In the early '80s, former Athens music promoter Paul Cornwell envisioned a sanctuary for the spike-haired punk rockers and hardcore enthusiasts who scoured Atlanta's indie record bins. In 1983, without a license, he opened The Metroplex in the old blood bank at 300 Luckie St. After pressure from the city to comply with fire and club codes, Cornwell moved shop a year-and-a-half later to 388 Marietta St., now the site of a parking lot. He and cohort Jim Fleter did some remodeling and created a club that became synonymous with punk rock in Atlanta.

Cornwell went for an indestructible look, anticipating the venue would see its share of bumps and bruises as the crowd slam danced the night away. The front doors opened up to a brick-walled room with hardwood floors and several booths. A collection of 45 records hung from the ceiling.

The all-ages venue was able to find a way to work alcohol into the picture in '86. While one side of the club offered up soda and standard ballpark fare to teenagers, the other half, appropriately named The Other Side, featured a bar separated from the rest of the club by chicken wire. Facing bothrooms was the stage and an open floor. A corner staircase led up to a balcony area where over excited patrons would often dive off and onto the crowd below.

The Crowd:

Suburban punks, skinheads and alternative music lovers found a haven at The Metroplex. Local and regional punk, OI and hardcore bands, including Moon Stomp, Anti-Heros, Rotten Gimmick and The Tombstones, regularly performed. National acts such as GBH, Suicidal Tendencies and Bad Brains played there too, as did aging rock acts like Iron Butterfly and Nazareth.

Crowds would line up in front of the club, in all their studded, spiked, leathered and dyed glory. Many club regulars lived directly across the street in a warehouse that resembled something out of the cult film Suburbia.

"During the summer, it was the same routine every day," recalls photographer Russell King, a Metroplex regular. "If you were too drunk to drive home, you'd just stumble across the street and crash on the warehouse floor. You'd wake up in the afternoon the next day and that night's band would be arriving. You'd go over and meet them, and it would start all over again."

In the days when punk rock was still dangerous and accessories weren't readily available at the local mall, violence regularly reared its head. Whether instigated by unruly skinheads, drive-by rednecks, frat boy hecklers or drunken patrons, fights at or around The Metroplex were common. "You could probably count on a fight at least every other night," says Eric Snoddy, a former Metroplex security guard and doorman.

Celebrity Sightings:

Most celebrities spotted at The Metroplex were on stage, and they ran the gamut of counter culture notoriety. Motorhead, Timothy Leary, Johnny Thunders and former Rolling Stone Mick Taylor all appeared. Before they hit the pop charts, the Red Hot Chili Peppers played with opening acts Fishbone and Thelonious Monster. The Butthole Surfers actually lived at the club for a week in 1988 before migrating to Athens.

Memorable Night:

In November 1987, legendary Plasmatic Wendy O Williams performed with opening act Scream, which included drummer Dave Grohl, later of Nirvana/Foo Fighters fame. The crowd included the overly drunk Izzy Stradlinand Slash of Guns & Roses, who stopped by after opening up for Motley Creat the Omni.

The Demise

A seemingly endless battle over the club ensued between Cornwell and city officials. Squabbles over a liquor license and an ordinance requiring performers and employees to be fingerprinted caused an uproar. When Cornwell held his Alternative '88 festival at the club, the city had the surrounding streets closed for blocks to avoid interference with the Democratic National Convention. The event was a financial bust, and the club was hit hard. A few shows later, it was closed for good. Cornwell fought hard to reopen, but a 1990 fire gutted the structure, killing four homeless inhabitants, marking the end of The Metroplex.

*from the Creative Loafing 04.23.03"

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Bryant's Comment:

"I went to the 'plex first in 87 or early 88 I think after hearing about the place from somebody while skipping school in Piedmont Park. Pulling in and seeing a bunch of skins and punks hanging out in the parking lot and getting searched really good at the door on the way, I didn't know what the hell it was gonna be like. I think my first night was Porn Orchard and the Day Glo Abortions playing and it was fucking great. Me and my friend were just trying to take everything in and make sure we didn't get hurt at first but before the night was done we were in the pit and everything changed for me. For the next couple years I remember how we'ed be up in the front where the booths were and the music would hit and everybody would head for those couple stairs that led down to the pit. Nothing like that place. The most disgusting bathrooms I've ever been in and I AM counting CBGB. I remember things like the night we showed and the guy in the parking lot told us we shouldn't waste our $cuz Mott the Hoople was playing. I didn't know who that was so we left. I remember limping for days after the pit when the Cro Mags played. Or how about how guys would try to catch rides on the trains running down the hill in back. Best club ever in my opinion and always will be cuz times have changed and you can't ever do it quite like that again."