When Exactly Did Disco Die and When Was the Beginning of the End?

[Chap2Power]

Originally Posted by all*that*glitters*

to blame Steve Dahl for the so-called 'death of disco' is to give the man more credit than the man deserves.

Disco NEVER died! It just went UNDERGROUND, back to where it started from.

Steve Dahl may have picked the right moment to start his witch-hunting campaign on Disco with a strong anti-gay element, especially at that moment when Disco was at it's commercial peak. Disco had taken over almost any rock radio format all over the USA and commercially Disco was everywhere...

Worse things came not only from the gay-bashing, Disco-hating rockfans but also from within the Disco industry itself. The overkill that most major record companies were releasing and the creative void that started to show clearly with every Disco 12" released was evident that Disco was losing it's power. Andy Williams doing a disco version of 'love story' or after Cookie Monster, Oscar and Big Bird cut their disco album all commercial disco had turned into a joke. The mirror started to crack....


Personally, I do not believe that there is an exact time or specific historic moment that pinpoints the 'death of Disco'. For many people it must be that moment when Studio 54 closed it's doors, for others it will be the charting of a certain record, for me it was the fact that Disco simply started losing its momentum, its creativity, its soul...

The day when Steve Dahl rioted in Chicago, that day Disco became Dance Music!! To be reborn as Hi Energy, Hip Hop, Electro, Freestyle....later on as Chicago House and Techno, or Euro Disco...

While the anti-Disco, anti-gay movement spreaded across the US the hardcore dancers and dj's went underground to clubs like The Paradise Garage. The Saint may have been empty but the queues in front of The Garage were still growing every saturday night.

The homophobic "disco sucks" campaign only served to unite the community. And for that, I think Steve Dahl deserves all the credit he can get...

I believe it was folk singer Jesse Colin Young, at a concert in Boston, that was the first to declare "Disco Sucks".

A lot of what has written here is very true....and is very well put...

V

[EarlyGirl]

Originally Posted by Mr.Ree

has anyone else heard (or read) the theory that the "disco sucks" movement was started by people who ONLY disliked disco because they couldn't dance? I sure had never thought that before but maybe it makes a bit of sense.

Well, OF COURSE the only reason they disliked disco was that they couldn't dance!! Did you read Dahl's quote? '"The average guy in Chicago didn’t have the right clothes, couldn’t get into the right clubs, and thought he’d never get laid again because of disco,” says Dahl.' Anyone could buy one decent outfit, and even if that didn't get you in to the city's most exclusive club, you could always find another club. But only a guy who couldn't dance, or learn to, would be so jealous of the guys on the floor that he'd want to take away their advantage.

I can't speak much about Chicago, but in NY and NJ, the clubs were totally about dancing. All a guy who couldn't dance could do was stand and watch. Heck, half the women wouldn't even accept a drink from a guy she hadn't seen out on the floor unless he looked like a young Clark Gable. But a guy who could dance could be ugly, fat, skinny, old, or underage, and still have his choice of partners for every number. He could also be black, hispanic, or flamingly gay, which was probably also a factor with the "disco sucks" crowd. A guy who could dance could be just as prejudiced, but he'd have no reason to hate disco, since he'd still have his pick of the women.

I was only in Chicago once during the disco heyday - it was probably late '75 or early '76. Though I went to a club (with a male co-worker; we were on a business trip), I don't remember anyone doing the Hustle, so it probably hadn't made its way there yet. But my co-worker had zero problem getting in - and left with a one of the prettiest girls in the club. He didn't hustle, but I recall seeing him do some ballroom and freestyle dancing at company parties, and he had rhythm. I don't recall if he danced or not that night, but he certainly had absolutely no objection to disco.

