THE CLUB. I REMEMBER YOUR HOT MIXES. SUCH AS IS IT ALL OVER MY FACE, AINT NO MOUNTAIN HIGH ENOUGH,SPANK, GO BANG, DON'T TURN AROUND AND ILLUSIONS, ETC ETC. REMEMBER THE OZONE LAYER IN BKLYN. WE WOULD GO TO OZONE LAYER ON FRIDAY AND LOFT ON SATURDAYS.
I LOVE HOW DOWN TO EARTH YOU GUYS WERE AND PROBLABLY STILL ARE. I MISS YOU SO MUCH KENNY. YOU AND DAVID WERE LIKE BROTHER'S TO ME. THANKS FOR HELPING MY MUSICAL AND CLUB JOURNEY AN EXCITING ONE. BEING EXPOSED TO ALL OF THESE CLUBS AND MUSIC, THIS HELPED DEFINING ME AS A PERSON. I HAVE BECOME ONE WITH THE MUSIC. A TRUE DANCER WOULD UNDERSTAND WHAT I MEAN.
I TRIED ASKING SOME OF MY DJ BUDDIES, IF THEY KNOW HOW TO CONTACT YOU. THEY ARE YOUR BUDDIES AS WELL, RENE HEWITT, EDDIE RIVERA, PAUL CRUZ AND HANNIBAL. ALL OF THEM TOLD ME IT WAS HARD TO GET IN TOUCH SINCE YOU ARE BUSY AND DON'T GET A CHANCE TO ANSWER YOUR EMAILS.
I WENT TO THE LOFT'S 36 ANNIVERSARY PARTY, AND ASKED DAVID MANCUSO IF HE CAN RELAY MESSAGE THAT I WAS TRYING TO CONTACT YOU.
WHEN I SAW YOUR BLOG ON HERE , I WAS ESTATIC AND EXCITED THAT I FOUND YOU.
PLEASE GET BACK TO ME AND LEAVE ME YOUR EMAIL ADDRESSES AND MAILING ADDRESSSO I CAN STAY IN CONTAC WITH YOU. I WILL GIVE YOU MY INFO AS WELL.
LOVE YA AND MISS YOU SO MUCH.
BTW, AS FOR THOSE BLOGGERS WHO FOUND THE MUSIC AND CLUB BORING(BONDS), IN ORDER FOR YOU TO REALLY APPRECIATE A CLUB LIKE BONDS, YOU HAD TO LOVE THE MUSIC AND AMBIANCE OF THE CLUB.
IT WAS ALL GOOD CAUSE, WHEN 4AM CAME AROUND AND THOSE LIKE YOU WHO WERE NOT REALLY INTO IT, WOULD LEAVE. THE REAL PARTY BEGAN. BABY POWDER ON THE FLOOR AND ALL OF THAT SPACE WAS ALL OURS TO MOVE AND BECOME ENTRANCED WITH THE MUSIC KENNY AND DAVID WOULD PUMP INTO OUR SOULS.
BONDS WAS ONE OF A KIND, THE AWESOME SOUND SYSTEM AND THE MASSIVE SPACE TO JACK OUR BODIES.
I NEVER GOT HIGH NOR DRANK, THE MUSIC WAS AND STILL IS MY NATURAL HIGH. THE MUSIC WAS BETTER THAN SEX TO ME. IT TOOK ME TO PLACES AND OPENED UP SO MANY ORACLES WITHIN MY SOUL.
KENNY , I WANT TO PERSONALLY THANK YOU FOR TAKING ME UNDER YOUR WING AND INTRODUCING ME TO SO MANY PEOPLE AS WELL AS HELPING ME IN GETTING A VAST RANGE OF MUSIC. UNFORTUNATLY THERE WERE ALL STOLEN. THE IRONIC THING IS THAT IT HURTS ME MORE NOT HAVING THAT LINK TO YOU TWO THAN ACTUALLY LOSING THE RECORDS.
KEEP IN TOUCH KENNY, HOPE TO SEE AND HEAR FROM YOU SOON.
PLEASE PASS THIS ON TO DAVID IN CASE YOU ARE IN CONTACT WITH HIM.
LET ME KNOW WHEN YOU ARE IN NYC AGAIN
MI CASE IS SU CASA. HUGS AND PLENTY OF KISSES, LOVE, SHARI

