Harpo's

[NinaObelia]

i forgot the time i last went there it was a "hot buns" contest or whatever they call it. i really do think they called it that though.

in the middle of the music playing they stop and all these chicks get on stage and show their asses. i was like wow, i didn't know we were at that kind of a cheesy bar.

my boyfriend at the time kept looking over, squinting.

i realized he was not wearing his glasses and could not really see the girls. i know he wanted to but i think he felt bad 1. leaving me to stand at the back alone to go look at some chick's asses and 2. he knew he could not drag me close to the stage to look.

yeah that's my fondest memory of harpo's. oh yeah that and the smell.

[Fierce Critter]

A friend I had in the early 90's stopped going there around that time. He had gone there for a show in the wintertime, and as they tried to leave, the cops were making everybody stay inside the club. Once they were allowed out, they found out there had been a shooting in the parking lot. My friend had to clean snow, blood & brains off his windshield before he could drive home.

No thanks.

[Daevion]

I've been to Harpos many times and yes it is completely horrible.....its even less safe to park there than at city club. Whatever you do don't go there by yourself, make sure your with friends. I would say its safer to walk around downtown detroit than it is to walk around in the harpos area. I'm biased, though, because I hate that place so much......nothing bad ever happened to me there however but for some reason I can't explain is my complete disdain for that worthless pile of shit place that is harpos. Harpos IS the abyss!!! burn that place to the ground for all i care!!! die harpos, die!!!

[soothsayer]

A friend I had in the early 90's stopped going there around that time. He had gone there for a show in the wintertime, and as they tried to leave, the cops were making everybody stay inside the club. Once they were allowed out, they found out there had been a shooting in the parking lot. My friend had to clean snow, blood & brains off his windshield before he could drive home.

No thanks.

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

If I'm not mistaken that could have been the Steve Krass shooting back in '95 - I knew him fairly well. He died three days later while in a coma.

[Goth Brooks]

I haven't been there yet...been scared to.

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

wimp

[Nevaeh]

wimp

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

i've wanted to go to a show or two there

but every time i ask some friends to go

they're all about telling me about people gettin killed there and about how crappy it is.

i'm sure not goin by myself

[phee]

i've wanted to go to a show or two there

but every time i ask some friends to go

they're all about telling me about people gettin killed there and about how crappy it is.

i'm sure not goin by myself

I have been many times... sometimes rough, but I have never felt like I was in danger.

[Nevaeh]

it sound slike my favorite venue back home.

i miss that place....they tore it down

[Fierce Critter]

If I'm not mistaken that could have been the Steve Krass shooting back in '95 ...

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

This story was related to me around 1990-1992.

It appears Harpo's has a history of violent death in the parking lot.

[ZhukovCodeslinger]

i tried a google search for people killed at Harpo's.... but could not find any.... (all that turned up was a bunch of crap about bands making a killing, or someone shooting a metal band movie there)

Its times likes these when I hate google

[Wounds Within]

I have never been to Harpo's, but I've heard lots of scary stories about it, so many that I am quite reluctant to go there.  Which is a shame because I hear about a lot of good shows going on there.  Anyone want to share experiences-good, bad or ugly?  Are the rumors true or exaggerated?

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

My reply part 2 !!!

Another Harpo's moment that I clearly call is that I went to see Mudvayne (before their frist cd even came out) opening for Biohazard and Slipknot. When Biohazard went up some drunken people would climb their was on stage and would jump off thinking that people would catch them to crowd surf. I certainly wan't gonna catch these drunken idiots and i not think anyone else was either so they would jump off stage (the stage is about 6 feet up from the floor so if u jump u could easily be at least 8 feet or more into the air) no one would catch them and they would land head first on the hard floor. sometimes u could even feel the vibration under your feet. I honestly thought people were dying because their friends would run to them after they jumped and would carry there lifeless body off the floor to get medical attention. These people were either knocked out or broke their neck or something. at least 8 people jumped that night and on one was catching anyone. That was a pretty scarry sight that night, but it was their fault cuz they could look around and see on one was catching the others so why would it be different for them? More and more hard metal bands are playing at the Royal Oak Music Theater. I think they realize that fans are not so willing to go to Harpo's anymore. As I was saying in my first post on this subject nothing has ever stopped me from going to Harpo's, but I always travel there in a huge group and I know a few people over there from doing my own shows, but I think alot of metal bands own management sees Harpo's as a scarry place for fans and try to do their clients shows elsewhere. For example I saw Behemoth / Black Dahlia Murder / Nile open for the mighty King Diamond this past April at the Royal Oak Music Theater. I was amazed that it wasn't at Harpo's. In conclusion, I do thing that everyone should go to Harpo's at least once. Just travel together and in a group and you will be fine I promise. Don't let anything get in the way of seeing a band that you love. it will be worth it if you are a true fan. I might tell more Harpo's stories as time goes on.

