In 2015, The Akron Sound Museum opened to celebrate the music from the Akron and Kent areas that was popular in the 1970s and 1980s and has grown to encompass even more. Akron and Kent became known far and wide for their punk, new wave and experimental music scene, highlighted by bands like Devo, Tin Huey and more. What was “The Akron Sound”? As Buzz Clic, of the Rubber City Rebels, once said, “I don’t think any of the bands sounded alike but I think the spirit was the same. We were all just sick of being spoon-fed the music of the day and it appeared that the seat assignments were already taken, so when the “punk, new wave” thing came along, well… there was a wide open door and we all just went through it.”
Harvey Russell and the Rouges, 1960s Credit: Cleveland Memory ProjectTin Huey Playing a House Party, 1970s Credit: Cleveland Memory ProjectRod Firestone of the Rubber City Rebels, 1977 Credit: Cleveland Memory ProjectHarvey Gold of Tin Huey at JB’s, 1978 Credit: Cleveland Memory ProjectChris Butler of Tin Huey on stage at JB’s, 1978 Credit: Cleveland Memory ProjectTin Huey on stage at JB’s, 1978 Credit: Cleveland Memory ProjectTeacher’s Pet, 1978 Credit: Cleveland Memory ProjectGeorge Cabaniss on Guitar for Hammer Damage, 1979 Credit: Cleveland Memory ProjectMike Hammer and Donny Damage of Hammer Damage, 1979 Credit: Cleveland Memory ProjectDevo Promotional Post Card, 1979 Credit: Cleveland Memory ProjectChi Pig at Derby Downs, 1979 Credit: Cleveland Memory ProjectHammer Damage at Stonehedge Place, 1979 Credit: Cleveland Memory ProjectThe Bizarros at Recordland, 1979 Credit: Cleveland Memory ProjectHarvey Gold on stage with Tin Huey, 1970s Credit: Cleveland Memory ProjectTin Huey at Bushflow Studios, 1970s Credit: Cleveland Memory ProjectThe Vapors (Unit 5) at the Bank, 1980 Credit: Cleveland Memory ProjectSue Schmidt of Chi Pig, 1980 Credit: Cleveland Memory ProjectMark Jendrisak of the Vapors, 1980 Credit: Cleveland Memory ProjectTracey Thomas and Bob Ethington of The Vapors, 1980 Credit: Cleveland Memory ProjectThe Nelsons at JB’s, 1980 Credit: Cleveland Memory ProjectDancers on the floor at the Robin Hood in Kent, 1980 Credit: Cleveland Memory ProjectThe Nelson & Vapors Pajama Party, 1980 Credit: Cleveland Memory ProjectThe Nelsons at JB’s in Kent, 1980 Credit: Cleveland Memory ProjectTony Bandrowsky of Trudee and the Trendsetters, 1980 Credit: Cleveland Memory ProjectMickey Nelson Dancing to Teacher’s Pet at Studio 51, 1980 Credit: Cleveland Memory ProjectCarsickness at Le Cyrk in Pittsburgh, 1980 Credit: Cleveland Memory ProjectThe Bizzaros at JB’s, 1981 Credit: Cleveland Memory ProjectAt the Bank, 1981 Credit: Cleveland Memory ProjectJohnny Phelgm at the Bank, 1981 Credit: Cleveland Memory ProjectJoe Soap at the Pirate’s Cove, 1981 Credit: Cleveland Memory ProjectTom Dark and Fraser Suicide at the Dale, 1982 Credit: Cleveland Memory ProjectThe Waitresses hanging out with Dave Thomas and Rick Moranis of SCTV, 1982 Credit: Cleveland Memory Project0DFX at The Dale, 1982 Credit: Cleveland Memory ProjectZero Defex at the Dale, 1982 Credit: Cleveland Memory ProjectUrban Mutants, 1982 Credit: Cleveland Memory ProjectSpike in Vain at the Dale, 1982 Credit: Cleveland Memory ProjectSlam Dancin at the Strand Theater, 1982 Credit: Cleveland Memory ProjectAgitated, 1982 Credit: Cleveland Memory ProjectUrban Mutants at the Strand, 1982 Credit: Cleveland Memory ProjectTommy Strange of Zero Defex, 1982 Credit: Cleveland Memory ProjectMike Mohawk of Agitated at the Strand Theater, 1982 Credit: Cleveland Memory ProjectJohnny and Jimmy Dread of the Urban Mutants, 1982 Credit: Cleveland Memory ProjectGround Zero at the Matador, 1982 Credit: Cleveland Memory ProjectThe First Club Hell show below the Matador, 1982 Credit: Cleveland Memory ProjectAkron Kids hold up Fraser Suicide of the Sims at The Dale, 1983 Credit: Cleveland Memory ProjectVince Packard of Bad Order, 1980s Credit: Cleveland Memory ProjectTormentors at the Bank on Experimental Night, 1980s Credit: Cleveland Memory Project
