Season 1 - Episode 26 - Promotion of Singles Club and In-Demand Locally
January to March 1981 at The First Local Wave.
Chris Cornell had become more than just a bar performer and opener for known bands locally. By New Year's Day 1981, thanks to local radio airplay of Ultramega OK album, buzz around his voice and stage presence had exploded among local music lovers. The cassette tape copies that were passed around by Joseph Kennedy Sr. and the Sub Pop Inc's staff through fanzines and alongside early teasers for a Singles Club subscription they hoped to launch the following year, these promotional tools found their way into Bellingham, Spokane, and even as far south as Portland.While most of the tapes were free or low-cost promos, the buzz and sponsor interest were worth far more in return.
That first week of January 1981, Joseph Kennedy Sr. sent out a press packet with tour dates and song samples on cassette to thirty local venues across Washington and Oregon. By the end of the second week, Sub Pop Inc.'s office line rang off the hook with booking requests. Everyone wanted the 16 year old with the howling voice.
With that, Sub Pop confirmed the following tour dates:
JANUARY 1981.
January 10 at The Gorilla Room, Seattle.
Opening for local punk act The Picketts. Chris Cornell performed "Flower," "All Your Lies," and "Head Injury." The crowd of about 250 roared loudest at the scream that closed "Beyond the Wheel."
January 17 at The Off Ramp Café, Bellevue.
A short set to test his draw outside of Seattle. Surprise: 100+ showed up! Many were college kids who read the zine ad. James and Joseph Kennedy Sr. smiled, it was proof that the Fanzine and local radio promotion were working.
January 24 at Alki Tavern, West Seattle.
Word-of-mouth brought a packed house. It was here that a local DJ from KJET requested a live interview with Chris Cornell. Joseph Kennedy Sr approved it immediately.
Jan 31 at The Backstage, Ballard.
It was a big step up, it was a 350 capacity club, and Chris Cornell held the stage for a full 40 minute set. James attended discreetly, watching from a side booth, notebook in hand and his butler beside him.
With these shows, James received a total of $200,000 [MONEY BAGS] from the system.This made him delighted further asking Joseph Kennedy Sr to continue with the promotion.
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FEBRUARY 1981
February 7 at Central Tavern, Pioneer Square (Seattle).
First time a venue requested Chris Cornell headlined. While he was nervous to perform, James and Joseph Kennedy Sr comforted and insisted he was ready. That night, Chris Cornell delivered all 12 songs from Ultramega OK. The bar owner said, "You are booked again next month!"
February 14 at The Metropolis, Seattle.
It was a punk-heavy crowd, who were unsure about the long-haired singer. Chris Cornell opened with "Mood for Trouble" and made these punkers shut up by the chorus. At the end of his performance, he won over them all, even the sneering ones.
February 21 at University of Washington, HUB Ballroom.
It was an early afternoon college performance and it was a free entrance event. Chris Cornell gave his most emotional "Circle of Power" voice yet, and then he signed fanzines after the show. James and Joseph Kennedy Sr made sure a photographer captured everything.
February 28 at The Rainbow Tavern, Seattle.
The venue was packed shoulder to shoulder. A bartender remarked, 'He is like Morrison, but with discipline.' James scribbled the quote down with a grin, while Joseph Kennedy Sr. smoothly negotiated future dates with the owner.
James again received a total of $250,000 [MONEY BAGS] from the system.
He leaned back, grinning. 'Getting rich without breaking a sweat... now that's a system!'
'Well, this money will be used soon!' He smiled.
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MARCH 1981
March 7 at Grape Street Pub, Spokane.
It was Chris Cornell's first real out-of-city test. The travel was rough, but the show blew past expectations. A Sub Pop banner hung behind the stage was James' idea which Joseph Kennedy Sr. followed to a "T".
March 14 at The Evergreen State College, Olympia.
College radio was already spinning "Flower." The venue gave Chris a full hour slot so he sang some cover songs from Black Sabbath. James was not able to attend the show but he called Chris Cornell and said on the phone, "You did it, man! Now we aim higher from here!"
Chris Cornell laughed at James's excited tone but also replied with bigger resolution, "We will!"
March 21 at Lake Union Yacht Club (Private Party, Seattle).
It was a strange one, a private event for local business owners! Joseph Kennedy Sr. booked it on purpose. "Cross-audience exposure," he told Chris Cornell and James. Surprisingly, it paid off! Two possible sponsors came on board for future show flyers.
March 28 at The Showbox, Seattle.
It was one of the biggest shows they have ever done! Sub Pop's first real showcase, hosted by a larger promoter. 600 in attendance. Chris Cornell closed his performance with the song "He Didn't" and the crowd chanted his name for an encore. They got "Beyond the Wheel" again but it was louder, harder than before.
After the performance, Chris Cornell went backstage, holding a towel, breathing heavily, realizing he just changed his own life.
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By the end of March 1981, James had three things: a sold-out club show, a signed partnership with two small bar owners, and over 2,000 cassette tape copies of Ultramega OK distributed in the Northwest, while most of the tapes were free or low-cost promos, the buzz and sponsor interest were worth far more in return. Chris Cornell was not just a local talk of the town guy anymore, after 3 months, he was a solid name already within Washington state and some nearby places outside.
[CONGRATULATIONS ON YOUR ARTIST'S ALBUM SALES!]
[MILESTONE SALES: 2,000~]
[YOU HAVE BEEN AWARDED A $20,000 MONEY BAG!]
And James? He sat back in his newly designed studio looking at the current money bags he got and then added with the new reward, he smirked and thought, 'Dang!'.
On the other hand, he got busy. He spent $40,000 from his money bag rewards to purchase a 16 channel mixing board, two high-end Shure SM7 microphones, Yamaha NS 10M monitors, soundproof wall panels, and a reel-to-reel 8 track recorder.
His mother and father were surprised by this as well but due to their observation and regular reports from Joseph Kennedy Sr and the butler, they knew James still got some money to spend as well as profits made from the shows. Though, in reality, the cassette sales and shows profit were directly accounted for but not used to these, he just made an excuse through Joseph Kennedy Sr's "explanation".