[DJ Nocker]

i go to harpo's at least once a month, its the only place to go for a good metal concert....but i have gotten in a couple fights there...

[Hellion]

:devil One of my friends that worked there was murdered last spring. I also know of the murder of the lead vocalist of the Fiesty Cadavers which happened in 1996. I used to go there almost every weekend back in the day, but rarely will you ever see me there at all. Let alone the neighborhood around there sucks big time. Anyone that goes there please be careful of your surroundings!!

IROCK IS MUCH BETTER!!!!!

[phee]

IRock is indeed much better.

[Necron]

I havent been to harpos in over a decade. That place has always been and will always be a disgusting shithole. Does anyone remember when Harpos used to have wood floors covered by carpeting? I'm the reason they went to cement flooring. I was at an Exodus / Anthrax / Celtic frost metal show and was in the moshpit and being completely hammered i decided to stage dive. When i jumped it was like a parting of the fricking red sea. I ended up doing a cannonball and crashing through the wood flooring. So much for moshing the rest of the night

 :laughing  Went back maybe one more time and saw the new cement floor and havent been back since.

[pomba gira]

I've only been to Harpo's once in the past 15 years or so... to a Twiztid show a couple years back. So I can't really speak on the action inside the place since that was a juggalo crowd. BUT I do know Harpo's IS in a godawful horrible shitty area, with absolutely no secured parking of any kind. I'm a West Side grrl but I used to go to a met clinic right down the street and I can honestly say it's one of the worst areas in Detroit. I remember the '95 incident, also heard of at least 2 people being fatally stabbed outside of the place during the late '90s. The downtown area around City does not compare in ANY way- since the casinos & stadiums opened downtown is as safe as you'll find in any urban area. My advice would be, if you have any doubts around your ability to avoid trouble or defend yourself if it happens, stay the fuck away from there.

With all that said, I do agree that everyone should attend a concert at an old school shithole dive at least once in life- and you sure won't find anyplace that fits the bill better than Harpo's Has-Been Hair Band Haven.

Anyway, HH I would be willing to escort you there ... just the crowd at a Judas Priest gig would be a total hoot... but you know how hard it is for me to get down there during the school year. Worth looking into tho!

Also to anyone doing a search on deaths at Harpo's- we're talking about Detroit, murders don't make the news unless it's a real high-profile case. You would have to be able to search police files or something of that sort.

[StaticRob]

I've been to Harpos like 8 times since 2001. And I'm going back there Nov. 26th for the Kittie and Dope concert. All the times I've been there me and my friends have never had a problem of any kind. The bathrooms do suck ass. But I've never noticed a bad smell or anything like that there. There just doesn't seem to be any bands coming around anymore that I care to see there. One of my cousins also works there. As far as dangerous pit wise. It just depends on where you stand and who you are going to see. I've seen Fear Factory, Kittie, Slaves on Dope, the Union Underground, Hatebreed, Disturbed, Damageplan, Powerman 5000, Mudvayne, Drowning Pool, Spineshank.

I don't think its as bad as some people say. But there are truely better venues out there.

[wheresmypiggy]

I like Harpos.

I have been jumped and beaten by skins at Harpos.

I fought with the bassist from Kittie.

I've been drugged.

Had my car broken into.

I have loved every moment of Harpos.

Here is the key to surviving....

Get a ride.

Wear tight clothing.

No glasses or jewelry.

Never let your drink down.

Don't hit on anyone.

If you aren't cut out for the pit stand up on the 3rd level. (You'll see what I mean. By the bar)

And I do believe they took the pool tables out. No more cue fighting. (I could be wrong though)

Its like anywhere else you go. Don't be a dumbass.

I love Harpos. That is all.

[Eric Cartman]

my mom said I was to young to go to harpos

[Falstaff]

Used to go there a lot. I'd see Gwar every year around Halloween, local music showcases every week, and I saw Workhorse Movement open for Kittie.

Never really had a problem. My friend broke his ankle moshing at a Morbid Angel show, but that was about it.

[Daevion]

Gwar and Typ O were the last two shows I saw at Harpos.

[Mzdeadlyspell]

last time I was there was for a Cinderella show, long ago...........................................now I work around that area, but I am used to the city.....

it is or can be rough at times, but for the most part...I do not feel too scared there...........or anywhere...

not with my glock that is.............

never had a problem, but heard of cars being broken into, fights, and murders...

[soothsayer]

This story was related to me around 1990-1992.

It appears Harpo's has a history of violent death in the parking lot.

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

And what a fine history Harpo's has to offer.