It was the best of times, and yes... it
WAS the best of times.
I turned 18 in the summer of 76. Fresh out of high school, young and cocky with a whole new world waiting for me. The drinking age in Michigan was still 18 at the time and that opened the pub doors to many new experiences. Not the least among them would be regular visits over the next four years to the local Rock n Roll club, the
Tanz Haus.
I remember walking through the front doors of the Bavarian style A-frame entrance for the first time. As the door man checked my I.D. to verify that I was of legal drinking age, I scanned the walls with awe. They were covered with framed band promo photographs. It was a "who's who" of Michigan Rock n Roll bands that had frequented the place. Among them, Bob Seger, Brownsville Station, Glen Frey, MC5, Frost, Ted Nugent...and the band I was here to see tonight, Salem Witchcraft.
Salem Witchcraft 1978Being in the latter half of the seventies, I had just missed out on seeing the big name bands before they went big time, but Salem Witchcraft felt like the band that was going to be the next big thing (They were friends with Ted Nugent) and we could see them now in this small club.
The Tanz Haus was located on the outskirts of Traverse City, a small town at the time, in northern Michigan. Being outside of the city limits meant that in the summer, one entire wall of the club would open up access to the outside patio area. This would make the place bigger and less smoky, without any worry of the loud music bothering any neighbors. Being outside, it was also where you could sneak a doobie with your friends.
I remember drinking beers, smoking cigarettes, and trying to pick out the girls that looked like they might want to dance. This was Rock n Roll heaven! I wasn't very good at the dancing part, but when some awesome cover tune of a song from a popular band like Boston or Led Zep would play, success was inevitable. Dancing had two purposes. The first was to meet girls, and the second was to be closer to the band. The dance floor was right in front of the stage.
I recall one Saturday night that we had been looking forward to seeing Salem Witchcraft. A big party came up so we blew it off. That, we would learn later, was a mistake. A couple friends showed up at the party very late and had just came from closing the Tanz Haus. They had the pleasure of sharing their story of Ted Nugent getting up on stage and jamming with the band all night.
"Dude, it was so awesome!"Arrgh, of all nights not to go!
Oh well. That was a long time ago, and since then have gotten to see the best of the Michigan Rock n Roll bands many times over. Alice Cooper, The Rockets, Bob seger, Mitch Rider, Cub Coda, and even Ted Nugent.
Traverse City is like a real city now and there is a sprawl mart of some kind where there used to be a small Bavarian style Rock n Roll club on the edge of the woods.
I don't think Salem Witchcraft ever became that next big thing, but those were some good times.
They were the best of times and Rock n Roll Never Forgets.
Yes... I was 18 and I liked it!
