Club Babyhead
Club Babyhead was a nightclub and hard rock music venue in Providence, Rhode Island.[1][2][3]
![](../I/Pearl_Jam_1991.jpg.webp)
The venue was located at 73 Richmond Street.[4] It was known for being dark and gritty.[5][6]
Club nights
In 1992 and 1993, Club Babyhead was the only local venue providing space for hardcore acts.[7][8] Audience members at the club's hardcore shows often engaged in moshing.[7]
Club Babyhead hosted a "Stupid Dance Party" Thursday and Sunday nights, that featured an eclectic mix of music DJ'ed by Jared Dubois.[1]
The club hosted electronic club nights that attracted the rave scene.[9][10]
Club Babyhead regularly featured matinées, which teenagers attended.[11]
Featured musicians
From 1990 to 1997, Club Babyhead featured performances from Jennifer Finch,[12] Buzzcocks,[13] Babes in Toyland,[14] Electrafixion,[15] Shelter,[16] The Breeders,[17] Scarce,[18] Alanis Morissette,[19] Yo La Tengo,[20] Melvins,[21] The Mighty Mighty Bosstones,[22] Pearl Jam,[23] The Smashing Pumpkins,[24] Nirvana,[25][26] Meat Puppets,[27] Mudhoney,[28] Blind Melon,[29] Bo Diddley,[30] Green Day,[31] The Dead Kennedys,[32] Arab on Radar,[33] Godflesh,[34][35] Marilyn Manson,[36][37][38] Deftones,[39] Catherine Wheel,[40] The Proletariat,[41] Snuff,[42] Butt Trumpet,[43] Throwing Muses,[44] Goo Goo Dolls,[45] Samiam,[46] Only Living Witness,[47] and Korn.[48]
Nirvana show
On September 25, 1991, Nirvana performed alongside Melvins at Club Babyhead.[49] The show occurred a day after Nevermind was released,[50] as part of Nirvana's Nevermind tour.[51] Kurt Cobain broke his amp while the band played the first song "Jesus Doesn’t Want Me for a Sunbeam", a cover of "Jesus Wants Me for a Sunbeam" by The Vaselines.[52] During the performance, the band played several covers, including "Here She Comes Now" by The Velvet Underground and "D-7" by Wipers. That night, Nirvana played, “Help Me, I’m Hungry”, which they rarely performed.[53] As Cobain was having technical problems during the show, he smashed his Boss DS-1 Distortion pedal on stage, and threw it into the crowd. In 2020, the pedal was sold on Julien's Auctions for $8,960.[1][25][26][54][55]
References
- NEWS, R. J. HEIM, NBC 10 (2021-10-01). "A reunion for those who remember Club Rocket & Club Babyhead in Providence". WJAR. Retrieved 2023-03-03.
{{cite web}}
: CS1 maint: multiple names: authors list (link) - "Rebuilding Providence Punk: The punk scene in Providence has degraded—but collective mobilization can bring it back". Brown Political Review. 2021-06-30. Retrieved 2023-03-03.
- "Perfect Sound Forever: Providence Rock". Furious. Retrieved 2023-03-04.
- "Providence Architecture | Locations | AS220". Brown University. Retrieved 2023-03-04.
- Harris, John (2004). The last party : Britpop, Blair and the demise of English rock. London: HarperPerennial. p. 72. ISBN 0-00-713473-8. OCLC 59262228.
- Let's go : the budget guide to USA, 1996. Michelle C. Sullivan, Megan B. Callahan, Edward Y. Park ([1st ed.] ed.). New York: St. Martin's Press. 1996. p. 130. ISBN 0-312-13557-2. OCLC 33891524.
{{cite book}}
: CS1 maint: others (link) - Simon, Bradford Scott. "Entering the pit: Slam-dancing and modernity." Journal of popular culture 31.1 (1997): 149.
- Deis, Erica (2014-01-15). "My Return to Hardcore ... 20 Years Later". Motif. Retrieved 2023-03-10.
- Magazine, Motif (2013-02-06). "The Birth of the Rhode Island Rave Scene". Motif. Retrieved 2023-03-04.
- Tapper, James (2021-06-26). "Raves from the grave: lost 90s subculture is back in the spotlight". The Observer. ISSN 0029-7712. Retrieved 2023-03-04.
- Waterman, Clinton (2006). "Jessica Mary Sanchez-Brown Interview". Brown University Library. Retrieved 2023-03-04.
- Murphy, Denise Monahan. "Jennifer Finch at Club Babyhead in Providence RI March 1992 Photos". Instagram. Retrieved 2023-04-05.
- McGartland, Tony (2017). Buzzcocks : the complete history. London, England. ISBN 978-1-78606-274-1. OCLC 975077666.
{{cite book}}
: CS1 maint: location missing publisher (link) - Karlen, Neal (1994). Babes in Toyland : the making and selling of a rock and roll band. New York: Times Books. ISBN 0-8129-2058-9. OCLC 30071555.
- "Stranger Than Electrafixion: Tour With Echobelly". MTV. Retrieved 2023-03-04.
- Shelter - Early Hare Krishna Hardcore - Live at Club Babyhead, Providence, RI, November 1990, retrieved 2023-03-04
- The Breeders (1992-09-26), The Breeders Live - 1992-09-26 Club Babyhead, Providence, Rhode Island, retrieved 2023-03-04
- Raskin, Joyce (2007). Aching to be: a girl's true rock and roll story. Number One Fan Press. p. 22. ISBN 978-0-615-17221-7. OCLC 460819823.
