Harpos Concert Theatre

Harpos was built in 1939 as the Harper Theatre, an Art Moderne-styled movie theater operated by the Wisper-Westman circuit. Charles N. Agree, the architect of the earlier Grande and Vanity Ballrooms, designed the theatre. Contemporaries of the Harper Theatre included the Westown (1936), the Royal (1940), and the Dearborn (1941), all designed by Agree in similar style for the same company.[1]

The Harper Theatre opened on December 1, 1939, with showings of The Rains Came and Chicken Wagon Family. An advertisement in the Detroit Free Press advertised free parking, seating for 2000 in "streamlined seats," and accessibility features for hard-of-hearing guests.[2]

Around 1976, the Harper was converted to a disco club, and renamed Harpo's. The 80-foot (24 m) "HARPOS" marquee was modified from the original Harper marquee, along with a major interior renovation. At its reopening, Harpo's played rock-n-roll and disco, but quickly switched to metal under new ownership in 1979.[3][4]

Gary Moore performed at Harpos on June 23, 1984, during his Victims of the Future tour. Four songs of the live album We Want Moore! were recorded that evening and were released the same year.

Warrant recorded their live CD "Warrant Live 86-97" at Harpos on November 22, 1996.[5]

Heavy metal band Corrosion of Conformity filmed their live DVD Live Volume at Harpos on April 20, 2001.

Black Label Society filmed their live DVD Boozed, Broozed & Broken-Boned at Harpos on September 14, 2002; notably, during the recording of that show, the bar ran out of alcohol.[6][7]

Hatebreed filmed a live DVD at Harpos.

Bands that have performed there over the years have included Iron Maiden, U2, Poison, Vince Neil, Dio, Motörhead, Slayer, Megadeth, Judas Priest, Anthrax, Twisted Sister, Ted Nugent, Cinderella, Ratt, Dokken, Skid Row, Slipknot, Sevendust, Disturbed, Godsmack, Cheap Trick, Max Webster, Golden Earring, White Zombie, Danzig, The Misfits, Type O Negative, W.A.S.P., Brian Setzer, Paul Rodgers, Foghat, Rob Halford, Kick Axe, Robin Trower, Dead Kennedys, Mitch Ryder, Blue Öyster Cult, Alvin Lee, Bachman-Turner Overdrive, John Entwistle, INXS, Huey Lewis & The News, Eurythmics, Spin Doctors, Mighty Mighty Bosstones, Joan Jett, Ace Frehley, Sebastian Bach, Yngwie Malmsteen, Helix, Saxon, Night Ranger, Quiet Riot, Trixter, Slaughter, FireHouse, Jackyl, Y&T, Savatage, Kix, Shooting Star, Ian Hunter, Nazareth, Prong, Johnny Winter, Michael Schenker Group, Dream Theatre, Armored Saint, Molly Hatchet, Blackfoot, Joe Lynn Turner, Gwar, Powerman 5000, Dope, Hatebreed, Crossbreed, Coal Chamber, Mushroomhead, 40 Below Summer, Insane Clown Posse, Snoop Dogg, LL Cool J, Montell Jordan, Lil' Kim, Run DMC, Salt-n-Pepa, Vanilla Ice, Tech N9ne, Hopsin, Gorilla Zoe, Twista, Boondox, Twiztid, and King Gordy.

Esham, the originator of Detroit's own Acid Rap, who some consider to be the godfather of Detroit hip hop, is the first known rap artist to perform a hip hop show at this club in the early 1990s.

• Official website
• Harpos Concert Theatre at Cinema Treasures
• Historical photographs of the Harper Theatre in the Detroit Public Library collection