Wax Trax! to celebrate legacy with 2-day all-star concert at Metro
The revered Chicago record label Wax Trax! Records will throw itself a party April 15-16 at Metro, bringing back many of the artists and bands that put industrial music on the international map in the ‘80s and ‘90s.
In an announcement expected later Tuesday, the lineup for the “Wax Trax! Records Retrospectacle: 33 1/3 Year Anniversary” will include Front 242, My Life With the Thrill Kill Kult and Rights of the Accused. Luc Van Acker, Chris Connelly, former Ministry member Paul Barker and guests will perform the music of the Revolting Cocks. En Esch, Guenter Schulz and Raymond Watts will focus on the music of KMFDM.
Tickets ($60 two-day pass; $500 VIP tables) go on sale at noon Saturday via etix.com and will benefit Center on Halsted.
The Wax Trax! record store (originally on Lincoln Avenue ) and later label were founded by a couple of former Denver residents, Jim Nash and Dannie Flesher, in the late ‘70s. Their store, stocked with imports and cutting-edge music, became the world epicenter for boundary-pushing artists who bridged disco, electronic music, rock, and the avant-garde. Some dubbed the sound “industrial disco,” an umbrella term that included Ministry, Front 242, Underworld, KMFDM, and My Life With the Thrill Kill Kult, underground acts who went on to sell millions of records.
The label went bankrupt in the mid-‘90s and Nash and Flesher have since died, but they left behind a towering legacy. The “Retrospectacle” looks to be the first major public tribute to the Nash-Flesher era.
greg@gregkot.com
Who has the Joy Division neon sign from Wax Trax?
Posted by: Skitch | February 15, 2011 at 12:29 PM
Ah, there was a time when you could go to WT, blow a hundred bucks and come away with a load of the coolest records you'd ever own. Life sucks now.
Posted by: Jerry Haynes | February 15, 2011 at 12:50 PM
Awesome post and great news. We have fond memories of both the store and the label. Can't wait to dig through the crates tonight...
Posted by: J. Medley | February 15, 2011 at 04:22 PM
I STILL own all the albums I bought at that store... and, I STILL listen to them! Loved that place...
Posted by: Racegirl2000 | February 15, 2011 at 04:30 PM
That store was the reason we came all the way from Michigan as kids to buy records. I would say that the music that came from that label, changed my life.
Posted by: F.Scottie | February 15, 2011 at 06:39 PM
I, too, remember the days of going to the Lincoln Ave. store, spending a couple of hours combing through the bins, and blowing a wad of cash on some really great records. Then I would go across the street and have a pint of beer at the Red Lion pub. Ah, those were the days.
Posted by: x-wizard | February 15, 2011 at 07:31 PM
amazing
Posted by: J.Martin | February 16, 2011 at 05:26 AM
VIP tables? $500? Well that just ruined the whole thing.
Posted by: jfsp | February 16, 2011 at 06:05 AM
Nice to hear so many artists will be participating. Why the Jourgensen photo for the story? Didn't see him on the act list?
Posted by: Bhawk | February 16, 2011 at 08:05 AM
I like that a couple members of Ministry will be performing, but I'd like to see the whole band re-unite this night for an awesom show? Could Jourgensen be one of the "special guests"?
Posted by: Matt | February 16, 2011 at 12:33 PM
I wish Ministry would play this show. wonder if Atkins and his label mates will make an appearance.
Posted by: billy | February 16, 2011 at 01:49 PM
MINISTRY !!! EVERYONE WANTS TO SEE THEM AGAIN !! NO INFO ? NOTHING, NOT EVEN A STATEMENT FROM AL ?
Posted by: TED | February 17, 2011 at 04:06 AM
We people in Poland have started to listen industrial music thanks to Wax Trax. Revco, Kill Kult, solo album of Conelly, Unkle Jourgnesen. Then we start our own band called Agressiva 69 in 1993. Then we play as a support Ministry in 2010 in Warsaw and Ministry then had split out. Before Martin Atkins played as a drummer in 4 songs on our album " in" and dreams came true. I want be there in Chicago to drink with You!!! Best from Warsaw. patrick ashley
Posted by: patrick ashley | February 17, 2011 at 02:49 PM
Sasha from KMFDM needs to get off his ego trip and show up for the fans.
Plus, it's for such a good cause.
Posted by: russ99 | February 19, 2011 at 06:00 PM
Sascha will not be there. He's offered spots back to En Esch and Guenther, they refused on the last tour.
Al killed Ministry but you'll have Paul Barker there. He did a lot more for Ministry than he's given credit for- just consider how awful the albums were AFTER he left.
Atkins recently got tuned up in a car accident which might be a blessing in disguise for him not being there. Normally he's threatening his artists with a baseball bat over contracts.
Posted by: Jake | February 20, 2011 at 12:39 PM
Rock on - just what Chicago needs about now....I still have my first album ever purchased there "Big Sexy Land" - Revco :) Danni and Jim will be smiling from above....
Got my ticket - CANT WAIT !!!
Posted by: Lana | February 22, 2011 at 04:36 PM
Looking for tickets to the April 15 & 15 show. regular 2 day pass.
Contact me @ midnightblue0714@yahoo.com
Posted by: Scott | February 25, 2011 at 07:10 AM
personally, I'd love to see bill drummond and jimmy caulty walk onstage and play a few selections from the KLF but I know that won't happen.
Posted by: billy | February 28, 2011 at 05:50 AM