2009 Signals the 30th Anniversary of the Beginning of the End....Disco's Death - Sitcoms Online Message Boards

Brian Damage · 06-19-2009, 11:53 PM

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MpQfC...layer_embedded

Back in the summer of 1979, the Detroit rock radio DJ Steve Dahl was so aggrieved that his beloved Stones and Zeppelin were being dropped from playlists in favour of Village People, Donna Summer and Chic, that he launched his "Disco sucks!" campaign. Dahl encouraged listeners to phone in their disco requests, which he would then destroy on air with explosive sound effects. "Midwesterners didn't want that intimidating [disco] style shoved down their throats," said Dahl.

What began as on-air mischief soon snowballed into an anti-disco movement. Joined by a failed rock guitarist called Steve Veek, Dahl took "Disco sucks!" public when Veek secured the use of Comiskey Park, the home of the Chicago White Sox that was owned by his father. In July 1979, Dahl announced that anyone in possession of a disco record would receive cheap entry to the next White Sox home game.

Instead of the usual 16,000 fans, an unprecedented 59,000 turned up. Joined by baseball fans, they proceeded to storm the pitch, where they smashed and burned their Bee Gees vinyl. "They wore Led Zeppelin and Black Sabbath T-shirts," writes Knopper, then a 13-year-old disco-hater "smashed bottles on the ground, smoked God knows what and chanted their almighty rallying cry: 'Disco sucks'!"

If that's not enough to turn you into a disco fan, then I don't know what is. The unspoken subtext was obvious: disco music was for homosexuals and black people. Not only that, but, as Knopper notes, in the disco era "to make it with a lady a guy had to learn how to dance. And wear a fancy suit!"

It wasn't real concerns such as the threat of war or the loss of jobs that inspired this hate-fest, but something far more malevolent ingrained in rock fans' collective psyche. What should have been harmless insurrection became a demolition rally for hard-rocking, middle American, predominantly white dudes with dubious taste. "It's incredible that rock fans would actually riot for the right to hear REO Speedwagon and Foreigner," Knopper writes.

In the short term, this disco backlash worked. Records sales bolstered by disco's glory days of 1974 to the Saturday Night Fever-fuelled high of 1978 fell by 11% in 1979, and the major US record labels began to look elsewhere for cash cows: to hard rock, new wave and power-pop fluff.

But it was a pyrrhic victory. Disco spawned house music and the club scene and impacted upon the then-emerging hip-hop culture. In short, disco's influence is everywhere. Could you envisage such a thing happening today? Could you imagine thousands of knuckle-headed Nickelback fans protesting Madonna's latest album?

Thankfully not. In an era when all music is just a click away, when gay culture is embedded in the mainstream and America has a black president, it would be nice to think minds have expanded. Thirty years on, the "Disco sucks!" campaign was clearly a resolute failure. But for a while it had an industry quaking in its Cuban heels.

http://www.guardian.co.uk/music/musi...18/disco-sucks

Nighthawk76 · 06-20-2009, 12:10 AM

Steve Dahl was and is an idiot. Besides, disco didn't die. The good stuff survived and people still listen to it today.

Zoneboy · 06-20-2009, 12:22 AM

What's really sad is probably a lot of valuable vinyl was destroyed because of all that but who knew back then that 30 years later there would be a collector's market for it and eBay to help with finding it especially the rare stuff? Ironically though, The really popular disco artists of the time including Abba, Bee Gees, Donna Summer, KC and the Sunshine Band, Village People etc.. are not high on the totem pole as far as collectible vinyl is concerned. Their records were produced in such huge quantities that you can hardly give them away and 12" singles are more sought-after than 45's and Lp's. If you have any dance/disco 12" singles released prior to 1977 then you should consider selling them on eBay or hanging onto them but whatever you do, Don't give them away or trash them because you could be throwing money out the door.

