Yes they did play the Ritz Harvest.In april of ‘72 from what I remember,they opened for the J.Geils Band.Also on the same bill was Detroit featuring Mitch Ryder and a band called Uncle Buck….who a lot people thought was John Lennon using one of his pseudomyns and was going to play with Elephant’s Memory….which of course wasn’t the case. I worked there through the ungano’s years and helped booked that show with Nicky.
I just found this site.I’d like to clear up a few things that have been posted here.
Yes, Bill Graham had a 2 month 50 mile radius unwritten deal with some agencies with the artists he booked….That didn’t affect us….Bill decided on closing the Fillmore’s in april of ‘71 and we opened that may….it wouldn’t have mattered anyways,we were friends of Bill’s and Staten Island back then was considered to be like Siberia (and still to this day is) and would have little to no effect on the well established Fillmore East….That ban was really for Howard Stein and Ronnie Delsener.
The other thing I see mentioned here a few times is the june Badfinger show that the “Pagan’s” supposively disrupted tha late show.
First of all it was the Breed not the Pagans and they had nothing to do with the late show being cancelled.Yes there was a few memembers (about 6 to eight)of that club that were hanging out in the upper lobby and yes a few of them were acting up with some of the females.They had their colors on (their jackets) and probably said a few things that scared people that were in that area,but believe me….It was nothing and it had nothing to do with badfinger not playing the late show.
Anyone who went to the Ritz during the Ungano’s era would remember our bouncers and would know that this so called “almost a riot thing” is bs.Our bouncers were not just older (over 35),they were not your typical rock theatre security guys….They were very big and armed. They did go up the lounge that night as soon as they were aware of any potential disturbance and Big Jim (people might remember him) and Bobbo (who mad Oddjob look small) and the crew quickly resolved any fears that our the members of the audience that were in that area might of had.
Anyways,the real reason Badfinger cancelled the late show was they were looking for a record deal (their Apple deal was expiring) and they had invited just every a & r and record company (including Clive Davis) executive to that june show. It was suppose to be one show as per the contract,Nicky messed up and put two shows on sale when in fact they were booked for one.
We did have them just a few months back (that march) for two shows,but this time around it was for one show and they weren’t willing to do another show.The band was on edge with all the record company people there and this was more of a show case for them.
After a good hour or so of and a lot of us trying to convince them to do another show,they held firm and finally left the theatre.And I repeat it had nothing to do with any so called threats of a riot by anybody including the Breed,the band came to play what they thought was going to be one show they were booked for and left after they did.
We had several shows afterwards including Procol Harum,Dave Mason,Cactus,Billy Preston,Quicksiver Messenger Service,Buddy Miles,Savoy Brown and The Doors….all went on very peacefully.
I hope this clears up a few falsehoods that were posted on here.
Yes they did play the Ritz Harvest.In april of ‘72 from what I remember,they opened for the J.Geils Band.Also on the same bill was Detroit featuring Mitch Ryder and a band called Uncle Buck….who a lot people thought was John Lennon using one of his pseudomyns and was going to play with Elephant’s Memory….which of course wasn’t the case. I worked there through the ungano’s years and helped booked that show with Nicky.
I just found this site.I’d like to clear up a few things that have been posted here.
Yes, Bill Graham had a 2 month 50 mile radius unwritten deal with some agencies with the artists he booked….That didn’t affect us….Bill decided on closing the Fillmore’s in april of ‘71 and we opened that may….it wouldn’t have mattered anyways,we were friends of Bill’s and Staten Island back then was considered to be like Siberia (and still to this day is) and would have little to no effect on the well established Fillmore East….That ban was really for Howard Stein and Ronnie Delsener.
The other thing I see mentioned here a few times is the june Badfinger show that the “Pagan’s” supposively disrupted tha late show.
First of all it was the Breed not the Pagans and they had nothing to do with the late show being cancelled.Yes there was a few memembers (about 6 to eight)of that club that were hanging out in the upper lobby and yes a few of them were acting up with some of the females.They had their colors on (their jackets) and probably said a few things that scared people that were in that area,but believe me….It was nothing and it had nothing to do with badfinger not playing the late show.
Anyone who went to the Ritz during the Ungano’s era would remember our bouncers and would know that this so called “almost a riot thing” is bs.Our bouncers were not just older (over 35),they were not your typical rock theatre security guys….They were very big and armed. They did go up the lounge that night as soon as they were aware of any potential disturbance and Big Jim (people might remember him) and Bobbo (who mad Oddjob look small) and the crew quickly resolved any fears that our the members of the audience that were in that area might of had.
Anyways,the real reason Badfinger cancelled the late show was they were looking for a record deal (their Apple deal was expiring) and they had invited just every a & r and record company (including Clive Davis) executive to that june show. It was suppose to be one show as per the contract,Nicky messed up and put two shows on sale when in fact they were booked for one.
We did have them just a few months back (that march) for two shows,but this time around it was for one show and they weren’t willing to do another show.The band was on edge with all the record company people there and this was more of a show case for them.
After a good hour or so of and a lot of us trying to convince them to do another show,they held firm and finally left the theatre.And I repeat it had nothing to do with any so called threats of a riot by anybody including the Breed,the band came to play what they thought was going to be one show they were booked for and left after they did.
We had several shows afterwards including Procol Harum,Dave Mason,Cactus,Billy Preston,Quicksiver Messenger Service,Buddy Miles,Savoy Brown and The Doors….all went on very peacefully.
I hope this clears up a few falsehoods that were posted on here.
All the best,
Bob Herman