[garrybcoston]

Originally Posted by EarlyGirl

Well, OF COURSE the only reason they disliked disco was that they couldn't dance!! Did you read Dahl's quote? '"The average guy in Chicago didn’t have the right clothes, couldn’t get into the right clubs, and thought he’d never get laid again because of disco,” says Dahl.' Anyone could buy one decent outfit, and even if that didn't get you in to the city's most exclusive club, you could always find another club. But only a guy who couldn't dance, or learn to, would be so jealous of the guys on the floor that he'd want to take away their advantage.

I can't speak much about Chicago, but in NY and NJ, the clubs were totally about dancing. All a guy who couldn't dance could do was stand and watch. Heck, half the women wouldn't even accept a drink from a guy she hadn't seen out on the floor unless he looked like a young Clark Gable. But a guy who could dance could be ugly, fat, skinny, old, or underage, and still have his choice of partners for every number. He could also be black, hispanic, or flamingly gay, which was probably also a factor with the "disco sucks" crowd. A guy who could dance could be just as prejudiced, but he'd have no reason to hate disco, since he'd still have his pick of the women.

I was only in Chicago once during the disco heyday - it was probably late '75 or early '76. Though I went to a club (with a male co-worker; we were on a business trip), I don't remember anyone doing the Hustle, so it probably hadn't made its way there yet. But my co-worker had zero problem getting in - and left with a one of the prettiest girls in the club. He didn't hustle, but I recall seeing him do some ballroom and freestyle dancing at company parties, and he had rhythm. I don't recall if he danced or not that night, but he certainly had absolutely no objection to disco.

Never thought about this...but you know what? You're right! Jealousy is a damnable thing!

Garry

[garrybcoston]

1979: DISCO SUCKS!!!!!!!!!!


Only by killing disco could rock affirm its threatened masculinity and restore the holy dyad of cold brew and undemanding sex partners. Disco bashing became a major preoccupation in 1977. At the moment when Saturday Night Fever and Studio 54 achieved zeitgeist status, rock rediscovered a rage it had been lacking since the '60s, but this time the enemy was a culture with "plastic" and "mindless" (read effeminate) musical tastes. Examined in light of the ensuing political backlash, it's clear that the slogan of this movement--"Disco Sucks!"--was the first cry of the angry white male. -- Peter Braunstein The 'Disco Sucks' campaign was a white, macho reaction against gay liberation and black pride more than a musical reaction against drum machines. In England, in the same year as the 'Disco Sucks' demo in America, The Young Nationalist - a British National Party publication - told its readers: 'Disco and its melting pot pseudo-philosophy must be fought or Britain's streets will be full of black-worshipping soul boys.'
July 12, 1979, This was Disco Demolition Night at Comiskey Park in Chicago, Illinois. Two Chicago radio DJs [Steve Dahl and Garry Meier] came up with the idea of having people bring unwanted disco records to the stadium. The spurned records would be burned between doubleheader games with the White Sox and the Detroit Tigers. Lead by the chant, “Disco Sucks!”, most of the records weren’t burned, but sailed through the stands during the game -- nearly inciting a riot. Some fans started their own fires and mini-riots. There was so much commotion that the ballplayers couldn’t even finish the last game of the doubleheader; the White Sox forfeited.
Then WLUP-DJ Steve Dahl is credited by many with singlehandedly ending the disco era. On July 12, 1979, after several smaller anti-disco events, Dahl's "Disco Demolition" between games of a twi-night doubleheader at old Comiskey park, ended up with the field completely trashed, and the White Sox forced to forfeit the second game.
redOrbit ? Science, Space, Technology, Health News and Information “disco sucks” - a slideshow presentation detailing the events of the july 12th, 1979 comiskey park “disco sucks” riot with audio from Steve Dahl's radio show on WLUP chicago the morning after. it requires the macromedia flash 4 plugin (you probably have it) (please report any bugs to jason@deepdisco.com - okay? thanks.)
The Headlines... Steve Dahl "Disco is a disease". 1979 was the year that disco sucked, but there were some great records in 1979

jahsonic@yahoo.com

</SPAN>

[garrybcoston]

STEVE DAHL was hired to WDAI in Chicago in Feb 1978; Christmas 1978 WDAI changed from rock to disco and DAHL was fired. Now I know, and can see, why DAHL would later become furious and infuriated with DISCO and would plan one of the most evil and sinister plans ever plotted against anybody or any entity...and guess what? It worked!

