Hammerjacks was a music venue in downtown

Baltimore Baltimore is the most populous city in the U.S. state of Maryland. With a population of 585,708 at the 2020 census and estimated at 568,271 in 2024, it is the 30th-most populous U.S. city. The Baltimore metropolitan area is the 20th-large ...

which operated from 1977 to 2006. It was founded by Louis J. Principio III. The club attracted many big-name national acts, but also showcased many rising stars in the music world. The bands ranged from

punk Punk or punks may refer to: Genres, subculture, and related aspects * Punk rock, a music genre originating in the 1970s associated with various subgenres * Punk subculture, a subculture associated with punk rock, or aspects of the subculture s ...

, glam, thrash and heavy metal acts most commonly associated with the venue (e.g.,

Guns N' Roses Guns N' Roses is an American hard rock band formed in Los Angeles, California in 1985 as a merger of local bands L.A. Guns and Hollywood Rose. When they signed to Geffen Records in 1986, the band's "classic" line-up consisted of vocalist Axl R ...

, Kix,

Ratt Ratt (stylized as RATT) was an American glam metal band that had significant commercial success in the 1980s, with their albums having been certified as gold, platinum and multi-platinum by the Recording Industry Association of America, RIAA. ...

Skid Row A skid row, also called skid road, is an impoverished area, typically urban, in English-speaking North America whose inhabitants are mostly poor people " on the skids". This specifically refers to people who are poor or homeless, considered disre ...

, Extreme or Wrathchild America) to pop (e.g.,

Badfinger Badfinger were a Welsh rock music, rock band formed in Swansea in 1961. Their best-known lineup consisted of Pete Ham (guitar), Mike Gibbins (drums), Tom Evans (musician), Tom Evans (bass), and Joey Molland (guitar). They are recognised for th ...

) and alternative rock groups (e.g.,

Ramones The Ramones were an American punk rock band formed in the New York City neighborhood Forest Hills, Queens in 1974. Known for helping establish the punk movement in the United States and elsewhere, the Ramones are often recognized as one of th ...

and

Goo Goo Dolls The Goo Goo Dolls are an American rock band based in Buffalo, New York, composed of lead vocalist and guitarist John Rzeznik, bassist and vocalist Robby Takac, as well as several rotating members since its formation in 1986. After starting ...

). The club was often frequented by hard-core patrons and musicians donning big hair, leather, lace, spandex, and heavy makeup, and was considered a "hard rock shrine."Piccoli, S. (1997, May 18). "Just take those old rockers off the shelf upstart label specializes in second chances for recording artists eclipsed by pop trends." ''Sun Sentinel'' (Fort Lauderdale), p. 1.D Hammerjacks, however, attracted audiences with other attire as well.Considine, J. D. (November 10, 2000)
"New Hammerjacks is not an 80s place. Nightclub: The music and bar venue, lost to the Ravens' parking lot, rises again. Hammerjacks' third incarnation."
''Baltimore Sun. ''Retrieved December 21, 2010. Hammerjacks initially operated from a converted rowhouse on 1000 S. Charles St, then moved to an old brewery building at 1101 S. Howard St in 1982. The building was torn down on June 12, 1997, to make way for an

M&T Bank Stadium M&T Bank Stadium is a multi-purpose stadium located in Baltimore, Maryland, United States. It has been the home of the Baltimore Ravens of the National Football League (NFL) since its opening in 1998. The stadium is immediately adjacent to Oriol ...

parking lot.Morgan, Jon (April 01, 1997)
"Moag sets deadline for Hammerjacks Stadium authority expects deal next week or takeover."
''Baltimore Sun.''Retrieved December 21, 2010. Hammerjacks was billed as "The largest nightclub on the east coast." In 2000, Hammerjacks reopened at 316-318 Guilford Ave, which had formerly been used as a car wash. It was put under new management in 2004, and closed in 2006.Mirabella, Lorraine, Hiaasen, Rob, & Sessa, Sam (May 24, 2006)
"Baltimore nightclub is to close Saturday: Hammerjacks, heavy metal, rock icon, has been sold to developers."
''Baltimore Sun. ''Retrieved December 21, 2010.

In media

The club was featured in

John Waters John Samuel Waters Jr. (born April 22, 1946) is an American filmmaker, actor, writer, and artist. He rose to fame in the early 1970s for his transgressive cult films, including '' Multiple Maniacs'' (1970), '' Pink Flamingos'' (1972) and '' Fe ...

' 1994 film '' Serial Mom'', with grunge band L7 playing the band Camel Lips. It was the location where

Kathleen Turner Mary Kathleen Turner (born June 19, 1954) is an American actress. Known for her distinctive deep husky voice, she is the recipient of two Golden Globes, as well as nominations for an Academy Award, a Grammy, and two Tony Awards. After debuting ...

's character Beverly Sutphin was arrested for murder. Interior and exterior views of the club have been featured in music videos, including the band Kix. An image of a sign for the club appeared on the

Iron Maiden Iron Maiden are an English Heavy metal music, heavy metal band formed in Leyton, East London, in 1975 by bassist and primary songwriter Steve Harris (musician), Steve Harris. Although fluid in the early years of the band, the line-up for most ...

album '' Somewhere In Time''.

A new beginning

In the fall of 2021, a new Hammerjacks location opened at 1300 Russell Street. The new ownership group decided to construct the outdoor portion of the facility first due to the

COVID-19 pandemic The COVID-19 pandemic (also known as the coronavirus pandemic and COVID pandemic), caused by severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2), began with an disease outbreak, outbreak of COVID-19 in Wuhan, China, in December ...

. The newly constructed facility hosts concerts, special events, private events and Baltimore Ravens tailgate events. Plans for an indoor facility are not yet announced.

References

External links

Hammerjacks.com
{{Authority control Music venues in Baltimore Downtown Baltimore Nightclubs in the United States Demolished buildings and structures in Baltimore Buildings and structures demolished in 1997