The Back Room was my backyard

By James

August 21, 2006 12:03 PM | Link to this

The SAN ANTONIO BACK ROOM at a club called Sneakers holds the exact memories for me. I mean the ORIGINAL SA BR, not the 2nd SA BR at the 2nd Sneakers - tho I’m sure all associated with the 2nd SA BR feel the same. My band, Jumbo played the SA BR many times opening for Nazareth, Great White, etc. We all miss the “musician” era. If you remember Jumbo send me an email. Anyone know how to contact Jim Ramsey?

By Troubadillo

August 20, 2006 03:53 PM | Link to this

Austin was my home until 1992 and memories of the Back Room will always be a part of my DilloHistory.

Lots of great music and fun! Those buckets of little beers were one of my favorite things. Still got the buckets.

Keep on rocking!!!

By James Carman

August 16, 2006 04:04 PM | Link to this

Thank you Back Room and Jim Ramsey for giving us (Maskerade) a chance to play there, to learn and grow and to have a great time. Over the years I lost count on how many gigs we did there but it was always a blast…and they can’t take that away!

By Kristin

August 11, 2006 10:11 AM | Link to this

Well, we just moved to Austin from NOLA in December and saw a couple of our first shows in town at the Backroom. I know we saw Oklahomos and we also saw Back Lit Revolver. Great times!

By DC

August 11, 2006 08:39 AM | Link to this

Rock is now officially dead in Austin. There are no true rock radio stations and now no true rock venues either.

By Manny

August 7, 2006 11:51 PM | Link to this

i remember going to the backroom because a friend of mine named Ernie invited me. i live in the rio grande valley and we didnt have a place like the backroom, so i would cruise up to austin just to go there. im going to miss it. i had alot of good times and lots of good memories. it was the best place in texas to listen to rock.

By Ernie

August 7, 2006 03:32 AM | Link to this

I moved to Austin in 1987 and one of the first clubs I went to was the Backroom. I moved into an apartment on Royal Crest and partied there all the time. I saw many touring and local bands and I always had a great time there. I remember the t-shirts on the cieling and nowhere to sit on the band side. Rock on and good bye old friend.

By Rick - MEYVN

August 1, 2006 03:47 PM | Link to this

TO see any live venue close its doors is sad, but to have a venue that meant so much to so many people in the Metal community is even sadder. It’s a sad day for Austin, a sad day for the scene and sad to think of the untold numbers of bands who’ve yet to form and make music that won’t be able to experience playing on that stage and cursing the center pole. For us it will be greatly missed. I think in time it’s loss will become felt even more.

By Lewis

July 30, 2006 10:23 AM | Link to this

Greetings to all, I am sad to see the end of a very long run for one of my favorite spots in Austin. On the nights that sixth street just wasn’t what you were looking for where did you go? Where did everybody go? Of course, the Back Room! I am saddend to say that I can not join all of you to wish a fond fairwell to a main staple of Austin as I am stuck in Hell. Otherwise known as Baghad Iraq. Good-bye old friend you are legendary.

By Kizzy

July 29, 2006 08:53 PM | Link to this

My one and only serenade happened at Wednesday night karaoke w/ a $5 pitcher of Lone Star . Life could not get any better than that!!

By Stevie

July 29, 2006 01:32 PM | Link to this

Read the Police reports from when the Back Room open up until now. I witness severe injuries and victims being bashed by security. Their a reason the Back Room is closing, and police records could speak for itself. Only if the public could be informed about the TRUTH about the BACK ROOM!!!!

By Marsha

July 29, 2006 11:31 AM | Link to this

I loved going to see bands like SkullDuggery, Outlaw Circus, Onyx and Wiked Wayz! The guys (and girls)like Jon Horton, Tim Medina, Tony Nobles, Richard Belisle, and Onyx were the best! And had the best HAIR!

By chris kinney

July 28, 2006 04:29 PM | Link to this

I remember seeing Dangerous Toys and the Sea Hags back in 89, I was in from California to see my folks. Just one show but still alot of cool memories. cjk in Colorado

By Nora Marasco

July 28, 2006 12:47 PM | Link to this

The mid to late 80’s there was Jim Ramsey as promoter and The Stray Cats, Charlie Sexton,Will and the Kill, Lou Ann Barton,Julie Burrell, Nazareth, and Dangerous Toy’s, they were so petite and cute! It was an endless parade of talent and lasting memories. All the nights of South By Southwest. And of course the huge pool room was always an adventure.