Here's a few tidbits about Steve Dahl shortly before Disco demolition in Comiskey Park in mid-1979:

During his time at WWWW, Dahl was introduced to Janet, a junior high school English and drama teacher in a Detroit suburb, who was casually dating a friend of his and was also a listener of his show. The two hit it off after Dahl invited her to a "hump day" broadcast he was doing from the camel area of the zoo.[12]
WDAI executives in Chicago, attracted by Dahl's 7.1 share, approached him and offered to double his salary to $50,000 a year.[12] However, Janet did not want to leave her family in Detroit and he did not want to leave her. This prompted Dahl to ask his bosses for $35,000 a year to stay in Detroit. They flatly refused by telling him to "Go fuck yourself. Go to Chicago. Fall on your fat face."[12] In 1978, after Janet accepted his marriage proposal, Dahl left Detroit for WDAI in Chicago.[12] The pair eventually married in 1980.

Rude Awakening

Dahl began at WDAI Chicago on February 23, 1978 with his solo "Steve Dahl's Rude Awakening" show,[3] but it never achieved solid ratings despite media attention. Ten months later, on Christmas Eve, 1978, WDAI changed formats from rock to disco and fired Dahl.[12]

Steve and Garry

In March 1979, after a few months without a job, Dahl was hired to do a morning show at WLUP where he met overnight DJ Garry Meier (who was then broadcasting under the pseudonym of "Matthew Meier"). Shortly thereafter, the two began a cross talk that eventually led to Meier being teamed up with Dahl as both sidekick and newsman.[3][12]

Disco Demolition Night

Main article: Disco Demolition Night
In response to Dahl's firing from WDAI, Dahl and Meier mocked and heaped scorn on disco records on the air. Dahl even recorded and started playing a parody of Rod Stewart's Da Ya Think I'm Sexy?, which he called Do You Think I'm Disco?. The song managed to crack the Billboard Top 65 for a couple of weeks getting airplay across the country.[12]
During this same time period, Dahl and Meier, along with both Mike Veeck (son of then Chicago White Sox owner Bill Veeck), and Jeff Schwartz of WLUP promotions, came up with a radio promotion and tie-in to the White Sox called Disco Demolition Night which took place on Thursday, July 12, 1979. The concept was to create an event to "end disco once and for all" in the center field of Comiskey Park that night by allowing people to get tickets at the box office if they brought $0.98 (for WLUP-FM's 97.9 location on the dial) and at least one disco record. The records were collected, piled up on the field and blown up. Hundreds of rowdy fans stormed the field, refusing to leave, resulting in the second game of the double header being postponed. American League President Lee MacPhail later declared the second game of the doubleheader a forfeit victory for the visiting Detroit Tigers. Six people reported minor injuries, and thirty-nine were arrested for disorderly conduct.[15][16]
After the Disco Demolition Night promotion, disco began to lose its popularity.[17][18]

Height of Steve and Garry

As a result of Disco Demolition Night, Dahl attained national recognition and his popularity increased significantly. He established a syndicate and the Steve and Garry show began airing in Detroit and Milwaukee, where it performed well. However, in February of 1981, WLUP fired Dahl, citing "continued assaults on community standards." "It was going on in El Paso and Los Angeles, like, on Monday, and on Friday they fired me," Dahl later said.[12] Meier was offered the opportunity to continue the show by himself, but he refused.[3]

Sour grapes, bitter cherries, poor Dahl; what goes around comes around. It seems he became somewhat famous because of his contributing to kill disco and disco's ultimate so called death. Dahl is still popular but not famous. He is overweight, and is old looking (click on URL) http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedi...Steve_Dahl.jpg
and still is living on disco's so called demise (which we all know is not true).



