Starland Ballroom

Last updated
Starland Ballroom
Starland Ballroom - May 2021.jpg
Exterior of venue in May 2021
Starland Ballroom
Former namesJernee Mill Inn (1962-82)
Willy's (1982-87)
Hunka Bunka Ballroom (1987-2003)
Address570 Jernee Mill Rd
Sayreville, New Jersey 08872-1753
Owner AEG
Operator The Bowery Presents
Capacity 2,500
Construction
OpenedAugust 1962 (1962-08)
ClosedOctober 29, 2012 (2012-10-29)
ReopenedSeptember 6, 2013 (2013-09-06)
Website
Venue Website
Building details
General information
RenovatedNovember 2012 - September 2013
Renovating team
Structural engineerKipcon Engineering
Other designers
  • Heritage Industrial Services, Inc.
  • M. Silberstein Interior Design
  • Integrity Ironworks, Inc.

The Starland Ballroom is a concert venue located in Sayreville, New Jersey. Beginning in the 1960s, the building was known as the Jernee Mill Inn, a local bar with a banquet hall. It was originally known as the Hunka Bunka Ballroom [1] and then Willy's [2] [3] in the 1980s. It has operated as a dance music club but more often hosted concerts with primarily metal, punk and ska lineups.

Contents

History

The venue opened in August 1962 as a banquet hall and tavern by brothers Chester, Frank [4] and Edward (Rusty) Cholewa. [5] The hall was known as the Jernee Mill Inn, named after the main road near the building. In the late 70s, Rusty's wife, Phyllis [6] decided to use the space as a concert venue, to fill the gaps in wedding and party reservations.

In 1982, the venue was purchased by Bernie Bailey. [7] During this time, the main hall was used as a rehearsal space, during dark days. Around this time, Jon Bon Jovi and Richie Sambora met at the venue before forming Bon Jovi. [8]

Five years later, Bailey changed the name to the Hunka Bunka Ballroom and dancing became the primary focus of the venue. As Hunka Bunka, the club became one of New Jersey's premier dance clubs, catering to primarily to local, regional and nationally known DJ's, the occasional rock band plus live band and track Pop and Dance artists.

In September 2003, Hunka Bunka was purchased by the two owners of the New Jersey based concert company, Concerts East, Tony Pallagrosi and Jerry Bakal. Within twelve weeks, the club reopened as the Starland Ballroom, [7] with a show by David Lee Roth. [9]

In April 2007, after steering the concert hall into the list of Top 10 ticket selling venues in North America, according to Pollstar magazine, Bakal and Pallagrosi sold the venue to AEG. From 2007 to 2017, AEG Live (now AEG Presents) were the owners and operators of the building. [10] In 2017, AEG Live purchased 50% of The Bowery Presents, with the latter becoming the operator of the venue.

In 2012 the venue was significantly damaged by Hurricane Sandy. The storm caused the Raritan River to flood, with the club being engulfed in six feet of water. [11] The result was damage to the walls, flooring, electrical system and plumbing. The building closed late October 2012, canceling all concerts until March 2013. Renovation efforts began mid-November 2013, with 24 local contractors contributing to rebuilding the club. [12] Renovations include adding a mezzanine in the rear of the main hall, updated lighting, improved sightlines, and acoustics, redesign of the backstage area and the dressing rooms. Flooding parameters were put in place to prevent any water damage in the future.

While the venue was slated to reopen in March 2013, [13] AEG announced the club was set to reopen in September. Tickets for forthcoming events went on sale in June. [14] The grand reopening took place on September 6, 2013, with a concert by Stone Temple Pilots. [15]

From 2003 to 2013, the venue sold 1.3 million tickets. [16]

Events

Taking Back Sunday has been hosting an annual Holiday Spectacular every year in December since 2013. [17]

Coheed and Cambria filmed a concert and released it on DVD called Live at the Starland Ballroom .

MTV Classic's That Metal Show filmed at least one episode at the venue. [18]

In 2005, the Starland hosted a pair of concerts to raise money for victims of the December 26 tsunamis. [19] My Chemical Romance, Taking Back Sunday, Senses Fail and dozens more performed over two nights, raising over $150,000 for UNICEF and the International Red Cross.