By CA

July 28, 2006 10:55 AM | Link to this

Big Audio Dynamite, Ramones, Richard Thompson, Adrian Belew, X, Wall of Voodoo, Love and Rockets (w/ opening band Jane’s Addiction), Sugarcubes (with the marvelously screeching Bjork), IceT and Body Count, School of Fish, Legendary Pink Dots…The backroom wasn’t just for metalheads. The late 80’s and early 90’s were eclectic, cutting edge and what a blast! Fonds memories forever, with my last few braincells!

By Scott

July 28, 2006 10:14 AM | Link to this

I always had a great time at the Back Room. Ace Frehley (!) Kiss tribute bands, and the FLAMING LIPS opening for Lush (who?). Everyone was friendly. A great place for a show.

Like Liberty Lunch, The Electric Lounge, Rauls, and Dukes Royal Coach, another fine bit of Austin bites the dust. Its sad. It will be missed.

By Mary

July 28, 2006 08:55 AM | Link to this

I remember the Back Room as the Copper Dollar (many moons ago), pardy ALL the time. Then they both merged into ONE, now my kids BANGED their heads @ the BACKROOM listening to DEICIDE, SEPULTURA, SOULFLY etc., Some of the greatest bands EVER! We also booked shows there (son booking agent) and booked some of the GREATEST HARD-CORE Metal Bands including DISFIGURED!

By Sherri

July 27, 2006 11:04 PM | Link to this

Used to go in the late 70s through the 80s. First we (the girls from SRD dorm) went EVERY Friday night to see Dan and Dave. That was some beer-drinking fun. Then I went most weekends with my now ex-husband to watch whoever was on stage while he played foosball for hours.

By Cindy Marabito

July 27, 2006 07:40 PM | Link to this

I worked at the Back Room summer of ‘79. I saw a ton of great bands when working/partying there. I remember an early Buddy and Julie Miller who always put on a good show. More boring was Kenneth Threadgill who would perform and then go around and collect all the tips to be had in his hat. My last night was when a frat guy pulled up my dress and I threw a pitcher of beer on him. His girlfriend stood up and told me I couldn’t do that, so I threw what was left in the pitcher on her. Waste of good beer. Those were the days.

By Amy

July 27, 2006 06:50 PM | Link to this

PARIAH!!! The best memories EVER!!

By ringo

July 27, 2006 06:38 PM | Link to this

I wasn’t a regular, but had a great time everytime I went.

Rock on.

By Amy

July 27, 2006 06:19 PM | Link to this

To everyone at The Backroom: Thanks for the memories and for all the support you have given to every musician that has came through your doors! Over the years many of us have called The Room home… There have been Girls night out, blind dates, was I blind when I agreed to this dates, Birthday Bash’s, CD Releases -for everyone you know and a lot that you didn’t, Local Lix, and Dangerous Toys! The absolute best times at the Backroom were the PARIAH shows!! Love you, always will! You guy ROCKED!

By stevear

July 27, 2006 06:09 PM | Link to this

I recall pantiless chicks in skirts, worn-in pool tables, good n cheap beer, good smelling smoke, videogames, and most of all, the crunch-grind-screech of guitars…it’s really a shame to lose it…i NEVER had a bad time there.

By Layne

July 27, 2006 05:39 PM | Link to this

Moved to Austin in 1991 and made numerous trips to the Back Room, including the Pantera Gig. Ended up in front of the club that nite smoking a Jay with other near rioters to mellow out. Also made it to the new years bash that year, don’t remember who was jammin, but I was! The Back Room ROCKS!

By Stacey

July 27, 2006 05:33 PM | Link to this

Ramones- 2 nights in a row - pics of me with Joey and Johnny are prominently displayed in my home (may they both RIP). MANY Pariah shows and Lindsey Buckingham’s solo tour. Good times. So was kicking my ex-bf’s butt on Final Lap. It’s been awhile, but the game side always had the best pinball machine selection. Such a shame that another fine Austin venue has to bite the bust. See everyone there on Saturday!