ABlairican Pie · 06-20-2009, 01:51 AM

Being the big metal fan that I am, I was not disappointed to see the death of disco thirty years ago. It always struck me as this sappy, trendy form of pop dreck only meant for all the soshy trendoids. It was not music meant for any real depth or lasting substance. As a rocker, I prayed for the death of disco.
And sure enough, 1979 was the year that brought us AC/DC to the forefront, Van Halen was getting huge, and in another year, America would get its major first taste of NWOBHM (New Wave Of British Heavy Metal) in the form
of Iron Maiden, Judas Priest, Motorhead, and Saxon.

Having said that, there WAS a place for disco. It didn't mean to take itself seriously. It was just fun music. The women were hot, the tunes were catchy, and sometimes I enjoy hearing something like "Boogie Nights" by Heat Wave--and OMG, "How Do You Like It (More, More, More)", by Andrea True Connection!!! I think I did mention in my rock and roll history section of the 70's that she actually was a former porn actress!

So in spite a bit of fluff, disco did bring back one very important component of pop music:
SEXINESS. Sorry, but there was nothing sexy about 'Tales From Topographic
Oceans' by Yes. As far as I know.

Schmoopie · 06-20-2009, 03:36 AM

I've noticed that a lot of the stuff that's popular today is stuff (music and other things) that would be considered embarrassing to have back then. Meaning that if you admitted that you liked a particular person, place or thing, you really got put through the embarrasment ringer!

catlover79 · 06-20-2009, 09:53 AM

To me, good music is good music and I enjoy disco. I agree with Ablairican, "More, More, More" and "Boogie Nights" are great songs.

isiahthomas · 06-20-2009, 12:08 PM

I like disco music. Chic was my favorite disco artist. I also like Rock The Boat song by that black group. I can't think of their name. The Bee Gees made some good disco songs.

Zoneboy · 06-20-2009, 12:15 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by isiahthomas

I also like Rock The Boat song by that black group. I can't think of their name.

That black group? Geez, can't you make a comment without bringing up race? All you had to do was say that you couldn't recall the name of the band. Their skin color makes no difference and by the way, it was the Hues Corporation.

isiahthomas · 06-20-2009, 12:45 PM

LOL@you being sensitive about me bringing up race hahahahahahahahahaha. The Hues Corporation is their name. Thanks. Rock The Boat song is a classic. I also like the disco songs Everlasting Love by Carl Carlton, It Only Takes A Minute To Fall In Love by Tavares, Ladies Night, Hangin Out, Tonight's The Night, Hollywood Swinging by Kool And The Gang, Groove Line by Heatwave, Love Hangover by Diana Ross, Love To Love You Baby by Donna Summer, Got To Give It Up by Marvin Gaye, Dancing Machine by The Jackson 5. I don't know why people back then made such a big deal about disco was starting to get on their nerves. There was nothing wrong with disco music. I like uptempo party songs anyway because i can't stand love songs. Is there any documentaries available on dvd to buy about disco?

Zoneboy · 06-20-2009, 12:53 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by isiahthomas

LOL@you being sensitive about me bringing up race hahahahahahahahahaha.

It has nothing to do with being sensitive, Your comment was totally pointless. It's no different than someone asking who sang "Sweet Home Alabama" and mentioning that they were a white group. Most any of us here could've told you who sang "Rock the Boat" without being told the group was black.

isiahthomas · 06-20-2009, 01:34 PM

I just saw a documentary about disco at Amazon.com called Disco:Spinning The Story and it's $9.99. It's hosted by Gloria Gaynor and there's interviews with disco artists like George Clinton, KC And The Sunshine Band, Chic, Village People, Donna Summer. There's also live performances by disco artists like Chic, Donna Summer, Kool And The Gang, Thelma Houston, The Hues Corporation. I wanna see this documentary. I'm gonna buy it. Didn't KC And The Sunshine Band sing Keep It Coming Love? I forgot about Hot Chocolate who sang You Sexy Thing. That's a good disco song. Isaac Hayes made a good disco song called Don't Let Go. That's my jam.

