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| La Loco 1966 |
Every Saturday night, my 'gang' and I would go to a club called La Locomotive (knows as La Loco). It was in the basement of the famous Moulin Rouge.
Rock bands from England would come over and do shows there every week. There was a black and white checkerboard dance floor that was lit from underneath. I didn't dance, I just sat with my friends and watched the bands and the dancers. It was an incredible place.
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| La Loco 1966 |
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| The Hollies at La Loco 1966 |
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| The Who at La Loco 1966 |
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| Cream at La Loco 1966 |
Some of the bands we saw were The Who; The Hollies; Dave Dee, Dozy, Beaky, Mick, & Tich; Cream The Animals; probably a lot I have forgotten, and a lot of French bands and singers. DD,D,B,M,&T were there so often that we called each other by name. They had a hit called "Bend It" at the time.
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| Dave Dee, Dozy, Beaky, Mick, & Tich |
My friends and I (or usually Yves and I) would just wander the streets until it was time for the Metro to open. Sometimes we would find a quiet doorstep and just sit and talk. If the weather was bad, they let us stay in the lobby of Le Moulin Rouge. Then at 5:00 am, I would get on my Metro and Yves and whomever else was with us would get on theirs and we would all go home. I never felt at all afraid riding the Metro at 5 am. It seems crazy now.
One night in particular I remember Alain, Yves, and I were walking down a cobblestoned street after La Loco closed. It had been raining and the cobblestones were shining from the water. Somewhere, "Ruby Tuesday" was playing on a radio and I remember walking with my two friends, swinging our arms as we held hands, and thinking how perfectly happy I was. The lyric "Goodbye Ruby Tuesday, who could hang a name on you, when you change with every new day, still I'm going to miss you." And it suddenly occurred to me that was Paris. She changed all the time, and yet, she was so much a part of me. I can honestly say that 50 years later, that is still true. She always will be.
Goodbye Ruby Tuesday
Who could hang a name on you?
When you change with every new day
Still I'm gonna miss you
There's no time to lose", I heard her say
Catch your dreams before they slip away