Trends within the entertainment industry come and go, along with the people and places through which they thrive. Some, however, outlast the trends, and are preserved by stories told to future generations. The walls of the Grande Ballroom have remained silent for the last several years; until now. Tony D’Annunzio, along with countless others, have provided one of the most influential venues in Rock’n’Roll history with a voice.

“I thought it was just going to be a Detroit-based story… that it would be a small circle of people who would be interested in this. I didn’t know where any of it was going go,” D’Annunzio explained. The twenty-two-year industry veteran began Louder Than Love - The Grande Ballroom Story three years ago, and has since gained the support of rock enthusiasts world-wide.

Benefit shows in Australia and Detroit have helped to raise funds for the completion of the documentary, including licensing and legal fees. Artists who created the iconic poster art and light shows have offered their talents to the project, and dozens of music icons, including the likes of B.B King, Slash, Alice Cooper, Ted Nugent, MC5, and Motorhead, have come forward to share their memories of the ballroom.

“Everybody I talked to that came to the Grande, it left such an impression… a life experience to them,” D’Annuzio expressed. The Michigan-native graciously spoke of the video, audio, and photos he has received from those who saw the Grande at its pinnacle during the 1960s and ‘70s. “As a huge fan of music, I’m almost embarrassed to say how much stuff I’ve been given because it’s been an incredible outpour of support.”

A graduate of Specs Howard School, D’Annunzio has gained industry experience working behind the scenes with acts such as The Rolling Stones and The Who, and with major sporting events including Super Bowl, World Series, and Stanley Cup Championship games. It was his time as a crew member on the Discovery Channel’s, Future Car, that gave him the foresight on what to expect from a documentary.

“One of the reasons I got into the business was to do a long-format project,” D’Annunzio stated. “I started doing some research and everything for me came back to music and Detroit…and then to The Grande Ballroom. When giving yourself a timeline on something, you have to realize you have to be involved with this for years- you better like it.”

Built in 1929, the structure was one of the many ballrooms to go up around the city during the Great Depression. Despite the tough times, Detroit was filled with auto workers, and they needed a place to gather at the end of the day. With big bands and big crowds in mind, the Grande was architecturally designed with pre-amplification qualities, prior to the use of electrics to mic a band.

The ballroom retained its pure sound for future acts, helping to give musicians a raw acoustic environment in which to perform their art for the masses. Inspired by the psychedelic culture he witnessed when visiting The Fillmore in San Francisco, Russ Gibb wanted to bring that experience back to Detroit; thus the Grande rock shows were born.

To say this merely inspired a few artists is an understatement; this venue helped to shape a genre of music that has outlived the concrete on which it stands. It gave Led Zeppelin a chance to be heard in the states like never before, the MC5 a house to mold an original sound, and it’s even credited with offering a crowd so receptive, that it kept The Who from breaking up. This is just an example of some archival gems that have surfaced through this project.

“I knew going into it,” says D’Annunzio, “Something that is self funded and something of this magnitude had to have a timeline. At the three-year point, I have finished interviews with all the major players I was looking to get.” Along with the exclusive interviews, the documentary will include never-before-seen footage of legendary music figures performing and hanging out with the locals.

“I always thought how important it was to show the rest of the country where the music came from,” D’Annunzio commented, as we stood in front of the Grande itself. “All of these artists, when they go out there and perform, they give props to Detroit, and I think it’s time for this to be recognized.”

As we wrapped up our interview, an elderly woman approached our crew with curiosity. She has lived across the street from the Grande Ballroom for sixty-two years. She spoke of her kids who skated there when it was roller rink. She watched its patrons welcome each other with open arms - regardless of their background, race, or age. She even invited people onto her porch during the venue’s infamous shows.

When I asked why this was left untouched during the notorious Detroit riots of the 1960s, she answered, “Because this was the music place. This place brought the music; they weren’t going to touch that.” With a tone of sadness, she placed her hand on the weathered wall of the Grande, “We’ll never see a place like this again.”

She may be right; we may never see another place like the Grande, but the community it thrived upon can be brought back to life. Louder Than Love – The Grande Ballroom Story is harnessing the essence of a former music mecca and using it to fuel the future of a growing media community.

For the full interview visit: michiganmoviemagazine.biz

For the trailer, search: Louder Than Love The Grande Ballroom Story on Vimeo.com and Youtube.com