Hammerjack's
Encyclopedia
Hammerjack's Concert Hall and Nightclub was a large concert hall in downtown Baltimore
through the 1980s and into the 1990s owned by Louis J. Principio III. The club attracted many big-name national acts, but also showcased many rising stars in the music world. The bands ranged from punk
, glam
, and heavy metal
acts most commonly associated with the venue (e.g., Guns n Roses, Kix
, Ratt
, Skid Row or Extreme
) to pop (e.g., Bad Finger) and alternative rock groups (e.g., Goo Goo Dolls
). The club was often frequented by hard core patrons and musicians donning big hair, leather, lace, spandex, and heavy makeup, and was considered a "hard rock shrine." Hamerjack's, however, attracted audiences with other attire as well. It was torn down on June 12, 1997 to make way for M&T Bank Stadium
parking lot. Hammerjacks was billed as "The largest nightclub on the east coast."
A third version of Hammerjack's opened in a different location, which had formerly been used as a car wash, in Baltimore
. It was then put under new management in 2004, but has now been closed.
The club was featured in the John Waters
' 1994 film Serial Mom
, with grunge band L7
playing the band Camel Lips. It was the location where Kathleen Turner
's character Beverly Sutphin was arrested for murder. Interior and exterior views of the club have been featured in music videos, including the band Kix.
As of July 2, 2011, The Trademark Electronic Search System (TESS)http://tess2.uspto.gov/ listed five different records pertaining to the trademark "Hammerjacks." The only active application for the trademark was by Hammerhouse Designs LLC, 1706 Saddle Drive Gambrills, Maryland 21054. The attorney of record was Lawrence E. Laubscher, Jr. The resident agent was listed as Robin Butler. The application for this trademark was filed January 27, 2011 and published for opposition April 19, 2011. The other records pertain to adandoned applications and registrations. Official merchandise can still be purchased on the Hammerjack's website,http://www.hammerjacksonline.com which is operated by Hammerhouse Designs.
Baltimore
Baltimore is the largest independent city in the United States and the largest city and cultural center of the US state of Maryland. The city is located in central Maryland along the tidal portion of the Patapsco River, an arm of the Chesapeake Bay. Baltimore is sometimes referred to as Baltimore...
through the 1980s and into the 1990s owned by Louis J. Principio III. The club attracted many big-name national acts, but also showcased many rising stars in the music world. The bands ranged from punk
Punk rock
Punk rock is a rock music genre that developed between 1974 and 1976 in the United States, the United Kingdom, and Australia. Rooted in garage rock and other forms of what is now known as protopunk music, punk rock bands eschewed perceived excesses of mainstream 1970s rock...
, glam
Glam rock
Glam rock is a style of rock and pop music that developed in the UK in the early 1970s, which was performed by singers and musicians who wore outrageous clothes, makeup and hairstyles, particularly platform-soled boots and glitter...
, and heavy metal
Heavy metal music
Heavy metal is a genre of rock music that developed in the late 1960s and early 1970s, largely in the Midlands of the United Kingdom and the United States...
acts most commonly associated with the venue (e.g., Guns n Roses, Kix
Kix (band)
Kix is an American hard rock/heavy metal band who achieved popularity in the late 1980s and early 1990s. Band members continue to tour, recently appearing at the Rocklahoma festival in 2008 in Oklahoma and the M3 Rock Festival in May 2011 in the band's home state of Maryland.-Formation:Kix was...
, Ratt
Ratt
Ratt is an American heavy metal band that had significant commercial success in the 1980s. The band is best known for songs such as "Round and Round," "Wanted Man," "Lay It Down," "You're in Love", "Slip of the Lip", "Back For More", "Dance", "Body Talk", "I Want a Woman", and "Way Cool Jr." Ratt...
, Skid Row or Extreme
Extreme (band)
Extreme is an American rock band, headed by frontmen Gary Cherone and Nuno Bettencourt, that reached the height of their popularity in the late 1980s and early 1990s.Among some of Extreme's musical influences are Queen and Van Halen...
) to pop (e.g., Bad Finger) and alternative rock groups (e.g., Goo Goo Dolls
Goo Goo Dolls
The Goo Goo Dolls are a Grammy-nominated American rock band formed in 1986 in Buffalo, New York, by vocalist and guitarist John Rzeznik and vocalist and bass guitarist Robby Takac. Since the end of 1994, Mike Malinin has been the band's drummer, a position previously held by George Tutuska...
). The club was often frequented by hard core patrons and musicians donning big hair, leather, lace, spandex, and heavy makeup, and was considered a "hard rock shrine." Hamerjack's, however, attracted audiences with other attire as well. It was torn down on June 12, 1997 to make way for M&T Bank Stadium
M&T Bank Stadium
M&T Bank Stadium is a multi-purpose football stadium located in Baltimore, Maryland. It is the home of the Baltimore Ravens of the National Football League. The stadium is immediately adjacent to Oriole Park at Camden Yards, the home of the Baltimore Orioles. Served by the Hamburg Street station of...
parking lot. Hammerjacks was billed as "The largest nightclub on the east coast."
A third version of Hammerjack's opened in a different location, which had formerly been used as a car wash, in Baltimore
Baltimore
Baltimore is the largest independent city in the United States and the largest city and cultural center of the US state of Maryland. The city is located in central Maryland along the tidal portion of the Patapsco River, an arm of the Chesapeake Bay. Baltimore is sometimes referred to as Baltimore...
. It was then put under new management in 2004, but has now been closed.
The club was featured in the John Waters
John Waters (filmmaker)
John Samuel Waters, Jr. is an American filmmaker, actor, stand-up comedian, writer, journalist, visual artist, and art collector, who rose to fame in the early 1970s for his transgressive cult films...
' 1994 film Serial Mom
Serial Mom
Serial Mom is a 1994 American dark satire written and directed by John Waters, starring Kathleen Turner as the title character, Sam Waterston as her husband, and Ricki Lake and Matthew Lillard as her children. Despite statements to the contrary in the movie, the story is completely fictional...
, with grunge band L7
L7
-Music and culture:* Square , from the thumbs and forefingers of two hands forming the shape "L7"* Bustin' Out of L Seven, an album by Rick James* L7 , a grunge/punk band from Los Angeles, California* L-Seven, post-punk band from Detroit, Michigan...
playing the band Camel Lips. It was the location where Kathleen Turner
Kathleen Turner
Mary Kathleen Turner is an American actress. She came to fame during the 1980s, after roles in the Hollywood films Body Heat, Peggy Sue Got Married, Romancing the Stone, The War of the Roses, Who Framed Roger Rabbit and Prizzi's Honor...
's character Beverly Sutphin was arrested for murder. Interior and exterior views of the club have been featured in music videos, including the band Kix.
As of July 2, 2011, The Trademark Electronic Search System (TESS)http://tess2.uspto.gov/ listed five different records pertaining to the trademark "Hammerjacks." The only active application for the trademark was by Hammerhouse Designs LLC, 1706 Saddle Drive Gambrills, Maryland 21054. The attorney of record was Lawrence E. Laubscher, Jr. The resident agent was listed as Robin Butler. The application for this trademark was filed January 27, 2011 and published for opposition April 19, 2011. The other records pertain to adandoned applications and registrations. Official merchandise can still be purchased on the Hammerjack's website,http://www.hammerjacksonline.com which is operated by Hammerhouse Designs.