- Cantin, Paul (1998). Alanis Morissette : a biography. New York: St. Martin's Griffin. p. 179. ISBN 0-312-18035-7. OCLC 38055992.
- Jarnow, Jesse (2012). Big day coming : Yo La Tengo and the rise of indie rock. New York: Gotham Books. ISBN 978-1-59240-715-6. OCLC 757469233.
- "Melvins-Helmet-Wurst @ Club Babyhead Providence RI 12-10-90". Hardcore Show Flyers. 2008-09-13. Retrieved 2023-03-03.
- "Bosstones were 'like our big brothers' to longtime tourmates The Pietasters". Boston Herald. 2017-12-29. Retrieved 2023-03-03.
- Pearl Jam - Club Babyhead, Providence, RI - 07/15/1991, retrieved 2023-03-03
- Smashing Pumpkins (1991-07-19), Smashing Pumpkins Live at Club Babyhead on 1991-07-19, retrieved 2023-03-03
- "Nirvana's Kurt Cobain distortion pedal sold for $9,000". Metal Rock News. 2020-06-24. Retrieved 2023-03-03.
- Nirvana - Club Babyhead, Providence, RI (09-25-1991), retrieved 2023-03-03
- Meat Puppets (1991-10-04), Meat Puppets Live at Club Babyhead on 1991-10-04, retrieved 2023-03-04
- "Mudhoney: Tourbook, 1992". University of California, Berkeley. Retrieved 2023-03-03.
- "Blind Melon (1993) shows - 03-22-1993 Providence, RI - Club Babyhead". Blind Melon Articles. Retrieved 2023-03-03.
- "Steve Latham Photography: Bo Diddley - Club Babyhead - 10-6-93". Steve Latham. Retrieved 2023-03-03.
- "Green Day in Providence, USA - Mar 21, 1994". Green Day Authority. Retrieved 2023-03-03.
- klaus_kinski (2010-09-10), Dead Kennedys - April Fools - Club Babyhead, retrieved 2023-03-03
- ""Satan has a new name tonight—it's Arab on Radar!"". Impose Magazine. Retrieved 2023-03-04.
- klaus_kinski (2010-09-11), Godflesh - Club Babyhead - 1992, retrieved 2023-03-03
- Bergstrom, Jeff. "Godflesh played Irving Plaza with Cut Hands and Pharmakon (pics & review)". BrooklynVegan. Retrieved 2023-03-03.
- McCARTHY, SEAN. "Attending first rock concert is a rite of passage". New Bedford Standard-Times. Retrieved 2023-03-04.
- "Marilyn Manson". Whatever HQ. Retrieved 2023-03-04.
- "When I was 14 I was at Club Babyhead in a providence to see Marilyn Manson with my little friends". Twitter. Retrieved 2023-03-04.
- "Deftones - Keeping It Real (Live at Club Babyhead, Providence, RI, November 27th, 1996)". ThePinkCD. Retrieved 2023-03-04.
- "Catherine Wheel Rolls Out On American Tour". MTV. Retrieved 2023-03-04.
- Caito, Michael (March 24, 1995). "Rare Air – Churn: Live at Club Babyhead, Providence, RI 3/18/95". The Providence Phoenix.
- "Totally Wired Presents: Punk Is Not Dead! Snuff, Samiam, Wurst Common Ground and Barricade at Club Babyhead". University of Connecticut Archives and Special Collections. 1990.
- "Stubble Interview of Butt Trumpet - Previous Issues". Our Olden Cities. Retrieved 2023-03-04.
- Throwing Muses - Live In Providence, retrieved 2023-03-04
- "Goo Goo Dolls Monday October 16 @ Club Babyhead". Whatever Magazine. 1995. Retrieved 2023-03-04.
- maranhasj (2017-10-15). "Photo and Review: Racquet Club at Bluebird Theater in Denver". Actual_Analog. Retrieved 2023-03-04.
- "Rhode Island College Digital Commons @ RIC". The Newpaper. August 30, 1990.
- "KoRn 1995-09-15 Club Babyhead, Providence, RI, USA". KoRnweb.ru (in Russian). Retrieved 2023-03-03.
- "Club Babyhead". Rhode Island Rocks. Retrieved 2023-03-03.
- Taraborelli, John. "Music & Nightlife: Total: 28 points". Providence Media. Retrieved 2023-03-04.
- Richard Bienstock (2020-06-23). "Kurt Cobain's battered Boss DS-1 distortion pedal sells for $9,000". guitarworld. Retrieved 2023-03-04.
- True, Everett (2007). Nirvana : the biography. Cambridge, Mass.: Da Capo Press. p. 304. ISBN 978-0-306-81554-6. OCLC 85823811.
- St. Thomas, Kurt (2004). Nirvana : the chosen rejects. Troy Smith. New York: St. Martin's Griffin. p. 109. ISBN 0-312-20663-1. OCLC 41368230.
- "KURT COBAIN STAGE USED PEDAL". Juliens Live. Retrieved 2023-03-04.
- Buchanan, Brett (2020-06-25). "Kurt Cobain Broken Instrument Sold For Stunning Price". Alternative Nation. Retrieved 2023-03-04.