MickeyMac · 06-20-2009, 03:16 PM

With the exception of the Bee Gees and a couple of tunes by Chic I was never a big fan of disco myself. My beef with the genre is that most of it was done on keyboards and drum machines and they used the same beat throughout the whole song. Talk about irritating.

That said go to a wedding reception and more than likely you will hear disco music because people want to dance.

Nighthawk76 · 06-20-2009, 06:18 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by MickeyMac

With the exception of the Bee Gees and a couple of tunes by Chic I was never a big fan of disco myself. My beef with the genre is that most of it was done on keyboards and drum machines and they used the same beat throughout the whole song. Talk about irritating.

That said go to a wedding reception and more than likely you will hear disco music because people want to dance.

The Bee Gees were great, period. Be it there disco music or their non-disco music. I think that Barry Gibb is one of the greatest pop songwriters in rock n' roll history. The brothers were also great producers. I still cannot believe that there was such a backlash against them in the 80's and early 90's.

Nighthawk76 · 06-20-2009, 06:19 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by catlover79

To me, good music is good music and I enjoy disco. I agree with Ablairican, "More, More, More" and "Boogie Nights" are great songs.

Well put, Monika.

MrCleveland · 06-20-2009, 07:06 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Shine

The Bee Gees were great, period. Be it there disco music or their non-disco music. I think that Barry Gibb is one of the greatest pop songwriters in rock n' roll history. The brothers were also great producers. I still cannot believe that there was such a backlash against them in the 80's and early 90's.

I preferred The Bee Gees when they were a Baroque-Rock Band from the 60's, using many instruments such as mellotrons and harpsichords. But since their popularity waned in the 70's...they went to disco!

I kinda like disco, but it was something to kill rock music. Now it's "American Idol".

I think we should do what they did to disco...get all the stuff that is "American Idol" and have an "American Idol Sucks!" rally.

06-19-2009, 11:53 PM	#1
Brian Damage I'm Rich Bitch Forum Icon Join Date: Feb 03, 2002 Location: What Ain't No Country I Ever Heard Of...They Speak English in What? Posts: 63,107	2009 Signals the 30th Anniversary of the Beginning of the End....Disco's Death http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MpQfC...layer_embedded Back in the summer of 1979, the Detroit rock radio DJ Steve Dahl was so aggrieved that his beloved Stones and Zeppelin were being dropped from playlists in favour of Village People, Donna Summer and Chic, that he launched his "Disco sucks!" campaign. Dahl encouraged listeners to phone in their disco requests, which he would then destroy on air with explosive sound effects. "Midwesterners didn't want that intimidating [disco] style shoved down their throats," said Dahl. What began as on-air mischief soon snowballed into an anti-disco movement. Joined by a failed rock guitarist called Steve Veek, Dahl took "Disco sucks!" public when Veek secured the use of Comiskey Park, the home of the Chicago White Sox that was owned by his father. In July 1979, Dahl announced that anyone in possession of a disco record would receive cheap entry to the next White Sox home game. Instead of the usual 16,000 fans, an unprecedented 59,000 turned up. Joined by baseball fans, they proceeded to storm the pitch, where they smashed and burned their Bee Gees vinyl. "They wore Led Zeppelin and Black Sabbath T-shirts," writes Knopper, then a 13-year-old disco-hater "smashed bottles on the ground, smoked God knows what and chanted their almighty rallying cry: 'Disco sucks'!" If that's not enough to turn you into a disco fan, then I don't know what is. The unspoken subtext was obvious: disco music was for homosexuals and black people. Not only that, but, as Knopper notes, in the disco era "to make it with a lady a guy had to learn how to dance. And wear a fancy suit!" It wasn't real concerns such as the threat of war or the loss of jobs that inspired this hate-fest, but something far more malevolent ingrained in rock fans' collective psyche. What should have been harmless insurrection became a demolition rally for hard-rocking, middle American, predominantly white dudes with dubious taste. "It's incredible that rock fans would actually riot for the right to hear REO Speedwagon and Foreigner," Knopper writes. In the short term, this disco backlash worked. Records sales bolstered by disco's glory days of 1974 to the Saturday Night Fever-fuelled high of 1978 fell by 11% in 1979, and the major US record labels began to look elsewhere for cash cows: to hard rock, new wave and power-pop fluff. But it was a pyrrhic victory. Disco spawned house music and the club scene and impacted upon the then-emerging hip-hop culture. In short, disco's influence is everywhere. Could you envisage such a thing happening today? Could you imagine thousands of knuckle-headed Nickelback fans protesting Madonna's latest album? Thankfully not. In an era when all music is just a click away, when gay culture is embedded in the mainstream and America has a black president, it would be nice to think minds have expanded. Thirty years on, the "Disco sucks!" campaign was clearly a resolute failure. But for a while it had an industry quaking in its Cuban heels. http://www.guardian.co.uk/music/musi...18/disco-sucks
	__________________ The Key to the Kingdom of Heaven: John 3:3 *Money Doesn't Buy Happiness...But I'd Rather Cry in My Private Jet*

