The Variety Theatre is known today as one of the most haunted theaters in Northeast Ohio, but it's had a very rich history that deserves to be remembered beyond its current reputation as a haven for paranormal activity and ghosts.
When the Variety Theatre Played Host to the Loudest Band in the World
The venue played host to all sorts of shows and concerts over the years, and one of its most memorable was a Motörhead show on December 2, 1984.
During the show that Motörhead played at the Variety Theatre, the music hit 130 decibels, which was said to be the loudest recorded to that point, breaking the record of 126 decibels set by The Who in 1976 (a feat that got The Who into the Guinness Book of World Records). Incredibly, the sheer noise of that show actually damaged the Variety Theatre, cracking the ceiling and raining plaster down upon the people in attendance.
Granted, the Variety Theatre was in pretty bad shape at this point anyway - and would ultimately close in 1986 - but hey, it's a much cooler story to suggest that Motörhead rocked so loud it literally almost brought the house down.
And thanks to that Cleveland show, Motörhead gained the reputation of truly being the loudest band on Earth - it was even the title of a February 1986 SPIN Magazine article about the group.
Cleveland has had such an illustrious role in the history of rock, and it seems only fitting that this would be the place where Motörhead would continue to build on its legacy in such a heavy-metal way.