Photo gallery: Tucson's musical history

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Twenty-five years ago, Club Congress was just getting off the ground. It started booking live music in May 1985.

Musical Memories

Musical Memories — Dancers cavort at Club Congress in 2006, where the New Year's Eve bash includes James Bond drinks. The club will celebrate its 25th anniversary this weekend with a three day concert. Kelly Presnell/Arizona Daily Star

Musical Memories

Musical Memories — Club Congress sign.
Jeffry Scott/Arizona Daily Star

Musical Memories

Musical Memories — This sign at Club Congress shines on patrons at the bar on Saturday night Oct. 11, 2003. Many people find the clubs and bars on Congress Street a great place to feed their late night passions for entertainment. Max Becherer/Arizona Daily Star

Musical Memories

Musical Memories — Patrons enjoy drinks and a live DJ at Club Congress during an evening out on the town in 1998. Ben Kirkby/Arizona Daily Star

Musical Memories

Musical Memories — Joey Sarvis, of Tucson spends his Saturday January 2nd, 1999 night out on the town at Club Congress dancing with friends. Club Congress has a live DJ spinning the latest hits most weekends. Ben Kirkby/Arizona Daily Star

Musical Memories

Musical Memories — Beginning country-swing dancers at Dancing Dan's class at the Stumble Inn in 1979. Jim Davis/ Arizona Daily Star

Musical Memories

Musical Memories — The Dusty Chaps in 1973 were popular on the country music scene in Tucson. Tucson Citizen pile photo.

Musical Memories

Musical Memories — Giant Sandworms, circa 1981 featured from left, Billy Sed, Howe Gelb, and Dave Seger. Ron Medvescek/Arizona Daily Star

Musical Memories

Musical Memories — Giant Sandworms gave rise to Giant Sand for starlight. from left to right: Joey Burns, Victoria Williams, John Convertino and Howe Gelb. File Photo/Arizona Daily Star

Musical Memories

Musical Memories — Early photo of the Sidewinders, precursor to The Sand Rubies. Left to right are Ron Zastry, David Slutes, Rich Hopkins, Mike Monke, Tony Dow. Seated Andrea Curtis Photo by Steve Markus. Photo by Steve Marcus courtesy of Rich Hopkins

Musical Memories

Musical Memories — The Phantom Limbs perform at a nightclub called The Backdoor, 1986. Photo courtesy of Jefferson Keenan.

Musical Memories

Musical Memories — Employees readied Dooley's of Tucson, a bar located in a former church, for its opening night in 1977. The bar later changed its name to the Stray Cat and burned in 1983. Art Grasberger/Arizona Daily Star

Musical Memories

Musical Memories — The Paladins in concert at El Casino Ballroom, another hot music venue in 1987. David Sanders/Arizona Daily Star

Musical Memories

Musical Memories — Gentlemen Afterdarkin, a "hair band" from 1984 featured left-right: Winston Watson, Robin Johnson, Barry Smith, Brian Smith, and Fred Cross. Photo Courtesy of Gentlemen Afterdark.

Musical Memories

Musical Memories — Suicidal Tendencies play Stumble Inn, Tucson, on January 23, 1984. Photo by Edwin Arnaud

Musical Memories

Musical Memories — Singer and comedian Fish Karma in 1993. Karma is scheduled to play at the upcoming Club Congress 25th birthday bash. David Sanders/Arizona Daily Star

Musical Memories

Musical Memories — The Stray Cat, a nightclub in a converted church on the northwest corner of Euclid and University, as it appeared before it was destroyed by fire. Tucson Citizen file.

Musical Memories

Musical Memories — Rich Hopkins, and David Slutes members of the Sand Rubies in 1997. Star file photo

Musical Memories

Musical Memories — Angela Bowie and bandleader Chick Cashman camp it up during a photo shoot promoting their upcoming gig at Club Congress in 1997. Bruce McClelland/Arizona Daily Star

Musical Memories

Musical Memories — Guitarist Bret Domrose ,drummer Rob Mailhouse,and bassist Keanu Reeves during Rock Band Dogstar concert at Club Congress in Hotel Congress in 1997. Sergey Shayevich/Arizona Daily Star

Musical Memories

Musical Memories — Club Congress is the place to be Monday nights in 2003, where a packed house dances to 80's tunes courtesy of a dj, and movies from the big hair decade are shown on the giant screen. Renee Sauer/Arizona Daily Star

Musical Memories

Musical Memories — Gary Walker, right, a designer for his clothing label GIGO watches a band perform at Club Congress during The Unification, a show case in Hip Hop culture in 2003. Rich-Joseph Facun/Arizona Daily Star

Musical Memories

Musical Memories — Rich Hopkins, who will play at the upcoming Club Congress birthday bash, holds a photo of his old band "The Sidewinders" in 2010. Ron Medvescek/Arizona Daily Star

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