I know that Jasonic And Diabolik reside somewhere in the Chicago-area, but if there is anyone else feel free to kick in any thoughts.
I got an e-mail from an old bud of mine who I used to know in the late 90's, early 00's that I used to see Metal shows with. I used to come down a lot from southern WI (un-Pleasant Prairie) and make a long trip down where he lived in South Elgin. If the show went too late, he would let me stay & crash in his one-bedroom apartment (and no, I didn't have to compensate him for the overnight stay, none of that fag shit went on!
uke:
).
So a few times we would drive about 18-20 miles over to Aurora and go to the dump that was Riley's Rockhouse and see some quality Metal. Two shows we went to that I remember were Savatage with Nevermore opening like a week after 9/11, and Angra sometime after that where I always remember Edu Falaschi talking to us and saying, "I so happy to be here in America!!", much like a bad 80's sitcom, no lie!
So...my bud had reminded me of those times (he moved away in late 2002 & I lost all incentive to make such a mammoth drive down there. I had other buds in Milwaukee that I would hang with that took his place. That bitch left me, so fuck him!). The whole point to this is just a 2 part question:
1. Does anyone know when Riley's closed down?
2. Does anyone know why? Aside from the usual business part, my friend had heard (rumor maybe) that the owner's wife had committed suicide. If anyone knows differently I'd like to know.
It's not like the place was any great treasure to see a show at, and I can imagine that if anyone lived in Chicago itself then the drive coming from there would suck ass as well...but still some pretty good shows came through there! Also, people who didn't live through the 90's/early 00's concertgoing experience don't realize how low-promotion the whole scene was and if you saw a band from Europe playing at a dump that would have 300 people at (max on a good night!) then you would've been very lucky.
I got an e-mail from an old bud of mine who I used to know in the late 90's, early 00's that I used to see Metal shows with. I used to come down a lot from southern WI (un-Pleasant Prairie) and make a long trip down where he lived in South Elgin. If the show went too late, he would let me stay & crash in his one-bedroom apartment (and no, I didn't have to compensate him for the overnight stay, none of that fag shit went on!
uke:).So a few times we would drive about 18-20 miles over to Aurora and go to the dump that was Riley's Rockhouse and see some quality Metal. Two shows we went to that I remember were Savatage with Nevermore opening like a week after 9/11, and Angra sometime after that where I always remember Edu Falaschi talking to us and saying, "I so happy to be here in America!!", much like a bad 80's sitcom, no lie!
So...my bud had reminded me of those times (he moved away in late 2002 & I lost all incentive to make such a mammoth drive down there. I had other buds in Milwaukee that I would hang with that took his place. That bitch left me, so fuck him!
). The whole point to this is just a 2 part question:1. Does anyone know when Riley's closed down?
2. Does anyone know why? Aside from the usual business part, my friend had heard (rumor maybe) that the owner's wife had committed suicide. If anyone knows differently I'd like to know.
It's not like the place was any great treasure to see a show at, and I can imagine that if anyone lived in Chicago itself then the drive coming from there would suck ass as well...but still some pretty good shows came through there! Also, people who didn't live through the 90's/early 00's concertgoing experience don't realize how low-promotion the whole scene was and if you saw a band from Europe playing at a dump that would have 300 people at (max on a good night!) then you would've been very lucky.