By Mando Tovar

July 27, 2006 04:37 PM | Link to this

The first time I hungout at the Backroom was January 30th 1988. Some friends asked if wanted to see The Ramones………c’mon…….nuff said……

By Paul

July 27, 2006 03:07 PM | Link to this

Ahh…the bouncing drum riser. It was tough at first, but you got used to it. Always sounded good though.

By Vic

July 27, 2006 02:31 PM | Link to this

Even though BR was THE metal mainstay, we saw some cool new wave shows there as well, ther most memorable being Xymox in ‘91 and A Flock of Seagulls in ‘89… I also remember seeing Stephen Pearcy on one of his solo tours… great times, great place.. we’ll miss it a lot…

By Cindy

July 27, 2006 02:22 PM | Link to this

The early 70’s were such good times!! And how lucky to have lived at The Arbor off Riverside, so close to the Back Room… can still hear “Aqua Lung” sung by a band with such cute guys!!!!

By Tim

July 27, 2006 01:39 PM | Link to this

Talk about a “phase 2” article. What about the days of free music, every night of the week. The back portion used to be the Copper Dollar, a pool bar. Kenneth Threadgill Sunday nights, Marcia Ball, Van Wilks, Willie walking on to do a set, brawls, $.65 long neck Buds. From 1978 to 1983, the Back Room was my bar. It is the only bar I have ever been a regular at and I’m am still sporting a scar I picked up there. The Back Room will live forever in my mind and on my body.

By Kerri

July 27, 2006 12:32 PM | Link to this

I remember throwing up in the Back Room bathroom in 1992. I think Great White played that night.

By Marcus

July 27, 2006 12:30 PM | Link to this

Public Enemy and Big Audio Dynamite blew me away back in early 90s. I got to practice twicew a week at the BR on the big stage with Cap’t Phleabag and the upstart Jolly Garagers several yrs ago. Too heavy for me! BR was fun and could kick your a*s if you weren’t firing on all cylinders. RIP, Back Room.YOu have filled my ears with tinnitus for years to come. Remember PocketFishrmen, et al, during SXSW. “The Black Doom”? \ Slash’s Blues Ball was the the rockin’est!!!!!!

By glenn benavides

July 27, 2006 12:29 PM | Link to this

From getting silly string sprayed all over my girlfriend and myself by Poison,(1986) Doing a KLBJ local licks live when I was in Doctors Mob,(1988) Playing with Pariah and Micheal Monroe,when I was in Buick Mackane…(1989) all seems like one ROCKING night…oh and there was the time Alejandro Escovedo and I were shooting pool against 2 of Iggy Pop’s backup band, and they asked ” if we win do we get your girlfriend’s?”…The Back Room DID rock!!

By Cindy

July 27, 2006 12:20 PM | Link to this

I remember going to the Back room after work. The place was always Rocking after 10pm.And does anybody remember the 10cent drinks?Or was that a secret? My girlfriend got barred for “LIFE” because she grabbed a bartenders jewels, hey she was drunk.We tried to sneak her after a couple of years, but we were all told to leave,AHHH!, thought it might have slipped his mind.Suffice to say my friend has now been Sober for 8 years. Yeah

By Jill

July 27, 2006 12:17 PM | Link to this

The best shows I ever saw, the best times I ever had, and the best friends I ever made! I will never forget the Back Room!!!

By Mike Watson

July 27, 2006 12:06 PM | Link to this

I moved to Austin with my friend/guitarist Scott Dalhover in 85. When I discovered the Back Room I knew I was home. I moved to an apartment right behind there so I was at “The Room” every spare moment. We started a band called Onyx and played there back when bands had to pass out tickets for people to come see you play. Later, when we formed Dangerous Toys, the Back Room became our base of operations. I will truly miss the place but I have tons of memories!

By claire

July 27, 2006 11:52 AM | Link to this

all i can say is, i don’t know how i would have gotten through those angsty teen years w/out the backroom. or all these drunken adult years without $0.50 wells. i’ll be there saturday with hard core bells on…

By susan

July 27, 2006 11:50 AM | Link to this

We’d go to the “BathRoom” in the early 90’s to see our friends Poe & Bobby of Soulgate everytime they played. Saw Aushiwitz46 a lot. One of my favorite shows that will always stick with me was the Genitorturers show. It made Ohms’ bondage nite look like day care! Mostly I recall standing as close to the pit as I dared so I could watch all my big guy friends go crazy around that damn pole. Amazing nobody cracked open their skull!!!!

