UPDATED! Hellion Vocalist Ann Boleyn Stands Up To Preserve Pasadena History; WASP's Blackie Lawless Sends Statement of Support
By
Sefany Jones,
Contributing Editor
Monday, January 20, 2003 @ 3:06 PM
Boleyn Joins Slash, David Lee
Updated: W.A.S.P. Vocalist Blackie Lawless Sends Statement of Support... See Bottom:
Vocalist Ann Boleyn of Hellion wrote the following editorial to the Pasadena Weekly in support of saving the historic Raymond Theater. Also joining Boleyn in the good fight are David Lee Roth and Slash, as well as Blackie Lawless. For more information, please visit Hellion's official web site at Officialhellionsite.freeyellow.com.
"Dear Friends:
"What is culture and what is it worth? I am beginning to wonder as I see
more and more historic builtings replaced by strip malls, parking lots and
other "eye-sores"!
"I moved to Southern Calfornia as a teenager in 1976 to perform with the
all-girl rock group "The Runaways," whose members also included Joan Jett
and Lita Ford. As a teenage musician, part of my job was to find places
where my band could perform. While I know that Pasadena's Raymond Theater's
history preceeded myself by many years, I can tell you first-hand that it
hosted some of the best musical performances of the 1970s and 1980s. Not
only was it one of the most beautiful buildings, it was one of the few
venues large enough to accomodate performers that were too small for the
major arenas and too big for the small clubs. As such, Pasadena's Raymond
Theater has played a major role of the history of southern California's
music scene.
"Over the years I have seen many historical buildings disappear. As a young
adult I get tired of hearing about how topics like "ebonics in schools" or
"illegal immigration" are harming our culture. Instead I ask, what are we
doing by destroying our historic buildings?!
"As an urban resident I regard historic buildings such as the Raymond Theater
with the same respect as a nature lover might regard a park. Over the years
I have seen one theater after another be torn down or converted into part
of
a strip mall. With this in mind, I am urging people who care about out urban
culture and heritage to join in the fight and help save Pasadena's historic
Raymond Theater.
"Sincerely,
"Ann Boleyn
Lead Singer of the rock group "Hellion"
Former DJ with KROQ FM
and Owner of New Renaissance Records
"PS: People interested in lending a hand in this effort should contact
ZCONCERTS@aol.com or 818-541-9522 or fax: 818-541-9523."
****************************************
From W.A.S.P. Leader Blackie Lawless:
“Dear KNAC,
“I am sending my support regarding preservation of The Raymond Theater
(Perkins Palace). W.A.S.P. played The Raymond in 1983 with RATT and Armored Saint. The Raymond became a pivotal venue for us and many other groups that would later go on to international acclaim. The shows that were produced became legendary. This Theater with a capacity of over 2000 was crucial in proving to Major Record Labels that the Bands that played there could succeed on a professional level.
“The show we played was produced by Gina Zamparelli, who is currently leading the effort to preserve the venue from redevelopment to an apartment/retail complex.
“If we lose the Raymond Theater, we lose not only a part of the history and culture of Los Angeles, we lose a venue that played a major part in Southern California's music scene.
“The Los Angeles Superior Court will be making their decision on the fate of The Raymond Theater on February 11th, 2003. I urge musicians who played the venue, fans who attended shows, and the music industry to lend their support.
“It would be a shame to lose this historic landmark and cultural resource to needless redevelopment.”
Sincerely,
Blackie Lawless
W.A.S.P.
chrisleekessler - 6/2/2005 5:03:47 PM Chris Kessler, former HELLION LEAD GUITARIST is currently seeking a new project, touring & recording!
Will also consider studio work! EMAIL; kdkessl@earthlink.net
ROCK-ON!
loudrock - 2/12/2003 10:21:48 PM To Samantha666: Are you the same person who posts on the Hellion board?
lovethetunes - 2/10/2003 6:16:40 PM What is wrong with all of you?
Negativity brings Negativity brings Negativity.
Are all of you too self-absorbed. Have you ever even came close to a record deal? Give it a break?
As for Perkins/Raymond Theatre - if you care about live music shows in an awesome historical theatre then you would understand.
You are all too damn busy putting people down due to you own issues.
If you have nothing positive to say - better not to speak crapola.
And to think there are men in the middle east getting ready to fight for shit-heads like you
retriever - 1/30/2003 3:31:10 PM I read that there is going to be a benefit concert. Just say when and I'll bring my friends. Ann Boleyn and Blackie have my support!
DOGSBOLLOCKS - 1/30/2003 1:55:20 AM UNLESS you happen to live in a backwater one-horse dump and work in the only record store for the next 100kmtthat is!!!!!
DOGSBOLLOCKS - 1/30/2003 1:54:03 AM samantha666...all you need to do to avoid getting a load of crap thrown at you by disgruntled buyers is to find out WHO does stock the albums from those record labels and tell your customers that your bosses are a bunc of fucking wankers but they can obtain the album they're after from xxx record store just down the road...!
XXSoRRoWXX - 1/29/2003 5:17:01 PM hi guys..
i have had the fortunate opportunity to work with gina z for the past couple of years. i found out about the raymond by reading one of flyers around town about the impending demise of this great beautiful theatre.
i was initially interested in getting my nightclub opened there when i contacted Friends of the Rayomnd Theatre. then i found out what was going on..
we simply CANNOT allow this building to be guted just to be turned into APARTMENTS. this is an outrage! not just to the comminity, but for people favoring music, history and preservation over $$$housing. but that's where the money's at, right? great.
i am disheartened to see the immature remarks made on this board in reference to the Raymond Theatre. and it is this sort of common 'who cares' attitude that will eventually be the demise of anything aesthetic left in the United States.
i am in complete support of saving the Raymond and to seeing this evil bastard Gene Buchanan keeping his hands OFF this relic.
thank you.