06-20-2009, 12:22 AM	#3
Zoneboy RIP, I'LL NEVER FORGET YOU :( Moderator Forum Superstar Join Date: Jul 13, 2003 Location: AT HOME WISHING ALL THIS WAS JUST A DREAM AND THAT I'LL WAKE UP FROM THIS NIGHTMARE. Posts: 34,434	What's really sad is probably a lot of valuable vinyl was destroyed because of all that but who knew back then that 30 years later there would be a collector's market for it and eBay to help with finding it especially the rare stuff? Ironically though, The really popular disco artists of the time including Abba, Bee Gees, Donna Summer, KC and the Sunshine Band, Village People etc.. are not high on the totem pole as far as collectible vinyl is concerned. Their records were produced in such huge quantities that you can hardly give them away and 12" singles are more sought-after than 45's and Lp's. If you have any dance/disco 12" singles released prior to 1977 then you should consider selling them on eBay or hanging onto them but whatever you do, Don't give them away or trash them because you could be throwing money out the door.
	__________________ 'Twas The Night Before Christmas And All Through The Full House Not A Creature Was Stirring, Not Even Mighty Mouse. All My Children We're Nestled All Snug In Their Beds While Visions Of Sugarbakers Danced In Their Heads.

06-20-2009, 01:51 AM	#4
ABlairican Pie Member Forum Superstar Join Date: Dec 12, 2001 Location: Living where cats reign more Supreme than a pizza. Posts: 31,619	Being the big metal fan that I am, I was not disappointed to see the death of disco thirty years ago. It always struck me as this sappy, trendy form of pop dreck only meant for all the soshy trendoids. It was not music meant for any real depth or lasting substance. As a rocker, I prayed for the death of disco. And sure enough, 1979 was the year that brought us AC/DC to the forefront, Van Halen was getting huge, and in another year, America would get its major first taste of NWOBHM (New Wave Of British Heavy Metal) in the form of Iron Maiden, Judas Priest, Motorhead, and Saxon. Having said that, there WAS a place for disco. It didn't mean to take itself seriously. It was just fun music. The women were hot, the tunes were catchy, and sometimes I enjoy hearing something like "Boogie Nights" by Heat Wave--and OMG, "How Do You Like It (More, More, More)", by Andrea True Connection!!! I think I did mention in my rock and roll history section of the 70's that she actually was a former porn actress! So in spite a bit of fluff, disco did bring back one very important component of pop music: SEXINESS. Sorry, but there was nothing sexy about 'Tales From Topographic Oceans' by Yes. As far as I know.
	__________________ Release the kitties. --Nathan Explosion