In September 2005, Dashboard Confessional and Coheed and Cambria co-headlined an event to raise $80,000 for Direct Relief International's efforts to assist victims of the Hurricane Katrina disaster. [20]

Noted performers

40°26′25″N74°21′19″W / 40.44028°N 74.35528°W / 40.44028; -74.35528

See also

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Jon Bon Jovi</span> American rock musician (born 1962)

John Francis Bongiovi Jr., known professionally as Jon Bon Jovi, is an American singer, songwriter, guitarist, and actor. He is best known as the founder and frontman of the rock band Bon Jovi, which was formed in 1983. He has released 15 studio albums with his band as well as two solo albums.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Sayreville, New Jersey</span> Borough in Middlesex County, New Jersey, US

Sayreville is a borough in Middlesex County, in the U.S. state of New Jersey. Sayreville is within the heart of the Raritan Valley region, located on the south banks of the Raritan River, and also located on the Raritan Bay. As of the 2020 United States census, the borough's population was 45,345, an increase of 2,641 (+6.2%) from the 2010 census count of 42,704, which in turn reflected an increase of 2,327 (+5.8%) from the 40,377 counted in the 2000 census.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Wolverhampton Civic Hall</span>

Wolverhampton Civic Hall is a music venue in Wolverhampton, West Midlands, England. It has been one of the most notable live music venues in the county for several decades. It is part of a complex branded as University of Wolverhampton at The Halls, Wolverhampton including University of Wolverhampton at The Civic Hall, University of Wolverhampton at Wulfrun Hall and the Slade Rooms. The complex is owned by City of Wolverhampton Council, operated by AEG Presents and is a Grade II listed building.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Wembley Arena</span> Indoor arena in Wembley, London

Wembley Arena is an indoor arena next to Wembley Stadium in Wembley, London, England. The 12,500-seat facility is London's second-largest indoor arena after The O2 Arena, and the ninth-largest in the United Kingdom.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">The Palace of Auburn Hills</span> Arena in Michigan, United States

The Palace of Auburn Hills, commonly known as the Palace, was a multi-purpose arena located in Auburn Hills, Michigan. Opened in 1988, it was the home of the Detroit Pistons of the National Basketball Association (NBA), the Detroit Shock of the Women's National Basketball Association (WNBA), the Detroit Vipers of the International Hockey League, the Detroit Rockers of the National Professional Soccer League, the Detroit Neon/Detroit Safari of the Continental Indoor Soccer League, and the Detroit Fury of the Arena Football League.

<i>Live at the Starland Ballroom</i> 2005 live album by Coheed and Cambria

Live at The Starland Ballroom is the first live album by American progressive rock band Coheed and Cambria, released on March 22, 2005. The concert was recorded August 20, 2004 at the Starland Ballroom in Sayreville, New Jersey. The New York City radio station, 92.3 K-Rock put on the show and sold tickets for 92 cents. They sold out almost immediately.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Bowery Ballroom</span> Music venue in Manhattan, New York City

The Bowery Ballroom is a New York City live music venue located at 6 Delancey Street in Manhattan's Bowery neighborhood.

E.Town Concrete, or sometimes called E-Town, is an American hardcore punk band from Elizabeth, New Jersey.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Parlin, New Jersey</span> Place in Middlesex County, New Jersey, United States

Parlin is an unincorporated community located within Old Bridge Township and Sayreville Borough in Middlesex County, New Jersey, United States. The area is served as United States Postal Service ZIP Code 08859.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">The O2</span> Entertainment district in London, England

The O2 is a large entertainment district on the Greenwich peninsula in South East London, England, including an indoor arena, a music club, a Cineworld cinema, an exhibition space, piazzas, bars, restaurants, and a guided tour to the top of the O2. It was built largely within the former Millennium Dome, a large dome-shaped canopy built to house an exhibition celebrating the turn of the third millennium; consequently The Dome remains a name in common usage for the venue. It is sometimes referred to as The O2 Arena, but that name properly refers to the indoor arena within The O2. Naming rights to the district were purchased by the mobile telephone provider O2 from its developers, Anschutz Entertainment Group (AEG), during the development of the district. AEG owns the long-term lease on the O2 Arena and surrounding leisure space.