First I want to thank you all for the memories. Reading these blogs bring back so many memories. Bonds was one of the best dance clubs in NYC. If you didn't like it, it was because you didn't open up to it. If you left at 2 am or 4 am, then you were just one of those who just came out dancing every once in a while. Me and my crew were there every weekend. I remember parking outside on the corner of 45th st.and waiting in the car, drinking and smoking and waiting for midnight so my car would be just outside when we came out. We sat in the car and watched the line get longer and longer. Then we would just walk up to the bouncers and they would let us walk right in. It's been a long time and I don't remember names anymore but I remember the long nights there and the music. I always remember about 6:30 to 7 am they would open up a window or door high above the dance floor as I want to thank you played. From there it was time to head to the fountain in Central Park or Orchard Beach. I loved those times. You had to live Bonds to love it. I loved every second of it. Thanks Kenny and all the others for making that stage in my life so fun and memorable.

PS. I saw titles of songs that were played there. Does anyone have a list? I can't find Moody or some other ones. Please!!!

Hi all...

I went to Bonds twice the first time was to see "El Gran Combo" a Puerto Rican salsa group that were and are still amazing... to this day and the second time with a group friends we did,nt really feel the excitiment of the atomsphere the second time around the music wasnt that great and there wasnt really not much happening:-/i never went back.

Before i comment on Bonds, i would like to first say that i was almost sick to my stomach reading the first few blogs by those you were putting down Bonds. Immediately, I wanted to react and respond, but after reading Kenny Carpenter's message and witnessing his own defense, I was elated. It brought chills to my spine and I am even more proud to have been part of that era.

Kenny Carpenter and the music played at the Saturday nite Bonds parties hosted by Mike Stone (may he rest in peace) was an inspiration for me and many others. Somehow, we lived and survived during the week for that day. After having stubled across Mike Stone's parties at Sutdio 54, I followed the crowd to Bonds and it was our home every Saturday nite. It was a life changing experience - musically and spiritually. It created friendships and connections that have lasted with me 'til this day. I loved the huge space that allowed dancers to flow - we hustled, stomped, rolled, cartweeled, jumped, kicked and did floor moves 'til noon Sunday. From midnite to noon the music took you through a musical journey that no other dj could ever do. The music flowed with the mood of the party and Kenny even played "mainstream" hits for those early nite "toursits". Many of us patiently knew that in the wee morning hours we were going to be taken on a jouney. There's no need to mention any plays 'cause many other above captured it well. For me, however, it was the first time I ever heard "Hum along and dance" by the Jacksons. I'm sure there are many people in the world today haven't heard that yet. My favorite will always be "... dance together in mindfield" by Eye Level. In many ways, Kenny helped me to appreciate music.
Saturday nite Bonds parties brought the undergroud dance music out into the mainstreem nyc dance scene. It was place that brought people together from the Loft, the Garage and many after hour undergroung parties. We even packed extra clothes to go to the Loft in the morning. As for the "too big" dance floor, well, it was the perfect place for many different crowds to congregate and feel each others vibe - straight, gay, hoody, latin, r&b, and even some hip hoppers.

I feel sad for those you did not fully understand the essence of the Saturday nite parties by Mike and Kenny. Apparently, for these folks it was a whole different experience. Bonds had many other parties during the week, which were generally bad and made people critize the club as a whole. But it was Saturday nites with Kenny on the turntable (all nite long) that made the difference. It was a community of dancers and music lovers that helped open the gates for many underground parties and clubs still going today. I can still recall watching Kenny's afro sway to the music as he jumped and mixed in the booth. He felt our energy and we felt his energy...

I hate to be long winded, but I couldn't believe what I was hearing. Clearly, many didn't get it. You had to be there!