06-20-2009, 03:36 AM	#5
Schmoopie Keep Calm and Love Snoopy Forum Star Join Date: Jul 13, 2008 Location: Lynnwood, Washington Posts: 15,697	I've noticed that a lot of the stuff that's popular today is stuff (music and other things) that would be considered embarrassing to have back then. Meaning that if you admitted that you liked a particular person, place or thing, you really got put through the embarrasment ringer!
	__________________ In memory of my wonderful husband. I love and miss you more than words can say, but I will always and forever keep you in my heart. September 23, 1961-January 14, 2019

06-20-2009, 09:53 AM	#6
catlover79 God Bless Val Forum Addict Join Date: May 29, 2006 Location: Bewitched in Ohio Posts: 70,392	To me, good music is good music and I enjoy disco. I agree with Ablairican, "More, More, More" and "Boogie Nights" are great songs.
	__________________ "Jesus loves you and He approves this message." "I'm alive. I'm feeling good. I'm trying to live every moment as much as I can." - Valerie Harper, March 2013

06-20-2009, 12:10 AM	#2
Nighthawk76 Rachel Berry Forum Celebrity Join Date: Feb 28, 2003 Location: Illinois Posts: 23,254	Steve Dahl was and is an idiot. Besides, disco didn't die. The good stuff survived and people still listen to it today.

06-20-2009, 12:08 PM	#7
isiahthomas Member Forum Fanatic Join Date: Aug 20, 2002 Location: Cleveland, Ohio Posts: 10,704	I like disco music. Chic was my favorite disco artist. I also like Rock The Boat song by that black group. I can't think of their name. The Bee Gees made some good disco songs.

06-20-2009, 12:45 PM	#9
isiahthomas Member Forum Fanatic Join Date: Aug 20, 2002 Location: Cleveland, Ohio Posts: 10,704	LOL@you being sensitive about me bringing up race hahahahahahahahahaha. The Hues Corporation is their name. Thanks. Rock The Boat song is a classic. I also like the disco songs Everlasting Love by Carl Carlton, It Only Takes A Minute To Fall In Love by Tavares, Ladies Night, Hangin Out, Tonight's The Night, Hollywood Swinging by Kool And The Gang, Groove Line by Heatwave, Love Hangover by Diana Ross, Love To Love You Baby by Donna Summer, Got To Give It Up by Marvin Gaye, Dancing Machine by The Jackson 5. I don't know why people back then made such a big deal about disco was starting to get on their nerves. There was nothing wrong with disco music. I like uptempo party songs anyway because i can't stand love songs. Is there any documentaries available on dvd to buy about disco?

06-20-2009, 01:34 PM	#11
isiahthomas Member Forum Fanatic Join Date: Aug 20, 2002 Location: Cleveland, Ohio Posts: 10,704	I just saw a documentary about disco at Amazon.com called Disco:Spinning The Story and it's $9.99. It's hosted by Gloria Gaynor and there's interviews with disco artists like George Clinton, KC And The Sunshine Band, Chic, Village People, Donna Summer. There's also live performances by disco artists like Chic, Donna Summer, Kool And The Gang, Thelma Houston, The Hues Corporation. I wanna see this documentary. I'm gonna buy it. Didn't KC And The Sunshine Band sing Keep It Coming Love? I forgot about Hot Chocolate who sang You Sexy Thing. That's a good disco song. Isaac Hayes made a good disco song called Don't Let Go. That's my jam.

06-20-2009, 03:16 PM	#12
MickeyMac Member Forum Star Join Date: Jun 18, 2008 Location: Kalamazoo, Michigan Posts: 19,008	With the exception of the Bee Gees and a couple of tunes by Chic I was never a big fan of disco myself. My beef with the genre is that most of it was done on keyboards and drum machines and they used the same beat throughout the whole song. Talk about irritating. That said go to a wedding reception and more than likely you will hear disco music because people want to dance.