Sunday 6 July 2014

R.I.P. "Rocks" in Stockholm / Sweden

I would lie if I said that it comes as a total surprise, yet the finality of the following news is so damn sad: "Rocks", the biggest and most popular Rock and Metal club in Sweden's capital Stockholm, is closed down.


The final close-down was confirmed by Danne Ekholm, one of the DJs at "Rocks", on 26th June 2014 via his private facebook profile, saying amongst others that "Rocks" is "carried to the grave" and that "we tried but it was not enough".

Just one year ago, "Rocks" was undergoing a renovation, including new colours, more screens and even a stage. Despite four (!!!) different facebook profiles which were supposed to keep the audience of the bar updated about the single events held at "Rocks", it was a rather laborious task to receive that kind of information. In between, there were incoherent notes such as "'Rocks' changed its owner AGAIN" and "'Rocks' will be back with more info soon" before a fifth facebook profile appeared in April 2014, announcing that the venue "has closed its stage, set back the time some years... and became what it used to be... Club Rocks Stockholm - 'Stockholms HÃ¥rdaste Dansgolv'". So, apparently, the stage disappeared, the walls were repainted and events organised by "The Painkiller Horde" were suddenly held outside "Rocks". A request of mine in order to receive more information on that issue remained unanswered till this day. And now, "Rocks" doesn't exist at all anymore...

Is this just another consequence of the global economic crisis or is the end of "Rocks" a result of disorganisation? After all, the final close-down hasn't been mentioned on all the facebook profiles of "Rocks" yet, not to mention the absence of an explanation of what actually happened and caused the end of "Rocks". Does a loyal audience such as the one "Rocks" had not deserve at least an explanation? After all these years?!?

In any case, I'm going to miss "Rocks". I'm going to miss its audience, its DJs (Danne Ekholm, Christ Painkiller & The Painkiller Horde, Linus Core) and the one and only "Lasse The Bloodtender". For me, "Rocks" was not only the heart of Stockholm's rock scene but overall "the place to be". During the past two years, I have become rather quiet regarding parties - but when I was in the mood for partying, the jump on the boat from Turku to Stockholm always paid off... 


January 2010: Me seeing "Rocks" for the very first time, at least from outside 
(It was a weekday; "Rocks" used to be open on weekends only) 


March 2011: Me being inside "Rocks" for the very first time, at a DJ session of The 69 Eyes singer Jyrki69 
[And since I took the crew and the crowd to my heart right away, I returned the very next night... ;o) ] 


April 2011: Me, Christ Painkiller (The Painkiller Horde) and other nice people 
at the "Dark Decadence Efterfest" with DJ Jyrki69 [Source of the picture: crankitup.se]


More parties at "Rocks" followed in December 2011 and February 2012 - but just in August 2012, 
I reviewed a "Rocks" event for the first time: The pre-listening party for The 69 Eyes' "X"

In March 2013, I even celebrated my birthday at "Rocks", 

And also in March 2013, we dropped by at the "Hardcore Superstar Efterfest" 
(which now turned out to be our last party at "Rocks" overall)

Well, not least thanks to the "Rocks" poster on our bathroom door 
we will always be reminded of all the fun we had there...


Rest in Peace, "Rocks" - and thank you for all the unforgettable moments!!! ♥ ♥ ♥