With hip-hop and pop getting the lion's share of radio play these
days, people might toll the bell for the death of rock 'n' roll.
Little Steven Van Zandt of the E Street Band and The Sopranos,
however, has made it his mission to keep this music genre alive and
well in its purest form. One of his many efforts has included
spearheading an International Underground Garage Festival that took
place August 14 on Randall's Island in New York City.
By presenting top-name artists that included Iggy Pop & the
Stooges, the Strokes, the re-formed New York Dolls, Bo Diddley and
some of the best garage bands from around the globe, this Festival
could be considered the definitive rock 'n' roll event of our time.
The show also marked the legendary New York Dolls' first
performance on U.S. soil following their reformation at the
Meltdown Festival in England.
Klipsch was a major sponsor of this history-making event,
showing the garage-rock adoring masses that we are a leading force
in delivering great sounding music to people of all ages. In
addition, the festival was broadcasted all over the world through
Regal Cinemas, Zeal TV and MTV, reaching millions of people.
Also among the performers were Muck and the Mires and the
Blackouts, winners of Little Steven and Dunkin' Donuts' recent
Underground Garage Battle of the Bands, a national competition that
sought out the best unsigned Garage Rock bands. Also a sponsor of
this rockin' challenge, Klipsch gave the winning band from each of
the nine markets a high-performance ProMedia 2.1 system to use in
their home recording studios.
With an atmosphere and non-stop style similar to Alan Freed's
Moondog Coronation Ball, the festival featured a unique stage and
effects designed by legendary Pink Floyd designer Mark Brickman.
Among other groundbreaking achievements, the event set the world
record for most go-go dancers appearing in one show.
For Little Steven, the Underground Garage Festival is only one
part of his aggressive plan to bring back the elementary,
passionate, no-frills side of rock. He began his garage rock
movement three years ago when he launched "Little Steven's
Underground Garage" radio show, a program designed to expose new
artists and bring the sounds of raw rock 'n' roll to the masses.
Now syndicated, this two-hour smash hit show airs weekly on 132
stations across North America and in more than 40 countries around
the world.
By backing Little Steven's garage rock crusade, Klipsch is
making a statement about the audio industry. Great sounding
loudspeakers, like rock music, should uncover an artist's passion
and create fun and exciting experiences for listeners.
Visit the Klipsch photo
gallery to view pictures from this exciting event.