XXSoRRoWXX - 1/29/2003 5:15:00 PM hi guys..
i have had the fortunate opportunity to work with gina z for the past couple of years. i found out about the raymond by reading one of flyers around town about the impending demise of this great beautiful theatre.
i was initially interested in getting my nightclub opened there when i contacted Friends of the Rayomnd Theatre. then i found out what was going on..
we simply CANNOT allow this building to be guted just to be turned into APARTMENTS. this is an outrage! not just to the comminity, but for people favoring music, history and preservation over $$$housing. but that's where the money's at, right? great.
i am disheartened to see the immature remarks made on this board in reference to the Raymond Theatre. and it is this sort of common 'who cares' attitude that will eventually be the demise of anything aesthetic left in the United States.
i am in complete support of saving the Raymond and to seeing this evil bastard Gene Buchanan keeping his hands OFF this relic.
thank you.
samantha666 - 1/29/2003 12:27:17 PM I work in a record store and I know what you mean about corporations taking over everything. I have had two people come in the store almost every other day to ask about getting the latest CDs by Manowar and Hellion. I asked the manager about getting these CDs and was told that those bands are not on the stock list and that our store does not do business with the distributors who distribute those bands' CDs. This kind of thing is what we have to deal with all day long. We used to carry Metal Blade and New Renaissance label products---but not anymore. I don't know why but I can guess. People are rude to the clerks and think it is our fault But I don't buy the CDs for the store. Automatically once a week we get the latest crap by Whitney Houston (which they were pushing us to sell---even though nobody wants it), No Doubt (which is OK) and Shakira. It doesn't matter what people are asking for----we get shipped whatever the main corporate office buys and we are expected to sell it with a smile. Then everybody wonders why nobody wants to buy the latest CDs. Duh!!! I don't know anything about the concert business but I am sure that this same thing is happening there too. I went to the web page and think that what Ann Boleyn, Blackie Lawless. Slash and David Lee Roth are doing is awesome. Just let me know how to help.
oiram - 1/29/2003 8:23:23 AM "Rock N' Roll All Night...And Party Everyday !!!!!!!!!"
oiram - 1/29/2003 8:22:54 AM " You Wanted The Best !!! You Got The Best !!! The Hottest Band In The World !!! KISS !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!"
SMART_ASS_420 - 1/29/2003 4:29:48 AM Corporate america sucks extreme ass! Death to all of them including their leader George Jr.
loudrock - 1/29/2003 1:25:03 AM Zamparelli is correct: Many of the large and medium size theaters, especially those which are not owned or controled by major corporations, are being bulldozed. Why? In the name of "redevelopment" the corporations are also getting rid of any possible "competition" for their corporate cronies buddys! This gives them the ability to raise the prices of concert tickets because they have no competition. This is also a huge problem if you are trying to prove that a style of music is a viable force! Think about it folks! There would be a much better chance that KNAC would be on the fm AIRWAVES if it could be proved to advertisers that there is indeed a big market for the type of music played on KNAC.com! But how are you going to do that if there are no places to have a show? Sure. You can see metal bands at clubs. However, most have an "over 21" age limit. Also, a lot of people are forgetting that bands like WASP, Hellion, Metallica, Armored Saint, Great White and all of the other bands like them are meant to be seen on a big stage. It is an entirely different experience to see a band in a dingy club then at a theater where you are attending an EVENT! If you'd ever been to the shows at Perkin's Palace you would know that they were each like mini-festivals. The Raymond Theater held enough people making it was possible to have 3 or 4 headliners perform on the same night without the tickets costing any more than the clubs in Hollywood which only offered one headliner shows. All things considered, the ability of a corporation to be able to destroy a historic building in a city where history is otherwise stringently protected should alone be a giant red warning sign saying: SOMETHING IS NOT RIGHT and that SOMETHING NEEDS TO BE DONE! I am going to join in the efforts and write a letter to the Pasadena Weekly. I don't want to sound "silly" but I am going to fight for the right to party to the music I love at a venue I love! What I'd like to know is who out there agrees that we need to preserve this theater and what are you doing about it?!
Zamparelli - 1/28/2003 11:29:15 AM KNAC:
We want to send a special thanks to Blackie Lawless and Ann Boleyn for helping us preserve The Raymond Theatre. Also Slash, David Lee Roth and members of Oingo Boingo and Danger-Danger..
As a friend of Blackie's he has helped our organization for one reason, he cares about this cause. As an organization working hard to keep this legendary concert venue standing, we commend the artists who played The Raymond and have now come back to help us.
Our concert venues are being bulldozed and shut down at an alarming rate (not just in LA, but around the country) by corporations using only select venues for their shows.
If musicians want to keep playing live and fans want to keep going to live shows, yes we do need your support!!
THANK YOU KNAC listeners for the donations you have sent us to help support the Raymond Theatre.
If you would like to read more about our cause: www.raymondtheatre.com
We appreciate your support.
Sincerely,
Gina Zamparelli
Former Manager/Concert Promoter Raymond Theatre (Perkins Palace)
Director, Friends of the Raymond Theatre
bigsled - 1/28/2003 1:29:00 AM these bands need to let it go, move on, i suppose they are still thinking about their old girlfreinds too! its called supply and demand and theirs no demand for the theatre but their is a demand for stores people will actually use, why dont these bands go tie themselves to a tree to save it and think about how they can write some decent music that will sell more than 50 copies!!
