The Phantasy Entertainment Complex was a staple in the Cleveland music scene since the early 1980s. The Phantasy helped launch nationally recognized bands
Anne E. DeChant,
Devo,
Exotic Birds,
Filter,
Lucky Pierre,
the Adults,
The Pagans,
Stabbing Westward, and was the debut location for
Nine Inch Nails
Nine Inch Nails, commonly abbreviated as NIN (stylized as NIИ), is an American industrial rock band formed in Cleveland, Ohio in 1988. Its members are the singer-songwriter, multi-instrumentalist and producer Trent Reznor and his frequent col ...
. It was also a stopover for other major acts like
Iggy Pop
James Newell Osterberg Jr. (born April 21, 1947), known professionally as Iggy Pop, is an American singer, musician, songwriter, actor and radio broadcaster. He was the vocalist and lyricist of proto-punk band the Stooges, who were formed in 1 ...
,
Jesus and Mary Chain,
The Pogues
The Pogues are an English Celtic punk band founded in King's Cross, London, in 1982, by Shane MacGowan, Spider Stacy and Jem Finer. Originally named Pogue Mahone—an anglicisation of the Irish language, Irish phrase :wikt:póg mo thóin, ''p� ...
,
The Psychedelic Furs
The Psychedelic Furs are an English rock band founded in London in February 1977. Led by lead vocalist Richard Butler (singer), Richard Butler and his brother Tim Butler on bass guitar, the Psychedelic Furs are one of the many acts spawned from ...
, the
Ramones and
Psychic TV
Psychic TV (aka PTV or Psychick TV or several other aliases) were an English experimental music, experimental video art and music collective, formed by performance artist Genesis P-Orridge and Scottish musician Alex Fergusson (musician), Alex ...
and has hosted reunion shows for bands including
Lestat, among others.
History
The Phantasy Entertainment Complex, consisting of the Phantasy Nite Club, The Chamber, Symposium, and Phantasy Theater, first opened in 1918 when it was known as the Homestead Theater. The theater played movies until 1979 and at one point was referred to as the Detroit Theater. Between the years 1976-1977 it was called The Last Picture Show. In the eighties, the theater was renamed the Phantasy, with a focus on
alternative,
goth and
industrial rock groups.
John De Frasia purchased the complex in 1965 when he opened a restaurant inside called Piccadilly Square. After seeing the 1962 film
''Mutiny on the Bounty'', De Frasia built a pirate ship inside the restaurant, which was converted to a music club in 1973. One side of the ship is used as a DJ booth, while the second half is a sound stage. The walls of the complex contains early new wave posters and stickers from most bands that have appeared at the complex since its opening.
Michael J. Fox and
Joan Jett performed at the Phantasy Theater in 1987 a day before their film premiere of ''
Light of Day''.
Within the same complex The Chamber dance club began in 1996 under the joint management of DJ Cable and Michele De Frasia and had since been the local haven for Alternative, Goth and Industrial subcultures. Notable artists that frequented The Chamber and are from the area included
Andy Kubiszewski,
Marilyn Manson
Brian Hugh Warner (born January 5, 1969), known professionally as Marilyn Manson, is an American rock musician. He is the lead singer and the only original member remaining of the Marilyn Manson (band), same-titled band he founded in 1989. Th ...
,
Kevin McMahon,
Lorin Morgan-Richards, Larry Szyms and
Textbeak
''Michael Szewczyk'' (born 1973), known as DJ Textbeak, is an American DJ, artist and record producer.
DJ Textbeak is known internationally for his varied style of dark and experimental music including remixes for ∆AIMON, Cyanotic (band), Cyano ...
.
In 2009, the complex was investigated by paranormal researchers who claimed to have captured audio of spirits.
In 2010, a fire swept through the complex.
In 2015, the De Frasia family announced that the Phantasy Nite Club complex was for sale. A deal to sell the venue fell through at the last minute in 2018. As of June 2020, plans for the Phantasy to become an LGBTQ community hub and entertainment complex were nearing completion. On July 8, 2020 ownership was transferred to the West 117 Development Phantasy LLC as part of the Studio West 117 complex.
See also
*
List of music venues
References
External links
*
{{DEFAULTSORT:Phantasy Theater
Goth venues
Music venues in Ohio
Lakewood, Ohio
National Register of Historic Places in Cuyahoga County, Ohio
Theatres on the National Register of Historic Places in Ohio