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In April 1981, with new partner Steve Allen, Scales migrated the club to a larger space at 256 West
Clayton Street. Amenities such as a stage and hot water were added, as was a second bathroom. True to the 40 Watt method it was assembled with found materials (including toilet and sink) and volunteer
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also called the 40 Watt among the best clubs in the U.S. in 2013, with an uncredited columnist writing, "Years before
Michael Stipe used to stage-dive into the crowd at this legendary Georgia nightclub, the future R.E.M. frontman would count pennies to get in as doormen stared him down." During his
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Doug
Hoechst bought the club from Allen and Scales and, in 1983, moved it to 382 East Broad Street and renamed it "40 Watt Club Uptown". The 40 Watt Uptown was large and professional, and it was a major stop for underground independent music acts in the 1980s. In 1987, when rents increased on the
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In May 1980, Crowe and his partner Paul Scales moved the "club" a few doors south to a space above a sandwich shop at 100 College Avenue and renamed the club the "40 Watt East". It opened with Crowe still making last-minute additions to the bar and stage.
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as a music venue, which became the largest venue in town. With the
Georgia Theater taking over as the high-capacity venue and with the closure of the smaller Uptown, there was again a market for a small club that would focus on local acts.
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In early 1990, the Uptown Lounge, which had served as a competitor to the 40 Watt for much of the 1980s, was closed at its original location at 140 E. Washington St. Shortly before closing the Uptown, its owners reopened the
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played that first night and Pylon on the second. It was an instant smash with the local youth of Athens. The floors had to be reinforced with removable beams due to the intense dancing that took place.
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ethos and informality were instrumental in the fostering of punk rock and a "scene" in Athens. In more recent years, the club has been the home-base for such nationally renowned local bands as
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In 1991, the 40 Watt moved to its fifth and current location at 285 West
Washington Street, the former Potter's House Thrift store building. The club has been home to the annual
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was born. During Pylon's subsequent tours of the
Northeast, Crowe theorized that opening a real club on a shoestring budget was possible. He did so early the following year.
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practice the same riff over and over again in the space directly below. Crowe eventually knocked on their practice space and asked if they could use a drummer and
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said, "It's an interesting thing for me, as a
British musician, and all those guys as British musicians, to come to this place and play for you guys."
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bulb which hung from the ceiling. Crowe's first party in his space, on
October 31, featured his band Strictly American, a group of friends from
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created the first iteration of the club's famous logo, as well as all the updated variations still in use.
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1006:"Johnny Marr - There Is A Light That Never Goes Out • 40 Watt Club • Athens, GA • 10/13/18"
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The 40 Watt Club, at its fourth location, 382 Broad Street. It was there from 1983 to 1987.
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The 40 Watt Club was the primary performance space for numerous "Athens bands", including
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space, new owners Jared Bailey and Barrie Buck (then-wife of R.E.M. guitarist
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719:"50 Best Things to Do in Georgia: Party with legends at the 40 Watt Club"
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ranked the venue as the second most legendary rock club in the country.
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870:"1997-10-14 40 Watt Club, Athens, GA - Neutral Milk Hotel (Live/Video)"
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382 East Broad Street, also known as "40 Watt Uptown" (1983–1987)
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101 College Avenue, also known as "40 Watt East" (1980–1981)
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635:"Belle & Sebastian - Is It Wicked Not To Care? - Live"
845:"Morphine Live - The 40 Watt Club - Athens, GA - 3/22/99"
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1052:"Legendary local band set to re-release classic album"
760:"The 40 Watt Celebrates 25 Years on Washington Street"
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983:"The 10 Most Legendary Rock Clubs Of All Time"
554:"The 10 Most Legendary Rock Clubs Of All Time"
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1008:- YouTube, published on October 14, 2018
685:"Built To Spill - Live 1998 - Full Show"
929:"Self-Guided Athens Music History Tour"
904:"Jul.27.1995 Athens, GA - 40 Watt Club"
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608:"FLUKE 2011: A Collective Perspective"
526:Desmarais, Martin (November 8, 2013).
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210:The club's owner since 1987 has been
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552:Runtagh, Jordan (November 7, 2013).
222:The 40 Watt Club had its origins as
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528:"America's 7 best small rock clubs"
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1058:"After Dark The Other Games Begin"
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564:from the original on May 18, 2022
263:labor. Local artist and musician
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660:"CAT POWER live Athens, GA 1998"
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1165:Athens Regional Library System
981:Runtagh, Jordan (2013-11-07).
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606:O'Shea, Tim (April 28, 2011).
300:171 College Avenue (1979–1980)
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1272:Creature Comforts Brewing Co.
1022:A history of the 40 Watt Club
956:Rolling Stone (2013-03-28).
794:Carlson, Adam (2010-10-19).
758:Vodicka, Gabe (2016-04-13).
317:Notable musical performances
1028:"Top Ten Schools that Rock"
958:"The Best Clubs in America"
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1077:The 40 Watt Club home page
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1556:Henry W. Grady House
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1392:Baxter Street School
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136:is a music venue in
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1398:Lucy Cobb Institute
1333:Piedmont University
1170:Georgia Square Mall
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1045:The Washington Post
327:Belle and Sebastian
265:David Hannon Pierce
82:33.9583°N 83.3799°W
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1292:Red Dress Boutique
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390:Neutral Milk Hotel
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1036:, August 11, 2005
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385:My Morning Jacket
340:Drive-By Truckers
240:Michael Lachowski
236:Guadalcanal Diary
232:Marietta, Georgia
201:Drive-By Truckers
177:Guadalcanal Diary
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