40 Watt Club facts for kids

Quick facts for kids
40 Watt Club

The 40 Watt Club, at its fourth location, 382 Broad Street. It was there from 1983 to 1987.
Address	285 West Washington Street
Location	Athens, Georgia
Coordinates	33°57′30″N 83°22′48″W / 33.9583°N 83.3799°W / 33.9583; -83.3799
Owner	Barrie Buck
Opened	1979

The 40 Watt Club is a famous music venue located in Athens, Georgia. It's known for helping to launch popular music styles like punk rock and new wave music in America.

Many well-known bands from Athens got their start or played often at the 40 Watt Club. These include Pylon, R.E.M., Love Tractor, and Drive-By Truckers. The club's "do-it-yourself" (DIY) attitude and relaxed style helped create a special music scene in Athens. Since 1987, Barrie Buck has owned the club.

The Club's Beginning

The 40 Watt Club started in 1978 in Curtis Crowe's loft apartment. Curtis Crowe was a musician. He and his friend Bill Tabor joked about calling it the "40 Watt Club." This was because there was only one 40-watt light bulb hanging from the ceiling.

Curtis Crowe held his first party there on Halloween. His band, Strictly American, played. Later, Curtis heard musicians Michael Lachowski and Randy Bewley practicing below his loft. He joined them, and they formed the band Pylon. After touring, Curtis realized he could open a real music club. He did this in 1979.

Moving and Growing

In May 1980, Curtis Crowe and his partner Paul Scales moved the club. It went to a space above a sandwich shop. They called this new spot "40 Watt East." The band The Side Effects played on the first night. Pylon played on the second night. The club quickly became very popular with young people in Athens. So many people danced that they had to add extra support beams to the floors!

In April 1981, the club moved again to a bigger space. New features were added, like a proper stage and more bathrooms. The club was built using recycled materials and help from volunteers. A local artist named David Hannon Pierce created the club's famous logo, which is still used today.

New Owners and Locations

Later, Doug Hoechst bought the club. In 1983, he moved it to a larger building and called it "40 Watt Club Uptown." This new location was big and professional. Many famous underground bands played there in the 1980s.

In 1987, the rent for the "Uptown" location went up. New owners, Jared Bailey and Barrie Buck, moved the club back to an earlier location. This was on West Clayton Street.

In 1991, the 40 Watt Club moved to its fifth and current home. This is at 285 West Washington Street. It used to be a thrift store. The club has also hosted the annual FLUKE Mini-Comics & Zine Festival since 2011. This festival celebrates small comic books and magazines.

Club Locations Through the Years

The 40 Watt Club has been in several places:

• 171 College Avenue (1979–1980)
• 101 College Avenue, also called "40 Watt East" (1980–1981)
• 256 West Clayton Street (1981–1983 and 1987–1991)
• 382 East Broad Street, also called "40 Watt Uptown" (1983–1987)
• 285 West Washington Street (1991–present)

Famous Performances

Many well-known bands and artists have played at the 40 Watt Club. Here are some of them:

A Legendary Club

The 40 Watt Club is considered one of the most important music venues in the United States. VH1 once called it the second most legendary rock club in the country. Rolling Stone magazine also named it one of the best clubs in the U.S. in 2013.

During a show in 2018, Johnny Marr, a guitarist from the band the Smiths, spoke about the club. He said it was special for British musicians like him to play there.