Amy Carter, The Ramones and The Secret Service

2/9/2017 3 Comments

Amy Carter, The Ramones and The Secret Service

688 Club was preparing for our first Agora Ballroom production with The Ramones on Friday April 8, 1983. We had planned to do two shows, an all ages show at 7pm and an adult show at 10pm. By March 25th we had decided to merge the two shows to one because we weren't selling enough all ages tickets.
On April the 1st I get a call, "Mr. May this Agent Kessler of the Secret Service I wonder if you can do me a favor...." I hang up thinking one of my friends was playing an April fools joke. The phone rings again immediately. The voice a bit irritated, "Mr. May this is Agent Kessler!" I asked, "How I could help him," very nervously having just hung up on the fricking Secret Service. "Mrs. Carter, the former first lady asks if you can do her a favor." "Can you set up an alternative performance for her daughter Amy, for your upcoming concert with The Ramones on April the 8th." "She bought tickets for the early show but must catch a 10pm flight out of Atlanta." I told him I would call the band and set something up. Having already reduced the performance to one show. I knew not to call the booking agency they would want more money. So I phoned Joey and he said he would talk to the band. I get a call about an hour later from Joey. The band has agreed to do a six song sound check for Amy with the former first lady in tow at 7pm, no charge. I call Agent Kessler and tell him the good news. "Son, you have done a great service to your country." I snickered a bit. "I will inform Mrs. Carter and let her know the good news." "Thank you again."
This might end our story but alas nothing is ever that easy in rock and roll.
Finally the big day arrives. April 8, 1983 and we are getting ready for sound check. At 6pm the first of four Secret Service agents arrive at the Agora. They check every inch of the building. They seemed pleased by my followed instructions about no access to the sound check except Tony Paris, Tony Evans, The Ramones, Crew and myself. Rosalynn Carter and Amy arrive along with another Secret Service Agent about 6:45pm. The band starts sound check. Rosalynn puts in her earplugs. Amy is on the edge of her seat. The Secret Service looks edgy. The band goes into a three song trilogy and stops. There is a loud knock at the back door. Then a kick. The doors fly open. In pops one of my staff. Dave Dickens is wearing black leather, studs and sporting a nine-inch mohawk. The Secret Service go nuts dragging him down with guns drawn. Rosalynn covers Amy. I run toward them yelling, "Please dont shoot he is one of our staff!" Soon guns are re-holstered. Amy gets back up. Rosalynn adjusts her earplugs.
The band plays on. Another seven quick songs that seems to last seven minutes. Everybody is happy! Pictures are taken. The band signs Amy's albums. Dave is alive.

Steve May

3 Comments

Jon Kincaid

2/23/2017 09:31:06 am

The merged show was an an All Ages show, however, as it was the first Ramones show I ever saw. Hot as hell up front near the band, I had to go to the back and buy a Coke at some point because I was sweating buckets. Took a few pictures as well.

Steve May

2/23/2017 07:45:34 pm

Actually we combined the two shows All Ages and Adult. We made the balcony Adult only and served alcohol. You had to have a wrist band for admittance upstairs. I separated a section behind the audio production for VIP's. My parents came (big Ramones' fans) and sat next to Tom Petty and his girlfriend. My Mother was a huge Tom Petty fan and flirted with him all night.

Patti O.

1/11/2019 04:14:44 pm

Didn't one of the "adults" jump from the balcony that night? Good times.

This show was the night I met David Dickens. Today I am still grieving the loss of him. What a great story, thank you. It helps ease the pain if ever so slightly... Peace be with our beautiful brother, DD.

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Ralph Records Artists The Residents played 688 on January 9th and 10th 1986. We had tried to book them since we opened in 1980 and I thought we would never get them. In November 1985 I finally got the call from Ralph Records that the band would finally be on tour. We were given the January dates. The group performed to two, sold out, enthusiastic crowds. After the last show though a mystery occured someone had stolen the groups eyeball head stage prop. We sent out our best investagators in search of the top-hatted optical prosthesis but to no avail, the band had to leave for the next show. I was very distruaght a group I thoroughly respected, who just sold out two shows, had been robbed of this important stage prop. Luckily later the next morning the topped-hat ocular prop was returned to the club (no questions asked) and we got it to The Residents before their next Washington DC performance. I was glad to know that the band apprecated our hard work returning their giant eyeball mask and there were no hard feelings. I guess this would end our story but alas the giant, top-hatted, eyeball mask was again stolen in San Francisco on May 23, 2015. This mysterious master criminal had struck again, three decades later. I only hope that it will be promptly returned to The Residents.

Steve May

Soundman extraordinaire. Owner, booking, production at 688 club and anything Cathy or Sheila wanted.

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