tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7675021173909755754.post7276564925780347755..comments2024-03-24T17:55:33.413-04:00Comments on Detroit gay history: Backstreet - Detroit (Gay Bar)Unknownnoreply@blogger.comBlogger78125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7675021173909755754.post-40543125970300838332023-11-13T03:44:50.213-05:002023-11-13T03:44:50.213-05:00i first went at 18, in 1986. i remember walking in...i first went at 18, in 1986. i remember walking in and seeing the lights, hearing the music, being able to drink, an was amazed, all behind a Farmer jacks. The Wednesday before thanksgiving they would have a huge buffet at the back barAnonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7675021173909755754.post-30767945267687771802021-05-09T15:40:08.001-04:002021-05-09T15:40:08.001-04:00Backstreet-Final Draft
Coming out in 1983 Backstr...Backstreet-Final Draft<br /><br />Coming out in 1983 Backstreet was one of the first gay dance clubs I cut my teeth on which I continued frequenting until I left Detroit in 1990. I would drive in every weekend from Ann Arbor usually on Saturday nights, sometimes Friday’s back when they were busy. Perfectly coiffed hair, every weekend a new outfit I bought at Chess King or Merry Go Round at the Mall and reeking of Stetson, Polo Green or Aramis cologne. The music and lighting was magical dancing to the likes of Miguel Brown, Sylvester, Pamela Stanley, Patrick Crowley, Eurythmics,Madonna and many more! I would just get absorbed into the energy and all the people dancing. Detroit had it’s own, eclectic sound in music surpassing big cities like LA, Detroit and even NYC. It was a scary time with the AIDS Epidemic spreading rampant through the gay community but it never stopped us from cruising and looking for a hot man to hook up and go home with. We just took precautions best we knew how at the time.<br />I never got into the politics of the bar/owners or even got to know the bartenders. I just knew tipping them generously they hooked me up with drinks and took care of me. I was just a face in the crowd of the hundreds and thousands that passed through the doors every weekend. I do remember The Tambourine Guy dancing on the speaker and thought how free spirited and carefree he was. We all was there to have a good time, dance, drink, cruise and get some D**k. In the late 80’s as I found my niche in fetishes I usually wore a full battle dress camo military uniform dancing and just totally fit in. So if any of you remember the dude in full military camo? that was me.I remember one time Backstreet had a fire. Not sure when but late 80’s. I heard about it but was surprised to find them open about a week later all cleaned up, repaired not missing a beat but the smokey, fire smell still lingered slightly. There was a cigarette machine outside the mens bathroom that had the top all scorched and melted from the fire. I don’t think the fire extended much beyond the bar area and was caused by cigarette butts improperly disposed in the trash or something. Being a firefighter now, you remember things like that. I didn’t have much experience with Backstreet after 1990 except a couple times coming home to Detroit on leave after I joined the military until about 1994. Just my own personal experience with Backstreet back in the day. It was a different time. You often waited in line to get in on a Saturday night the reverberating beat and sound of the Hi ENRG, Dance, Disco music from inside you couldn’t wait to get in adding to the excitement. I think the cover charge was like $5 which was a lot of money back in the early/mid 80’s.Concrete Firemanhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/00696396925044067752noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7675021173909755754.post-23648147664688719122021-05-02T07:04:33.437-04:002021-05-02T07:04:33.437-04:00Hi John K! Lee’s friend Jason from Canada. As you ...Hi John K! Lee’s friend Jason from Canada. As you know Lee was my mentor. I had to have a copy of every import or remix service he played. I was devastated to hear about Lee’s passing. He was a great man. Backstreet wouldn’t have become as big as it was if it wasn’t for his music. No other DJ could fill his shoes.... RIP Lee.... you are missed xoDj jayhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/04107118551294566977noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7675021173909755754.post-16038930621205171772021-05-02T06:47:02.418-04:002021-05-02T06:47:02.418-04:00The most opinionated man..... Get your facts strai...The most opinionated man..... Get your facts straight. Lee did MDA??? All the time??? Clearly you didn’t know Lee. Get your facts straight before posting....Dj jayhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/04107118551294566977noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7675021173909755754.post-32821357864957275972020-10-12T02:46:16.092-04:002020-10-12T02:46:16.092-04:00How did a Donald Trump ad get here on this blog?? ...How did a Donald Trump ad get here on this blog?? Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7675021173909755754.post-39473873536453201992020-09-14T13:03:46.625-04:002020-09-14T13:03:46.625-04:00Morty, you look very familiar. John Kennedy was a ...Morty, you look very familiar. John Kennedy was a very close friend of mine for over 25 years. John was his partner Randy for 15 years. Unfortunately John died about 6 years ago. Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7675021173909755754.post-8172583617939836752020-09-14T12:59:17.652-04:002020-09-14T12:59:17.652-04:00You must of worked there when it was the Escape. R...You must of worked there when it was the Escape. Ron and his wife Gloria owned it then. Carl bought it from them.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7675021173909755754.post-15354095768012628622020-08-26T23:42:42.918-04:002020-08-26T23:42:42.918-04:00One of the owners of Backpocket (dark hair/glasses...One of the owners of Backpocket (dark hair/glasses) was Paul White. I met him when he bartended when it was the Escape. I moved to Chicago in 85 and only saw him once when back for s visit. I just moved back to the D this week after 35 years and running down memory lane on this site. Hope to see some of the old gang again after Covid is behind us.Anonymoushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08298017849878978293noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7675021173909755754.post-84553779472832754182018-10-24T01:39:58.786-04:002018-10-24T01:39:58.786-04:00LIKE I SAID !!! IT WILL “NEVER” B THE SAME !! CUPC...LIKE I SAID !!! IT WILL “NEVER” B THE SAME !! CUPCAKE ♥️ YOU WOULD NEVER UNDERSTAND SO SIT DOWN HONEY Anonymoushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/00056224363943127049noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7675021173909755754.post-20351500322563721152018-09-20T02:11:36.654-04:002018-09-20T02:11:36.654-04:00As everyone seems to have loved the music at Backs...As everyone seems to have loved the music at Backstreet during the 1980's and into the 1990's, I want to give a shout out to DJ Lee Eckinger, the architect of the 'Backsteet sound' during this period. He made sure that the hardware sounded flawless, and worked endlessly to play the latest and hottest imports and mixes. I know, because I was there each week, pen and paper in hand scribbling down notes so I could track down the records the next day!! A true genius at blending records, I proudly call him my mentor and friend. Unfortunately, after Carl died, Tom cut back Lee's schedule and brought in other DJ's who I felt were inferior and paying them crazy amounts of money for guest spots. I lost interest at that point. That's when I started DJing... And I got a lot of great compliments on my gigs, the style of which I modeled after Lee's. Tom was too busy with his gold chains and his little boys to realize he already had the best DJ in Detroit. What a shame.John Knoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7675021173909755754.post-8576258568885600752018-09-05T09:54:04.982-04:002018-09-05T09:54:04.982-04:00Backstreet was the first ever gay bar I went to. ...Backstreet was the first ever gay bar I went to. I was 17 visiting my cousin in Detroit and she took me there to celebrate her friend's birthday. I remember walking in and CeCe Peniston's song "Finally" was playing with the video on the big screen and I thought to myself "Yes, FINALLY it's happening to me!". The rest of the night was history. I lost myself in the crowd and had a great time :) Will never forget Backstreet and I'm so glad I found this page.Rishi Varmahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09925995891570310291noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7675021173909755754.post-91268764354408159692018-05-21T04:39:41.160-04:002018-05-21T04:39:41.160-04:00I'M the guy that was dancing on the speaker in...I'M the guy that was dancing on the speaker in the back! This is NOT a joke! For four years straight I would appear just before midnight every Wed & Sat. like clockwork, back left of the big video screen, and put on the performances of my life on that 4x4 square box and NEVER FELL OFF ONCE, LOLOL.. I had so much fun being dramatic and technical at breakneck speed with no stopping! LOLOL.. I got to know how to "work" with that DJ because I learned he always changed "on the 4's.. Like, "bridge is over, last reprises are over, now count to 4 - BAM! Big Spin and JUMP! LOLOLO.. I spent many years out of state, but I have been back in Detroit for about 8 years, still looking for a good place to dance.. For now, go to the Adam's Apple and ask for Jukebox Dave. ;)JukeBox Davehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/16494827131151987880noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7675021173909755754.post-26033124665339920972018-05-21T04:24:38.964-04:002018-05-21T04:24:38.964-04:00My thoughts exactly.. I was that guy that was alwa...My thoughts exactly.. I was that guy that was always dancing on the speaker (back left) next to the big video screen - really! :) Mymail4craigslist@yahoo.comAnonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7675021173909755754.post-73747512553770815142018-05-21T03:57:52.012-04:002018-05-21T03:57:52.012-04:00HILLARIOUS!! Because I'M THE GUY DANCING ON T...HILLARIOUS!! Because I'M THE GUY DANCING ON THE SPEAKER IN THE BACK EVERY WED. AND SATURDAY FOR 4 YEARS STRAIGHT AND I REMEMBER YOU!! LOL..You used to always wear gloves with the fingers cut off!! Hahahaha.. Those were the days! Lolol.. Mymail4craigslist@yahoo.comAnonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7675021173909755754.post-43163792424908321782018-05-20T10:51:44.664-04:002018-05-20T10:51:44.664-04:00Carl Rippberger's BackStreet Detroit was A Phe...Carl Rippberger's BackStreet Detroit was A Phenomenon. A Spectacle. A production like no other. No other bar/club ever came close to achieving that level of Success Anywhere. Carl did it in the D! We are ALL GRATEFUL for your Time, Talent & NRG!! Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7675021173909755754.post-78032795154216082632018-02-26T10:12:54.630-05:002018-02-26T10:12:54.630-05:00That was my second bar I went to on a Saturday nig...That was my second bar I went to on a Saturday night. The night after my very first bar which was Time Square in 1991. I fell in love with that place and I would go every Wednesday and Saturday night . In those days we would dance on the risers to be scene and Lucy ( who dressed like Lucille Ball) and the underwear guys to dance with her were always on the Riser right in front of the door to the back of the club. The very best times there were Halloween ( some of the best costumes) , the night before Thanksgiving ( the big bar night) , Christmas, and New Year's Eve. Only those nights it would be so packed that you could not move and that bar was a huge industrial Warehouse so just think of how many people that had to have been . Also, on those nights they would put out these big huge spreads of food . The decorations were always fabulous there and at midnight there was movie screen that would come down and they would play the hottest 90s club music videos. The music was also always great . You could meet your friends at the front bar, dance in the middle dance floor bar, and sit and talk in the back bar <br />(it was lots of seating in the back bar) all around the walls. It was a great place . Darwin Fennellnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7675021173909755754.post-51685972159598529262017-11-01T18:11:28.437-04:002017-11-01T18:11:28.437-04:00You got that right, friend! I recall heading over...You got that right, friend! I recall heading over to the White Castle at Livernois & Warren one night after several hours at Backstreet, only to find its parking lot full of 100+ black folks, milling about, a few fighting and tossing bottles in the air, and generally being more than a little crazy. Undeterred - I'm white - I walked inside, ordered my burgers, and walked out and back to my car. Those who were near me gaped speechlessly, but a few smiled and said things like, "Be cool, brother!, You're the man!" and similar words of encouragement and admiration for my refusal to let anyone deprive me of my usual late night snack. <br />It's for things like that that I'll always have a soft spot in my heart for Detroit!Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7675021173909755754.post-42674438822080784512017-11-01T17:55:15.061-04:002017-11-01T17:55:15.061-04:00Reflecting on all the gay bars I've ever atten...Reflecting on all the gay bars I've ever attended in my 65 years, I'll always have the fondest memories of the Escape/Backstreet. From the late '70s thru the '90s, it was consistently one of the hottest bars in the US. Yes, yes, NY, SF, LA, ATL and DC all had their hotspots, but the crowd here was really something special. The most truly diverse - and I'm not talking race! - group of all kinds of guys, and most very good looking. Remember "Puppy," one of the bartenders? There was another one, whose name I sadly forget, who gave me a "10%" - anybody remember that magazine? - tee-shirt that I still have. Great guys, good tunes, and I still smile when I think of their sign which advertised their "BAR IN MALL," which is exactly what it was.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7675021173909755754.post-62289819708481438832017-10-12T13:12:27.566-04:002017-10-12T13:12:27.566-04:00My first gay bar in 1972. At that time it was call...My first gay bar in 1972. At that time it was called THE ESCAPE, and was just a small narrow bar with a tiny dance floor and a few tables and a couple of booths in the back by the bathrooms.. It was owned by a str8 couple who were VERY Gay-friendly...Then it expanded and changed to Back Street!! Huge dancefloor and several bathrooms. It was like heaven!! Then new owners turned it str8!! I remember they tried to have Tiny Tim come there for a New Years party...It fizzled. HA!! Then it became gay again with new owners...And we all came back!! I saw Thelma Houston and Vicki Sue Robinson there...There was a small breakfast restaurant next door, a coupla lesbians opened for us to go to after the bar closed. I worked there for a while!!! Such fun times!!Anonymoushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07200233821776838543noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7675021173909755754.post-86172187887453750482017-10-02T05:18:30.772-04:002017-10-02T05:18:30.772-04:00I worked there too! I remember that Cedar Point tr...I worked there too! I remember that Cedar Point trip. Working Weds & Sats got me through college!! Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7675021173909755754.post-63331915725907948912017-09-21T15:46:59.185-04:002017-09-21T15:46:59.185-04:00I worked at the Backstreet as a waiter from about ...I worked at the Backstreet as a waiter from about 1980 to 1982. It was my first gay bar. I came out and started working there a few weeks later. I remember a bartender that worked the bar by the dance floor that was studying to be a doctor. Quiet guy but very nice. He interned at a gay clinic somewhere off Woodward. Joel, one of the owners was super nice. I’d go shopping with him sometimes for limes and stuff for the bar. Carl was nice to me (fooled around with him in the office once) but he had a young, tall boyfriend at the time who didn’t like me because he thought I was trying to break them up (the fooling around was after they split). I’m drawing a blank on names but 2 of the bartenders opened the Backpocket and I worked there a couple of days until they had their full staff. One of them (dark hair, glasses) is still friends with one of my friends. I used to rush from work in Livonia, to the bar in the afternoon to watch the movies they showed. I was working the night Grace Jones came in. Carl took her and her crew to the office and tried to impress her with a line of coke. She pulled out this huge bag and dropped it on the desk. Cracked me up. I remember they had some night of the week where you didn’t pay cover if you wore shorts or a certain color shorts or something like that. I had these very tiny white shorts I would wear to avoid cover. Didn’t leave much to the imagination. I think it was Dan the door man and a smaller guy that worked the door with him. Dan was a bear type. There was a black guy named Tuffy that I hung around with. I think he did drag too. There was always a fudge with Menjo’s going on and they called the cops on Backstreet more than once for under age drinking. The cops would bust in and have the lights all turned on, music shut down and start looking through the crowd. Carl would have everyone start pushing the minors out the side door. I remember a few getting arrested one time and he paid to get them out of jail. There were 2 muscle twin brothers that were shirtless most of the time. I had such a crush on the one with a mustache. I met a good friend while I was working there, Larry, who was going to seminary school in Northville. We had a lot of good fun together. Turned out his parents owned a bakery in Marine City down the street from a house I lived in and he and his brother went to school with my older sister. I lost track of him after we both coupled up. Lots of good times. I met my first lover there (asshole is what I call him now) and took my husband there for his first Detroit bar. Together 34 years now, married 2 years. I lived in Palmer Park apartments for my first ever apartment and spent every day at all the bars around town and at Backstage. The Most Opinionated Man In The Worldhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/16589666538492590020noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7675021173909755754.post-41867550371143210232017-09-21T15:08:15.975-04:002017-09-21T15:08:15.975-04:00If I’m thinking of the right John, did the 2 of yo...If I’m thinking of the right John, did the 2 of you buy a store in Saugatuck? I was a waiter at Backstreet in 1980-1982 and worked John’s station. I had a crush on him. He got me really drunk on my 21st Birthday. I slept on the beer cases in the room behind the bar until closing.The Most Opinionated Man In The Worldhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/16589666538492590020noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7675021173909755754.post-25726648178144553842017-09-21T15:00:41.451-04:002017-09-21T15:00:41.451-04:00Hey. I remember the muscle guy. He was so into him...Hey. I remember the muscle guy. He was so into himself. I danced with him all the time and he would drag me around to where people could see him the best. Lee was a friend of mine. I moved to Flint and would crash at his place on the weekends. Lots of partying��. He did MDA all the time and loved to share it but he would put it on his finger and shove it in people’s mouth. He dj’d at Menjos for a while and a few other bars. My source for music back then.The Most Opinionated Man In The Worldhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/16589666538492590020noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7675021173909755754.post-7665129610458655732017-09-02T14:54:24.181-04:002017-09-02T14:54:24.181-04:00Is the same Murray Hodgson who worked for the WWF ...Is the same Murray Hodgson who worked for the WWF and claimed he was sexually harassed?Jameshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02184447681408630490noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7675021173909755754.post-64341112861125332562017-08-28T14:13:04.872-04:002017-08-28T14:13:04.872-04:00Murray isn't in prison. Can the drama queens b...Murray isn't in prison. Can the drama queens be mute and someone say what really happened to Murray?Anonymoushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08349300446272691572noreply@blogger.com