...did anyone ever mention the large manequin ballons that opened up over dance floor high the air, that came out to raoring jungle beats and high acappella sounds...!? It was intoxicating!

peace & love.

hello family,
it's hard to believe that there's still so many great people out there that remember the fantastic nights we had at Bond's Iternational Casino. i commented before but there's still so much to say. besides the bad accoustics Bond's was a wonderful place to dance and a alternative to places like the Paradise Garage or the Loft. me and my dancers had a special connection, music was different then and you didn't have to play songs all night that had the same beat, there were songs with musicians and many instruments we had a love for the music and the journey, i don't really know what i'm doing when i'm working, i can never say that i'm a professional dj, when i'm on the decks a trance comes over me and the audience helps me to get there, i'm not the star, i'm the messenger. i loved to play songs that Larry Levan produced because when i did i felt like i was in the Garage, Larry was such a great talent, i was so inspired and awed by him and i miss him and his energy terribly. i would love to find someone that has pics from that era, let's keep this blog going.

thanks for the love. K.C.

THE FIRST TIME I WENT TO BONDS INTERNATIONAL IN 1978 WITH A VAN FILLED FRIENDS DRINKING AND SMOKING WEED AND READY TO PARTY UNTIL 3:OOAM. NONSTOP LIVE AND IN WE SAW PERSON CLAUDIA BARRY I HAD A EXCELLENT TIME.

Kenny Carpentar was a god to me at BONDS!

That place was my temple and it forever changed how I DJ'd and ultimately produced dance music. To write this place off as having no atmosphere and terrible music would do an injustice to the legacy of a genius. Kenny Carpentar was thoughful, creative, fun and always entertaining. He took risks and gave all who entered a musical journey that I have not had the pleasure of hearing since Larry Levan. Bonds was a true NY nightclub experience. It was as racially, sexually, socio-economically and culturally diverse as you can get. Where else can you find a mix like that in NY or anywhere else for that matter? I partied there just about every Saturday night from the day Mike Stone took it over to the day it closed and It will forever leave an indelible impression on me! Listen to pop, hip hop, r&b and dance music today. Many of it's influences came from what was being played at Bonds, The Garage, The Loft, Gotham West etc. That so called (Terrible Music) still holds up today! HI energy Euro never did it for me and you just never hear too much of that stuff influencing producers today! That is a fact! Hi NRG just does not stand the test of time! BONDS RULED!

All My Best,

Hex Hector
www.hexmusic.com

OOPS!

Sorry Kenny! Spelled your name wrong! My bad! You know I love you brother!

Peace!

Hex Hector

Hello to all the 80s family, if ever ther was a time marked in my life were those incredible moments at Bonds,the loft the garage, gothems west(any one remember the police raid there?)and they took us all to the station and let us go after, the kings of djing were larry levan,kenny carpenter my hero,jelly bean,tony humpries,etc also in responce to JOHN MUNIZ!!!were you the one that lived in queens,hampton st jackson heights?'thank you all for those lovely moments and please keep this blog going I live in europe now and when i listen to all those oldies i remember my days at bonds.

The steps lighting up was cool. The Clash smashed Bonds!

OMG i remember bonds, bonds was one of the best dance club, such a big place and so much space to dance, i was an acrobatic dancer and the place was perfect for me to dance around. and i will never forget the giant punch bowl, and of course the one and only Mike Stone i love that man he was so sweet. and i will miss him dearly...i will never forget summer beach nites where everyone wore swimsuits and i had my swimsuit made just for that night. I started going to bonds in 1981 until they closed the place for good, then i follow where mike stone was at (clubs) eventually i ended up working for him at the club called illisions just for a couple of night and he was a sweetheart. He always complimented my outfits...But yeah i can say that i really enjoy me self at bonds every saturdays for 3 years straight...and everytime i pass broadway where bonds was, all i get is good old happy memories.

omg! who can forget Bonds i was on a date and when we gravataed to the dance floor me looking all sexy with my platform shoes and my hot sexy polyester dress which made me sweat bullets as we began to do the Bus Stop immedately my heel popped off went right across the dance floor i was like dang... my face turned beet red i pretended like nuttin was happening so i kept on dancing lol! my boyfriend at the time had no idea what happened actually nobody seem to care there was no..way..i was going home early that nite i just bend over and broke off my other heel no problem and danced the nite away..i had a blast that nite ;}

it would be great if one day we all have a internationl bonds casino reunion...we someone look into it...that would be awesome

