Metro

Detail: Metro's mission is to bring a cross-platform of the best local, regional and national emerging artists to Chicago. Since, 1982, Metro has accomplished this goal repeatedly and established itself as one of the country's premier, cutting edge new music venues. It's an exciting time in the club's history; a time that proves New Music does matter and has mattered for 22 years. But how did it all begin?

In the late 1970's, owner Joe Shanahan left his hometown of Chicago for New York City to live in the midst of the developing art, music and dance culture. After a year, he returned to Chicago and realized that there wasn't, at that time, a decent club tied to those communities. Drawing upon his friends and experiences from New York City, he set off to fill this void.

Metro/Smart Bar began as Shanahan's personal parties for his friends in his loft apartment. Exploiting the camaraderie in the local art community, Shanahan began to combine these DJ-driven parties with local gallery openings. Attendance ballooned, and the parties quickly outgrew his loft space. A local promoter directed him to the building that now houses Metro and Smart Bar. Shanahan fell in love with it.

Metro was originally built in 1927 as a Swedish Community Center. When Shanahan came across it, it was home to a jazz/folk club, Stages. Enamored by the space, Shanahan opened SmartBar in July of 1982. A dance club mixing a variety of the new genres of the time, SmartBar was located on the fourth floor of the building, which now houses the offices of the Metro staff.

Smart Bar became a quick success. Groundbreaking DJs Frankie Knuckles and Joe Smooth would spin regularly. Bands like Ministry and Trent Reznor showcased their new "industrial" music by playing tapes of freshly recorded tracks for the crowd.