By Judy

July 27, 2006 11:37 AM | Link to this

The one and only time I ever went to the Back Room was for an Al Stewart (yes, THAT Al Stewart…”Year of the Cat”)show in 1987. There was a metal band playing on one stage, and Al Stewart and his band on another. It was surreal, but it worked. Thanks for the memories.

By Charlotte Miller

July 27, 2006 10:34 AM | Link to this

Friends did indeed meet future spouses! I met my husband at a Dokken show at the BR, as well as made lifelong friends there. I spent countless nights in thelate eighties and early nineties there. The memories are often fuzzy around the edges, but I wouldn’t trade ‘em for anything.

By James

July 27, 2006 10:23 AM | Link to this

Sad to see it go. I posted about it today at:

http://coyotemercury.com/blog1/2006/07/27/so-long-back-room/

By Eric

July 27, 2006 10:23 AM | Link to this

Ah, the Back Room!! Motorhead, Dio, hangin’ with Zakk Wylde, Tracii Guns (whom I toured with) the late Ray Gillan (who sang with Sabbath and Jake E. Lee in Bad English) Of course, Mr. McMaster and Co. Seeing Dimebag bust the headstock off of his Dean guitar and then send a roadie out to retrieve it!! Many great memories, indeed. Goodnight, old girl…

By Rob the ex lawyer

July 27, 2006 10:17 AM | Link to this

After all these years I recognize this name! In 1975, I was a transplanted ex NYer in law school, living the new E. Riverside paradise. Every complex was new and had gorgeous swimming pools. You could test the waters on 80 degree Feb days! The Back Room was our corner bar, with 75-cent drinks at Happy hour or late night after studying at the Library. Funny, I don’t remember it as dirty at all. It was just cool. Now, it’s just a bar on the way to the Airport. May have to stop in this week!

By Lynn Hernandez

July 27, 2006 10:09 AM | Link to this

When I first moved to Austin in 1992 head of security Frank, hired me as a security guard out of the goodness of his heart and a favor to my brother-in-law Bob Fuller (who handled the tickets for Star Tickets). I’d never done that before so I was nervous as hell especially since it was THE BACK ROOM!!! Imagine my horror when I pulled up for work and saw on the marquee: ICE T & ICE CUBE.

By kevin

July 27, 2006 09:33 AM | Link to this

i will never forget the good ol days and the now days. It was so easy to hang out backstage. Sweet moments were hanging out with L.A. Guns, White Zombie before the fame. D.R.I and the hellacious daring mosh pits. And last chatting with the best, Ice T and all the Body Count memebers…..Austin come on!!

By Steve Hudson

July 27, 2006 09:08 AM | Link to this

I loved the street vibe of this place, both as a fan and as a performer. The best shows I saw there were The Four Horsemen, Public Enemy, and King’s X, but watching local acts rock the joint was what the “Black Womb” was all about. Hats off to the crew there for keeping it real for so long.

By Lynda

July 27, 2006 08:57 AM | Link to this

Jeff, Buffy, Tim, and Shawn are the Backroom! Love those Long Island Ice-Teas!

We will miss you guys!

By Sandy

July 27, 2006 08:56 AM | Link to this

The ‘80’s at the BackRoom were the best times of my life.

By John

July 27, 2006 07:56 AM | Link to this

I have plenty of good memories from the late 80s/early 90s at the Backroom…Big Audio Dynamite, Sugarcubes, Mr. Bungle, Faith No More, Ice-T & Body Count, Public Enemy, the Jim Rose Circus…really fun times in my early 20s.

By Walter

July 27, 2006 07:33 AM | Link to this

Does anybody know if their is such as thing as Backroom merchanise on-line?

By Jen

July 26, 2006 11:19 PM | Link to this

Hey I worked at the Back Room in ‘83 with Connie, I was the “other waitress”- met Charlie Sexton there, and lots of great people (Bill, Tommy, Gary, etc.), Clifford, Todd, the list goes on. The Back Room is going to be missed by a lot of people, but things are changing in Austin. Best of luck to all of you!! keepmguessing@aim.com

By Selena

July 26, 2006 04:07 PM | Link to this

Ladies night and .10 drinks. Ahhh, love them college years!