Bond's will always be one of my all time favorites. I saw so many great shows there. I loved the way the stairs lit up when you walked on them. Yep it was big but so was the party. I have a tribute to Bond International on my myspace. (http://myspace.com/somegirlz) I can still see Nona Hendrix coming down from the ceiling. That was HOT!!!!
Other places I loved: Roseland & the Funhouse. :-)

oh yea vee i cant forget them stairs lit up at bonds when i first saw bonds i was mesmorized and once i walked in there and set foot on the dance floor, i couldnt stop dancing thanks to kenny carpenter he kept me in shape..heheheheh (i was the one in the cat danskin cat suits)... his mixes are awesome, hey imma check ur tribute to bonds must be great! i still say oneday all the bonds fan should go for a reunion night...

What son, I NEVER forgot about BONDS. It was the best mesc trip and music hands down. I actually have most of the music that was played in there in MP3 because of the influence of that club on me. There are some songs that I dont know the name of them, but I could still remember how they sound and went, and probably humm you a few bars with the quickness. If anyone out there has an interest on recapturing some of that Kenny Carpenter magic, or if you have songs or records of the era, please, dont hesitate to holar at me, like yesterday! We can hook-up and trade and relive the memories. Back then, I was with my high school sweetheart, and even though time sent us our different ways, I never loved another women like I loved her, just like I never loved or went to another club ( And believe you me, I was a club head! Garage,Bonds Gothoms west, limelight, broadway 96, Funhouse, Illusions, thrillers),like I did with BONDS! Must Be the Music!

OOps, forgot to write my E-mail Wilz161@hotmail.com

Thanks Kenny for the memories! I was glad to see you speak out about the great clubs hosted by Mike Stone. He lived for those clubs! When he got sick, it was the people that he met from the clubs that kept him going...for that I am truly thankful! My brother has to be resting in peace knowing that some people got it!

Although I was too young to go to Bonds to have the experience that everybody else did, I remember all the excitement and preparation that went into giving the parties on Saturday nights. My uncle, Mike Stone, worked hard every week to make sure that the parties at Bonds were an experience that wouldn't be forgotten. He would have his printer print labels for the invitations and my family and I would sit and label invitations until the wee hours of the morning. It was a tedious process but it was worth it because this was what my uncle loved to do...bringing people together and having a great time. The phone would ring constantly in my house...calls from people trying to get on the guest list or people trying to finish the final touches. I may have been too young to go to Bonds but I felt like I was a part of the experience just by helping with the preparation and hearing the outcome of all the hard work that went into it. I would like to thank Kenny Carpenter for being a loyal friend to my uncle Mike and thanks also for the great memories. Rest in peace, Uncle Mike you will never be forgotten!

As a very young man originally from small town Nova Scotia and transplanted from Naples, Florida to NYC,I only have fond memories of Bonds. My first visit to the club was on a visit to NY from Fla. My dear late friend Isabelle Cole took me to NY as a birthday gift.She had booked two suites at the Shelburn Murry Hill,limos for the entire weekend and a great social plan pre-arranged. After seeing A Chorus Line on Broadway and dinner at 21 club our driver took us to Bonds.I met Grace Jones that night and danced till dawn. Six months later when I moved to NY to study at Parsons I was a regular at the club and loved every minute of it.
Does anyone remember the Bolero Club(private) or Styx a small dance bar off 3rd Ave near East37th. Those years in NYC were the best times of my life. Those stairs and the waltzing waters, the music, the beautiful people, those silver cow sofas and silver bartenders,it's all so alive in my memories. Thanks BONDS

Forgot my e-mail,styleinc4@eastlink.ca

Halleluiah! From the bottom of my heart, I want to thank all of you Bonds alumi for turning around the tone of the comments and memories posted on this club's legacy page. I am truly proud and humbled by the positive responses that have poured in for the last year or so. To me, it appeared that no one on this earth understood the influence and great moments bestowed on us by Mike Stone and Kenny Carpenter. However, I must say that I am overjoyed knowing that those who experienced Bonds' during the Mike/Kenny era have stepped up to the plate and represented by sharing your thoughts and love. There was no way we could have allowed those who did not understand to ridicule a beautiful thing.

