The Mason Jar
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The Mason Jar was a nightclub and music venue in
Founder
The Mason Jar was founded in 1979. Early Arizona acts included the Spiffs, Blue Shoes, Llory McDonald, and the Schoolboys (later to become Capitol Records recording act
Initial success
Many bands came to the Mason Jar on their way to Sunset Strip in Hollywood, California. Some simply ran out of money, never making it to Los Angeles, and others simply liked Phoenix and decided to stay and made it their permanent home. Whatever the reason for passing through Phoenix, the bands somehow made their way to the Mason Jar and the club became world-renowned in the process. Scores of bands played at the Mason Jar before they made it big, such as Tool, Los Lobos, Green Day, Kid Rock, Rage Against the Machine, Jane's Addiction, Red Hot Chili Peppers, and Guns N' Roses. Local bands such as Billy Clone and the Same, The Beat Angels, Burning Flamingos, The Jetzons, Surgical Steel, Flotsam and Jetsam, Icon, The Results and Sacred Reich also played there. Jason Newsted of Flotsam and Jetsam, who later became the bass player for Metallica, was a regular at the Mason Jar. The Manic Street Preachers were scheduled to play the final gig of their 1995 U.S. tour at the Mason Jar before the tour was cancelled following the disappearance of Richey Edwards.[3]
Resurgence
The Mason Jar experienced a resurgence as top Phoenix live music venue with the start of the new millennium, when the club was bought by local businessman Michael Manfredi aka "Mick" in year 2000. Mick gave The Mason Jar a badly needed facelift, a substantial sound system upgrade and a new contemporary list of rising stars to hit the stage like,
and many, many others.The Mason Jar was a favorite launching ground of music industry execs like Jenna Adler of Creative Artist's Agency (
On August 15, 2000 Linkin Park played their first live show with singer Chester Bennington at The Mason Jar, just two months before their debut record, Hybrid Theory.[4]
It was not uncommon to see famous artists, professional athletes and politicians at the Mason Jar. Artists like Sammy Hagar and Michael Anthony (Van Halen) would stop in to jam when booked on tour through Phoenix. Local artists like Alice Cooper and Glen Campbell's kids made their debut on stage at The Mason Jar.
The Mason Jar was often awarded "Top Club for Rock" by the readers of The Phoenix New Times. It gave music fans in Phoenix a chance to experience live bands the way clubgoers in Los Angeles and other major cities could.
Closing
The Mason Jar closed for business on February 15, 2005 when Mick sold the license to an outside party that no longer operated as The Mason Jar. The Mason Jar experienced its busiest year ever in its last year of business (when Mick was owner), boasting over 30 bands per week and dozens of shows on sale at Ticketmaster every month.
In 2006 the club closed for remodeling and re-opened as a gay bar.[5]
On September 20, 2013 the building was used for the Legends Of The Mason Jar - One More Time.[6] event. Promoted by Glenn De Jongh, the night featured reunions of many past Mason Jar acts from the 1980s and 1990s. Acts included The Spiffs/Urge, Raven Payne, Schoolboys Again (with members of Icon, King Kobra and Lizzy Borden), Scratch & Sniff, Egomaniacs, Killer Pussy, Blue Shoes, Box Of Cherries/Einsteins & Scott Rowe. Long time owner Franco Gagliano introduced the bands.
In 2014 the building was listed for sale
References
- ^ "AMEHOF 2018 Inductee Bios". Arizona Music & Entertainment Hall Of Fame. 2018-03-06. Retrieved 2023-06-08.
- ^ Smith, Brian (23 March 2000). "Franco's Wild Years". Phoenix New Times. Retrieved 23 October 2019.
- ^ Richardson, Andy (January 1996). "The Search For Richey Manic". Vox.
- ^ "Linkin Park Footage has Surfaced from One of The Bands First Live Shows in 2000 [WATCH]". Music Mayhem Magazine. 2018-11-30. Retrieved 2019-07-02.
- ^ Rodgers, Larry (2005-03-02). "Mason Jar closed for remodeling, will reopen as gay bar".
- ^ "Legends Of The Mason Jar - One More Time". 2013-09-20.
- ^ Leatherman, Benjamin. "The Mason Jar Building is For Sale". Phoenix New Times. Retrieved 2023-12-28.
- ^ "Rebel Lounge opens in Phoenix's former Mason Jar". azcentral. Retrieved 2019-07-02.