In the alley bordered by Main Avenue and East Second Avenue, at Seventh and Eighth streets, once stood Durango’s rock and roll capital: ETC (Every Teen’s Club).
The building exterior was, at best, shabby. The interior looks were unknown as, except for a blue bathroom light and bandstand light, it was dark.
On weekend nights during the mid-1960s, it was crowded with local teens dancing to mostly local rock bands. Cover charge was a dollar or less. The back of your left hand was stamped to show you paid. Of course, the plan was to not wash that hand in hopes you could just flash Friday’s stamp on Saturday night and walk in free.
The “Save the Stamp Plan” was ultimately without merit, as the teens wouldn’t cheat the club and the club wasn’t checking anyway.
The sound then was British Invasion – Beatles, Rolling Stones, Animals, Dave Clark Five.
The regular musicians, just a few who come to mind, were Bob Piccoli, Art Gomez, Phil Leonardelli and Chuck Glass. They were Durango High School classmates who could play and sing rock.
They were better than good, but there was one band that was in a class by itself: The Lords of London. The Lords were not regulars at ETC. They played in Los Angeles.
Record companies signed The Lords, and they released some 45s and received airplay on 100,000 watt radio stations. They became a part of rock history.
Maybe the best part of the The Lords of London, hit records and all, was that it was actually a group of guys from DHS a few years older than us.
David Watkins
Redington Shores, Fla.
