It seemed to last the longest down there. You could go from bar to bar down there and hear Muddy Waters in one bar, Jimmy Buffet in the next, and the Ramones in the next. They were a great band that almost hit the big time. Th’ Cigaretz were very influential during that time too. We played at the Deja Vu many, many times as Nevermind, The Boat Rockers, and other names.I played there, played there hundreds of times, got my start down there, saw amazing, amazing shows down there… and I always assumed it would be there, operational, forever…įrom Mark Darden we got an insider’s perspective:.and the Frog and Nightgown, have painted a picture of the rich and magical history of the time: Our readers who were lucky enough to dance, work, and play beneath Raleigh at clubs like the Pier, the Bear’s Den, Cafe Deja Vu, Elliot’s Nest. That October, R.E.M again appeared at the Pier, where their entire performance was captured live, as was this great performance by Arrogance. Included is an R.E.M print, advertising their Pier appearance. Shout out to “ Design by Raiter” and his tribute to Bob Raiter, who designed and printed dozens of flyers for Th’ Cigaretz, Raleigh’s original punk sensation, in the late 1970s. They would sell their “rag” at the local shows, sometimes walking around with white canes with red tips in imitation of sight-impaired folks, knocking people obnoxiously on the leg to get their attention. On the floor is Ms. Debra “Knob” DeMilo of the Fabulous Knobs.Īlex, Marek and Janelle, under various pseudonyms, put out the fanzine Blind Boys Gazette. Next up, Kim Cartner, Alex Erickson, Nana Smith, Marek Bireline (leaning over) and Janelle Simmons (now Oconnor). I hope after reading and exploring this slice of a long ago era, you’ll feel the same way. Or hearing all these incredible stories about the Bear’s Den, the Pier, and the Frog and Nightgown. Who’s to say it wouldn’t work?Īfter all, I never dreamed I’d actually end up walking through the Village Subway. We can make a call for a documentary! For more professional photographers to go take historic images! Some people are even calling for a Kickstarter campaign to raise money to bring it back. You want to explore those yellow-walled catacombs, touch those iconic poster paintings? Keep the media involved. WRAL covering the story is just the beginning. The generation who danced and grooved in the Subway, well, you’ve reminded everyone about this amazing piece of music history with your personal tales and memories! Thank you for your comments and pictures, videos and stories! Thank you for a response that was so strong, it got local media invested in the story. Through your comments, the Bear’s Den, the Pier, the Frog and Nightgown, the old Arcade – these places live again! The younger generation is all-ears, hungry for information, stories, and pictures. Make no mistake, readers and Raleigh-ites, you have revived the Village Subway. Until the population of Raleigh stepped in, two hundred fifty thousand readers strong, and brought the Underground back into the light. I was walking through the legendary Village Subway, touching those yellow walls I thought were forever beyond my reach. I wrote this piece on Saturday, and by Thursday I found myself transported underground, to explore this piece of history for myself. Magic seems to be the keyword to describe the Underground. There is even a Facebook group dedicated to sharing memories of the Pier. Dozens of documentarians and entrepreneurs and urban explorers want to know more. People want the Village Subway to return. Is there any way we can do a Kickstarter fundraiser to revitalize the Underground?.Who do I contact to make a documentary?.Since Saturday, hundreds of people have reached out, trying to do the same. You want to explore the legend of this incredible place? Start here. I scoured through the few articles that described it, hunted down pictures, and searched for stories, trying to piece together a snapshot of what remained in this ancient wonderland from another era in Raleigh history. When I first heard about the mysterious underground mall, lying dormant beneath the bustling streets of Cameron Village, I dreamed of going down there.

Nor did I ever imagine that less than a week later, I’d be invited to venture down into this urban exploration paradise – to bring you new pictures, WRAL news coverage, and a definitive collection of images, videos, and quotes from the people who spent their youths Underground. When I sat down on Saturday to write about the Village Subway, I had no idea the kind of magic I was tapping into. The Raleigh Underground: An Epic Era Sealed Beneath Cameron Village

Initial d deja vu compilaton