It's great to hear all the memories, which I can totally relate with. At times, I found my self saying, Yup! - me too! Aside from physical beauty of Bond's, I often find myself day dreaming about all the magic on the dance floor. Before ever stepping into Bonds (actually, Studio 54 where Kenny and Mike hosted), dancing for me was more like - one, two, cha, cha, cha, do the hustle. But, by the time Bond's sadly closed, I was spinning, flipping, cartwheeling, diving, and splitting among other things. As a novice at "hitting the decks", I would sit on the floor and watch all the grea hardcore dancers smoothly jump through eachother's legs while the other was at a hand stand, walk over backwards into a floor move, and perform acrobatic/ martial arts / breakdance moves all the while Kenny is taking the party to another level musically - "Brawl", "City Country City", "Going back to my roots", and "Time Warp"... just to name a few.

I can go on forever, but a gotta run. Again, it was a pleasure to read more positive comments and memories.

The music, love and memories we shared on the dancefloor speaks for itself!

Peace & Love

i was dissapointed that a few people had written negative comments.i almost started to doubt my few times i had the privilege to go being that in 82 i was in the 8th grade.luckily for me my brothers and sisters liked to go clubbing funhouse,bonds etc.how i was alllowed in i had no idea.but i really tried to hide behind my sisters.i thought the sound was amazing even in such a huge space.i remember the huge stacks on the back corners and the jungle noises elephants??time warp was the one when every body lost it,everybody would follow the babypowder line..diferent time ,diferent city. i still check out parties that have the same feeling, body and soul,718 sessions,roots with luie vega etc.but the earlie 80s is a time when many influential records came out that were part of the foundation to todays dance music, not discarding the great disco era of the 70s.peace to all nad keep on DANCING ,hell i still do .im just 40 a baby compared to you old fogies.jk

I was a regular at Bonds, and all this negative stuff I see posted has to be from people who just didn't get it. Bonds didn't start happening until after 2am. This was right around the time the people who didn't get it left. Kenny Carpenter rocked it from around 3am till closing which was around 8-9am. Afterwards it was just a continuation of the party either at Central Park or the beach. It was the Garage on Friday's and Bonds on Saturday. I have most of this kind of music on my Zune which I got off the original Napster, but what I really want is some mixed stuff by Kenny, the 3am - 8am stuff. Also, Rene Hewitt was happening at the Inferno a couple years earlier. In short, if you really couldn't hang, then Bonds wasn't for you. But the real playa's knew what time it was. Kenny, if you read..., hit me up an email with the music I need. I've got Larry's commercial CD's, but I wish I could relive the memories, and the only way for me to do this is through the music - the real after-hours stuff. Question - do any of you hater's out there know about the "back-rooms"? Nah, I doubt it! RCG in da house

Hey Ronnie, I guess you would consider me one of the haters.........Listen, in all fairness, I think Kenny Carpenter was fabulous and I heard him many times at Studio and even spoke w/him many a times at Studio, it is just that for me Bonds did not work and I thought it was way too big......I did not have that biggness problem at Pallidium but I only liked P on Thursdays and Sundays for Steve Cohen parties.....Listen,I am partial to a certain vibe of playing and musically I lean more towards the gay stuff, but that does not mean I don't know talent when it slaps me silly across the face and KC was great.........I did hear him at Bonds after 2am and yes, he did play some great stuff but he himself will tell you that it was constant try this, try that at Bonds.........Let's not argue over opinions, they are not negative vs positive, that does not exist in music...Music is our universal form of communcation and get this,stuff I may have hated then I may love today.....I am older, my palette is larger and though my feelings for Bonds stand today, if we could recreate a night again, I may feel differently today.......There are people I adored then that I cross the street today not to bump into them...:>))

Never did like John Addison's "Bonds".
I was at Studio 54 working with Steve Rubell from 1977 - 1986.

I was acquainted with John Weezanaar the lover of John Adison the owner.

