"We started a nightclub": the birth of the Pyramid Cocktail Lounge as told by those who lived it

Abstract

"A narrative and oral history comprising more than 75 interviews with performers and bar boys, doormen and DJs, it covers the early years of the Pyramid from the time of its founding in 1981 through its rise, near demise, and rebirth. Excerpts of more than 50 Pyramid press releases in the club's signature satirical tone document the hundreds of acts who performed there. At the Pyramid, Ann, John Jesurun, and John Kelly rubbed elbows with They Might Be Giants, the Red Hot Chili Peppers, and 3 Teens Kill 4, who shared a stage with performers like Ethyl Eichelberger, John Sex, Tabboo!, Hapi Phace, and Lady Bunny. By offering a home to obscure, genre-defying and unpolished acts, the Pyramid played a crucial role in shaping the city's underground cultural scene for decades to come."-- Provided by publisher.