<i>Kill the House Lights</i> 2007 live album by Thursday

Kill the House Lights is a compilation album by New Jersey rock group Thursday.

<i>Full Fathom Five</i> (album) Album by Clutch

Full Fathom Five is a live album by the band Clutch. The full name of the album is Full Fathom Five: Audio Field Recordings, differentiating it from the accompanying DVD release Full Fathom Five: Video Field Recordings.

<i>Full Fathom Five: Video Field Recordings</i> 2008 live album by Clutch

Full Fathom Five is a live DVD by the American rock band Clutch. The full name of the DVD is Full Fathom Five: Video Field Recordings, differentiating from the accompanying album release Full Fathom Five. The DVD was released on November 11, 2008. The DVD has four cities venues recorded at on it, as opposed to the Album which only has three venues, them being:

<span class="mw-page-title-main">East Meets West Tour</span> 2009 concert tour by Extreme

The East Meets West Tour '09 was a concert tour by hard rock band Extreme, taking place in the summer of 2009, in support of their 2008 album Saudades de Rock. It followed the Take Us Alive World Tour in 2008 which was in support of the same album. The tour started with a performance at the M3 Rock Festival on May 30, with the official tour beginning on July 12. This tour was co-headlined with Ratt on almost all dates, excluding New Haven, Springfield and Boston.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">The Bowery Presents</span>

The Bowery Presents is the East Coast regional partner of AEG Live. It owns and operates multiple venues in New York City, Boston, Philadelphia, New Jersey, Virginia, and Maine. The capacities of the venues operated by The Bowery Presents range from 600 people to 20,000 people.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">PooPoo PeePee Tour</span> 1998 concert tour by Blink-182

The PooPoo PeePee Tour was a concert tour by rock band Blink-182, Launched in support of the group's 1997 album Dude Ranch, the tour visited clubs and theaters in the summer/fall of 1998. It was the first major tour with drummer Travis Barker, who replaced original drummer Scott Raynor midway through a summer tour. Supporting acts included Unwritten Law and Home Grown. On October 1, 1998, the tour merged for one night only with the ongoing Reel Big Fish, Spring Heeled Jack and Frenzal Rhomb tour at the Hunka Bunka Ballroom in Sayreville, New Jersey.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Who You Selling For Tour</span> 2016–17 concert tour by the Pretty Reckless

Who You Selling For Tour was the fourth headlining tour by American rock band The Pretty Reckless in support of their third studio album, Who You Selling For.

Alexander John Such was an American musician, singer and record producer. Best known as the bassist of the rock band Bon Jovi from 1983 to 1994, he played on their first five albums.

Incendiary is an American hardcore punk band from Long Island, New York.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Mission Ballroom</span> Concert venue in Denver, Colorado

The Mission Ballroom is a concert venue located in the RiNo neighborhood of Denver, Colorado. The building opened in August 2019 with a capacity of nearly 4,000 patrons. Operated by AEG Presents Rocky Mountain, the venue is viewed as a competitor to the Live Nation operated Fillmore Auditorium.

