Music / Press & broadcasting
Russ Gibb
1931–2019 · concert promoter, disc jockey, teacher
Dearborn schoolteacher and DJ who opened the Grande Ballroom in 1966, turning a faded dance hall into the Midwest's most important rock stage.
- Born
Dearborn, Michigan- Died
aged 87- Birth name
- Russel James Gibb
- Also known as
- Uncle Russ
- Detroit years
- 1931–2019
- Field
- Music, Press & broadcasting
01 / The Detroit story
The Detroit story
Gibb grew up in Dearborn, graduated from Fordson High School and Michigan State University, and began teaching in the Dearborn schools in 1961 while moonlighting in radio and TV. After seeing San Francisco's Fillmore, he leased the 1928 Grande Ballroom on Grand River Avenue and opened it as a psychedelic rock hall on October 7, 1966. The MC5 became its house band, the Stooges played their first show there in 1968, and touring stars from Cream to the Who, who played Tommy there before any other U.S. stage, came through until he closed it in 1972. He also ran shows at the Eastown Theatre, the Michigan Palace and the Birmingham Palladium. In October 1969 a caller to his show on Dearborn's WKNR-FM set off the “Paul is dead” rumor worldwide. Gibb later built cable TV systems in the suburbs and taught video production at Dearborn High School until 2004.
Highlights
- Opened the Grande Ballroom on October 7, 1966, and ran it until 1972
- Booked the MC5, the Stooges, Cream, the Who and Led Zeppelin in Detroit
- His October 1969 WKNR-FM broadcast spread the “Paul is dead” legend
- Taught in Dearborn public schools for 42 years (1961–2004)
02 / Their Detroit places
Their Detroit places 5
Where they lived, worked, performed and liked to hang out. Closed and demolished places stay here too, because they are part of the city's history.
Founded · 1966–1972
Grande Ballroom
Closed · 1928–1972
The 1928 Charles Agree dance hall he reopened as a rock ballroom from October 7, 1966, to December 31, 1972. A church bought the empty building in 2006.
Worked here · about 1969–1973
Eastown Theatre
Demolished · 1931–1973
East side movie palace that became a rock hall in 1969; Gibb was among its operators. It was demolished in 2015.
Worked here · mid-1970s
Michigan Palace
Closed · 1926–1976
Downtown movie palace he leased for rock shows (the New York Dolls played here). The auditorium has been a parking garage since 1977.
Studied here · 1940s
Fordson High School
The Dearborn high school he graduated from.
Worked here · 1976–2004
Dearborn High School
He taught television and video production here from 1976 until he retired in 2004.