My brother Peter was a busser there during the summer of 1980 and i had the privledge of visiting him there.

I remember jeffrey the dancing waiter!

Bonds had a duverse music mix that includud the B-52's and Donna Summer.

I loved it!

Disco was no longer popular enough to carry a whole evening and the cavernous size of Bond's made 2500 people seem like BB's in a boxcar.

I remember the T-shirts with the slashed sleeves which whirled as the dancers whirled to the instrumental version of Kurtis Blow's "The Breaks."

Bonds was too large for its own good but it was a unique venue and the times were good.

R.I.P. John Weezanaar and Bobby Coggins.

to all of you old school gang ,,form a blog and keep me posted please, and give the names of the famouse dance tunes at bonds and etc..NYC 80,s peace and love

In it's time this was a solid 10 on the scale. Excellent deejays, fantastic lights, horrible parking situation, but so many beautiful people, women, men,gay and straight. I loved it, and it's location, especially since I bought suits at it when it BONDS MEN'S Clothier.

my e-mail to all the c.c boys and latin crew from jackson heights queens 1980s and to all the underground family of the years of no return,peace and love.
costapark@hotmail.com

John Adderson not only owned Bonds and New York New York, but also another club that had a fire near Flamingo. After the fire they John opened the Underground which was one of the favorite places to go on Sunday afternoon Evening. The rumor was that JOhn paid someone to set the fire at the Galary (I believe that was the name) and then built the Underground. The big inside joke was the underground had several fake colums that had man made crakes in them and it looked like flames were coming out of the man made colums.

What I disliked about Bonds was the dance floor was way too hard. It felt as though you were dancing on concret. I went opening night, mainly to see the kitch "dancing waters". Also the bar was almost on the dance floor. It was poorly designed from the stand point of person who loves to dance. I remember one night I was dancing with my date and some idiot took his beer bottle onto the dance floor and started swinging it with his arms extended and popped me in the head (took 15 stiches). When we went to leave to go to the ER, the guy at the door told me that if we leave we couldn't come back in. I immediately walked over to John, and as I turned he said something like "dear your head is bleeding" when I told him what happened and what the guy at the door said, John fired his sorry a** on the spot.

I wonder how how that doorman felt? he just was following standard operating procedures, when you got him fired. You put John in a spot, he liked that doorman, respected him. He worked for John. John had to react to show you that you, the customer, the client mattered. Although he hated to do it, he fired that guy to make you feel good and important. So be proud, you are important. That is why John was successful. He did what he had to do. And JEWISH LIGHTNING was a fact of life.

John Addison had nothing to do with
Maurice Brahams's the Underground or Nicky Siano's Galary of Michael Fesco's Flamingo, John only had 1. Le Jardin 2. New York~New York and Bonds - ok! get your facts together before you go public!

Really loved the place, all glitzy and glamorous and huge, but the few times I went no more than a dozen on the dance floor. Remember one night found a good spot up in the bleachers and did push-ups to kill time waiting for a crowd. I don't remember exactly, but I guess I musta left before 2a.m. and headed back to the Saint. Thanks for the insight, though...after all these years at least now I know...

Alex Garcia, you interest me. You are very opinionated, just like me. You are extremely sure of yourself and your comments show that. But you tend to be strictly BLACK or WHITE, no gray ever. Have you traveled the world? Have you been at other clubs in the United States? What experience do you have? Your opinion seems to be the only thing that matters, everyone else is wrong, according to you. Been there, done that! As age and experience take hold, you'll see that sometimes YOU DON'T MATTER!! Been there as well. So take some brotherly advice, (if you knew me you'd realize how funny ME saying this is!!), ease up. Relax a little, life is long, be friendly and nice, not a "Hater".

Anyone here bartend at BONDS because I did. I am looking to connect with one of you. I think about those times and a smile comes about. GREAT TIMES! There is not one club since then that even compares. Hey Louie, Steve, Larry or Joel. Anybody?