References

  1. ↑ "The Legendary Hunka Bunka". Hunka Bunka Reunion. Archived from the original on February 9, 2020. Retrieved February 7, 2020.
  2. ↑ Beaujour, Tom; Bienstock, Richard (2021-03-16). Nöthin' But a Good Time: The Uncensored History of the '80s Hard Rock Explosion. St. Martin's Publishing Group. ISBN   978-1-250-19576-0.
  3. 1 2 Makin, Bob. "Skid Row guitarist Dave 'Snake' Sabo returns home to Sayreville to rock Starland Ballroom". MyCentralJersey.com. Retrieved 2021-06-29.
  4. ↑ "Edward Cholewa Obituary - Neptune, NJ". Legacy.com . January 6, 2012. Archived from the original on February 8, 2020. Retrieved February 8, 2020.
  5. ↑ "Frank M. Cholewa". Home News Tribune. Newspaper Media Group. July 24, 2008. Archived from the original on February 8, 2020. Retrieved February 8, 2020.
  6. ↑ "Phyllis Marie Cholewa". Becker Funeral Home. February 2019. Archived from the original on February 8, 2020. Retrieved February 8, 2020.
  7. 1 2 Hart, Jolene (October 2, 2003). "Starland Ballroom will replace Hunka Bunka". Home News Tribune. Newspaper Media Group. Archived from the original on February 8, 2020. Retrieved February 8, 2020.
  8. ↑ Lewis, Andrew S. (2019-10-01). The Drowning of Money Island: A Forgotten Community's Fight Against the Rising Seas Forever Changing Coastal America. Beacon Press. ISBN   978-0-8070-8372-7.
  9. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 Corinne, Victoria (October 31, 2014). "Starland Ballroom The Rock Palace That Refuses To Die". Enjoy New Jersey. Archived from the original on February 8, 2020. Retrieved February 8, 2020.
  10. ↑ "AEG Live Acquires Starland Ballroom". CelebrityAccess Media Wire. April 26, 2007. Archived from the original on February 8, 2020. Retrieved February 8, 2020.
  11. 1 2 3 4 McCall, Tris (June 4, 2013). "Starland Ballroom, reopening in September, announces new shows". The Star-Ledger . Advance Publications, Inc. Archived from the original on February 8, 2020. Retrieved February 8, 2020.
  12. ↑ Parker-McClain, Dana (June 5, 2013). "Starland Reopens". Pollstar. Archived from the original on February 8, 2020. Retrieved February 8, 2020.
  13. ↑ Martins, Andrew (December 27, 2012). "Stage to stay dark at Starland after Sandy strikes Sayreville". Tri-Town News. Greater Media Newspapers. Archived from the original on September 10, 2015. Retrieved February 8, 2020.
  14. ↑ Baugus, R.V. (June 5, 2013). "New Jersey Venue Sets Re-opening Date After Rebuilding from Superstorm Sandy". Front Row News. International Association of Venue Managers, Inc. Archived from the original on February 8, 2020. Retrieved February 8, 2020.
  15. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 "Newly Refurbed Starland Ballroom Set To Re-Open". CelebrityAccess MediaWire. June 19, 2013. Archived from the original on February 8, 2020. Retrieved February 8, 2020.
  16. 1 2 Salvatore, Drew Anne (August 8, 2013). "As Starland Ballroom Re-Opens, a Star is Re-Born". New Jersey Monthly . Archived from the original on February 8, 2020. Retrieved February 8, 2020.
  17. ↑ "5th Annual Holiday Spectacular". Taking Back Sunday. Retrieved 2020-02-07.
  18. ↑ "That Metal Show Live at Starland Ballroom". www.wsou.net. Retrieved 2020-02-07.
  19. ↑ Montgomery, James. "Taking Back Sunday, MCR Unite For Tsunami Benefit — Even The Bouncers Sing Along". MTV News. Retrieved 2020-02-07.
  20. ↑ Noon, Casey Sky (October 14, 2005). "Coheed, Dashboard offer Katrina aid". The Rider News . Rider University. Archived from the original on February 9, 2020. Retrieved February 9, 2020.
  21. ↑ Blabbermouth (2008-04-12). "ANAKA Replaces BLOODSIMPLE On WSOU's 60th Anniversary Show". BLABBERMOUTH.NET. Retrieved 2021-06-29.
  22. ↑ Nelson, Lloyd (July 17, 2013). "Stone Temple Pilots with Chester Bennington of Linkin Park to open Starland Ballroom". *NJ.com . Advance Publications, Inc. Archived from the original on February 9, 2020. Retrieved February 7, 2020.
  23. ↑ "Collective Soul Setlist at Starland Ballroom, Sayreville". setlist.fm.
  24. ↑ Sacher, Andrew. "Death Grips add many more dates to 2023 comeback tour (including third NYC show)". BrooklynVegan. Retrieved 2024-02-13.
  25. ↑ "The Biscuits Internet Project". discobiscuits.net. Retrieved 2022-03-19.
  26. ↑ "Lamb of God Setlist at Starland Ballroom, Sayreville". setlist.fm.
  27. ↑ "Lifehouse Setlist at Starland Ballroom, Sayreville". setlist.fm.
  28. ↑ "Skillet – Starland Ballroom – 20200310".
This page is based on this Wikipedia article
Text is available under the CC BY-SA 4.0 license; additional terms may apply.
Images, videos and audio are available under their respective licenses.