Rock Royalty Award

By day, Russ Gibb was a science and math teacher in Howell, Michigan. By night, he was a DJ at WKNR-FM radio in Detroit, where he achieved fame for exploring the “Paul is Dead” conspiracy. But life changed entirely for Russ when, in 1966, when his friend, Jim Dunbar, invited him on a trip to California. Jim brought him to the storied Fillmore West in San Francisco, where they encountered the world of psychedelic music, hippies and “freaks.”

Russ returned to Detroit to resurrect the historic Grande Ballroom into a music pleasure palace. The Grande Ballroom introduced great Michigan talent to the world.

Dick Wagner shares his own words for Russ Gibb:
“The Summer of Love brought forth an amazing array of musical groups from the center of ‘60s flower power, San Francisco. Fortunately for us musicians in Detroit and outer Michigan, one of the first-hand witnesses to this scene was local school teacher Russ Gibb, who returned to Detroit filled with visions for a Midwest version of the Fillmore West. He took over the historic Grande Ballroom and turned it into a West Coast styled music venue, complete with psychedelic lights and West Coast hippie vibes. He began booking groups and drawing crowds of Detroit’s high-energy kids. The local music groups were unlike their San Francisco counterparts…they had a roughness and loudness that exemplified their industrial roots and blue-collar environment. The Grande became the center for Detroit Rock ‘n Roll, and in a short time, became a primary showcase venue for every rock band who toured America.

You’d find Detroit bands opening for The Yardbirds, Procol Harum, Janis Joplin and Big Brother, Mountain, Jethro Tull, BB King, Johnny Winter, and many others. These national and international bands had to be at the top of their game in order to keep up with The MC5, The Stooges, The Jagged Edge, The Frost, Bob Seger, Mitch Ryder, SRC, The Rationals, Suzi Quatro, and other amazing Michigan bands. The local Detroit scene was the spiritual center of rock music, and it was mostly taking place at The Grande Ballroom. I can tell you, it was an exciting scene for my band, The Frost. I loved every moment I ever spent on that historic stage. What a fantastic era to be a part of. Thank you, Russ!”

John Sinclair adds, “If you went to the Grande Ballroom, you entered a different world. It was none like any of the world that they had presented to you before, and there was no interpretive code, you were just thrust into the middle of it… And by the time you went home…you would be in a whole different place mentally.”

MC5 drummer, Dennis Thompson tells us, “The Grande Ballroom’s audiences were probably the best audiences in the world. The Grande Ballroom’s audience was … a beast of its own. They were just fanatics, and they just loved music, and they loved the hard-driving music, and they showed up.

With its extraordinary acoustics and passionate crowds, the Grande Ballroom became a destination venue for artists to record their live albums. Live albums recorded at the Grande included The Frost, MC5, Jeff Beck, Janis Joplin, and countless treasured bootleg albums.

Oh yeah! Kick out the jams!

For your singular role in creating and nurturing the Detroit music scene, we honor you, Russ Gibb. Uncle Russ, we thank you for the music and the unforgettable memories of a lifetime.