On July 12, we dance in remembrance of the 35th anniversary of Chicago's infamous Disco Demolition! On this day in 1979, over 50,000 people descended onto Comiskey Park to witness the destruction by FIRE of thousands of disco records. Honoring his mantra "disco sucks," local radio personality Steve Dahl secured discount admission to the game for everyone who brought a disco record to destroy. While many dismiss the event as a publicity stunt and a reaction to the mainstreaming of disco, history remembers it as an acute cultural reaction to music that was "superficial" because it was viewed as the product of homosexuals, blacks, Latinos and women. Nile Rodgers of Chic compared the demolition was akin to Nazi book burning. It is undisputed that major label investment retreated from disco shortly after the event.
Skip forward to present times. We live in a world where dance music has again become the soundtrack of mainstream youth culture, in the form of EDM. In light of this mainstreaming, it is now, more than ever, critical to recognize the importance of underground dance music to oppressed peoples before that history is lost.
We keep disco alive, in no small part, because in its beautiful orchestrations and rhythms are also a story of strength and oppositional force.
By dancing together we form communities, coalitions and strengthen our identities. And as disco has carried us into house, techno and new forms of dance. July 12th we celebrate not only disco, but all of these.
Join Zernell, Jamie 3:26, the Black Madonna and Samone, four Chicago selectors who love disco to their core and have carried its torch throughout their musical lives, in a celebration of diversity, love and strength in face of oppression. Disco Lives!
Coste
$13 Before Midnight, $15 after ($10 before midnight with Facebook RSVP or valid student ID)¿Hubo algún problema con el evento?
Ponerse en contacto con el servicio de asistencia de RA tickets