Garry

[mcfoghat]

For me, as a DJ, I noticed my packages from the South Florida record pool started containing more and more of the "Afrikka Bambata" type of music. That's when I realized that the classics would have to sustain me.
I agree, however, that disco never dies. The good music went back underground-Older DJ's remember trying to find 2 copies of a 45 like "Autumn Leaves" at their favorite record store. Pop music today has a lot of the disco elements, but geared more at the 12 year old female market.
RC McWilliams

[KBallenger53]

To me, only the term "DISCO" died in 1979.... When '80 rolled around, "Disco" only transformed into Dance Music when live bands weren't being used anymore and everything became more electronic, thanks Kraftwerk!!!

When the mid '80's rolled around, it transformed into House Music or Club Music as we used to call it in Jersey. The late 80's brought about Techno, Underground, Tribal, Hip House, Acid, Acid Jazz, but "DISCO" is the root of the tree MON!!! IRIE!!!

Every tree is known by the "FRUIT" that it bears!!!

'Nuff Said

[VM227]

If you don't want to let disco die, sign my petition below.

Bring back Disco/Classic Dance Station to SiriusXM Petition

This sounds like a great thread and I've talked about this with others who have also said that the attempt to kill disco was both homophobic and racist. I agree. Steve Dahl is a moron and it's insane that this guy still gets attention every once in a while for this dumb ass stunt.

[garrybcoston]

Originally Posted by KBallenger53

To me, only the term "DISCO" died in 1979.... When '80 rolled around, "Disco" only transformed into Dance Music when live bands weren't being used anymore and everything became more electronic, thanks Kraftwerk!!!

When the mid '80's rolled around, it transformed into House Music or Club Music as we used to call it in Jersey. The late 80's brought about Techno, Underground, Tribal, Hip House, Acid, Acid Jazz, but "DISCO" is the root of the tree MON!!! IRIE!!!

Every tree is known by the "FRUIT" that it bears!!!

'Nuff Said

AMEN!!!!!!!

Garry

[Jim Colyer]

People became jealous of disco because it was so successful.

[hotmixbk]

I couldn't agree more with Jim Colyer. I believe several posters have pointed the envy of Disco. The inability or the fear of "Metal Heads" and "Rockers" to dance. The "Melting Pot" effect of the clubs and music. People of all races, genders, ages and sexualities partying together. It's down right scary to some. But it was a beautiful thing. I recall a sign at a Disco in Metro Detroit that read, "Everyone Welcome Except Narrow Minded People!" No statement describes the "Disco Era" better!

[garrybcoston]

I agree; actually disco was way before its time, that is bringing all races, cultures, sexualities together; and it was unheard of at the time and scared a lot of people who were used to the old way of segregating things.

In addition, the music may have been repetitious (which is true) as they used to say, and technologically old school for its time (violins, violas, cellos, congas, brass section, etc.), but it was happy, fun, danceable, and truly heavenly, and most of all, you scored when you went to the clubs, if you could dance, with NO problem!

Garry

[mrkick20000]

Originally Posted by garrybcoston

Sour grapes, bitter cherries, poor Dahl; what goes around comes around. It seems he became somewhat famous because of his contributing to kill disco and disco's ultimate so called death. Dahl is still popular but not famous. He is overweight, and is old looking (click on URL) http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedi...Steve_Dahl.jpg
and still is living on disco's so called demise (which we all know is not true).



Garry

Well said. I am sorry for poor Dahl....

As I checked out the lyrics of his 'Do You Think I'm Disco?,' they are just funny---they go like this:

''I'll tell you something! I have never been happier, now that I'm into this rock and roll thing! I sold my white 3-piece suit at a garage sale last weekend; made $25.00! Got rid of my 280-Z; picked myself up a beat-up old '69 Dart! Melted down all my gold jewelry into a Led Zeppelin belt buckle! ''

A Led Zeppelin belt buckle!----seems as uncool as disco (for him).