Glad to hear that there are some real hanger's out there. There really has never been any other clubs like Inferno/Bonds/Garage. Yeah there have been many - the Palladium was nice but the music at times became bubble-gummyish, you know commercial. The Funhouse, Gotham's & Gotham's West all happened too for a minute, but also became bubble-gummy in its music. Roseland even worked if you could be hard-core but, you had to be thug to roll. Sorry, I ain't gay so I didn't do the Saint and the like or the Garage on Saturday's. But just to put in my 2-cents, the right spots for my era in time order were; The Inferno (dj Rene Hewitt), Studio 54 - Mike Stone Productions (dj Kenny Carpenter), Bond/Garage (Kenny & Larry). After that, either the clubs became whack or I simply grew up and realized I was fryin my brain with all the hanging and stuff that goes with it. Although I don't remember the names, but there were also some fairly cool spots on Wed & Thurs nights downtown, if you were into picking up some chickies. Yep, so I rolled from Wed thru Sat and capped it all off on Sundays at either the fountain at Central park or Brighton Beach baby. But the best part of it all is, I made it out in 1-piece, recouped my brain cells, did every possible straight thing anyone could or probably couldn't even dream of, got all the music right now, and currently livin the life... Peace to all, and if you hatin, I'm sorry you just couldn't really hang, and it was probably my crew that ate you for lunch or breakfast depending on the time, if you know what I mean. Big-ups to all the bouncers out there. Thanks for hookin a brother up. That means you - Rene, Big George, and the rest of the crew for whom I can't remember your names. That's right it's me, the one who always made sure you stayed awake all thru the night. Oh I forgot to mention to the hater's out there, did you all have to wait on those long lines? I guess I'd a hated a club too if I had to wait forever just to get it. PEACE!

Ronnie G. in da house for 1-last time ya'll. Anyone who knows me, knows it's all Gooooood. Right now though, its all about Forex - look it up and holla at me if you wanna know! You ask and you shall receive...

vyniljunkie - I have mellowed w/my opinion of Bonds and I can appreciate all the wonderful praise for the club, Kenny Carpenter and the times spent and enjoy by all who dug that scene.... I do admit that like &rugs of choice, all others left us expecting the same kinds of highs as our choice, so with clubs of my choice at the time, Bonds just did not do it for me, though I must concede that it had a very wonderful affect on others and for that we should all be grateful because it was the times and that era that brings us all together, not one club or another...We are all riding the same Disco Ship to Heaven! Love for all!

I couldn't agree more. I will tell you this, I enjoy reading peoples opinions, if they are honest about it. You are. Cool. What did you think of The Copacabana? I was there from 73-77. How about CASABLANCA, every go Latino?

Name

Email

Location



Remember me

Notify me when someone replies to this post?

Security (captcha) Code:
Type the security (captcha) code:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Exclusive Must Read Interviews

• Sharon Brown
• DJ John Ceglia of New York, New York and The Underground
• Tina Charles
• Vincent DeGiorgio of Power Records
• Carol Douglas
• Gloria Gaynor
• Loleatta Holloway
• Thelma Houston
• Frankie Knuckles
• Barry Lederer of Graebar Sound and writer of the Disco Mix column for Billboard
• DJ Robbie Leslie of The Saint
• Kelly Marie
• David Mancuso of The Loft
• Tom Moulton - Disco Remixer
• Meco Monardo
• Vincent Montana of the Salsoul Orchestra
• New York Remixer, John Morales (An M & M Mix)
• Melba Moore
• Laurin Rinder of El Coco
• Henry Stone of TK Records
• DJ Ray "Pinky" Velazquez of Vanguard Records
• DJ Bobby Viteritti of Trocadero Transfer
• Jody Watley
• Carol Williams

• Disco • Disco Vinyl Records • CDs / Downloads • People • Disco Charts • 101 • Books • Discotheques • Message Board

Search for Disco:

Web DiscoMusic

Disco Music

• Disco
• Vinyl Disco Records
• Downloads | CDs | DVDs
• Disco DJs | Artists
• Disco Charts
• Disco History 101
• Discotheques & Clubs
• Disco Forums
• Submit Your Records

Links

• Add DiscoMusic.com As Your MySpace Friend
• Rare CD Singles
• Old Bus Photos
• Model Diecast Buses

Log-in / Register

• Log-In OR Register
• Forgot Password?