Bunker's Music Bar

Bunker's is a little brick building located on Washington Avenue North, in what is now a very trendy part of the Minneapolis warehouse district.  But in 1987, the first time I set foot inside Bunker's, it was buried deep in a dark, cold, part of town.  Among warehouses either shuttered or open for business only by day.  Bunker's, back then, was in the middle of nowhere.  At that time I was 18 years old, not of drinking age, but Bunker's didn't check ID because there was no reason to do so.  It was a "biker bar," everyone knew everyone, and the bouncers they had simply concerned themselves with keeping the peace as opposed to sitting by the door looking at ID's.  And I remember seeing some big fights there between those bikers.

But in 1987 Bunker's was also experiencing a change in culture.  Largely due to a band that played there every Monday and Tuesday night, Dr. Mambo's Combo.  This was a "cover band," but not just any "cover band," they were loaded with talented musicians, who had themselves been touring musicians at one time and essentially got together now to jam.  As word spread about these guys, the general public began to show in large numbers every night, and the bikers were slowly forced out none to happy to lose their hangout. 

Any touring musician that found him or herself in Minneapolis on a Monday or Tuesday inevitably made way to Bunker's at night.  One such night I found myself talking to a guy who was without question involved in the Goth movement.  He had ghost white skin and big whipped up jet-black hair. He had an English accent, and his name was Roger.  He was a nice guy and through conversation I learned that he was Roger O'Donnel, keyboard player for 1980's mega-group, The Cure.  He was in town to hang with a friend of his who had been hired by Prince to handle the
lighting for an upcoming Prince tour.  While Roger and I stood talking near the back restroom, one of the biker regulars took offense to Roger's appearance and started to verbally assault him, before Bunker's manager, Jimmy, stepped in and threw the biker out.  The change in culture was in play, leather and Harley Davidson were rolling out, and Bunker's was beginning to look a lot like the First Avenue crowd shots in the Purple Rain movie.

I saw Prince play at Bunker's many many times.  Sometimes he'd just sit and strum the guitar off to the right side of the stage.   On one occasion he showed up with his full band and played an entire set as they prepared to go on tour.  And for awhile he would arrive with then girlfriend, Kim Basinger, on his arm.  She was a complete bombshell.  I once sat on the pool table, a few bodies down, from music legend, Jeff Beck (Yardbirds et al.).  Percussionist, Sheila E, was a regular, often parking her baby blue 1960's era Mustang convertible just out the back door of the bar.  I remember being amazed because she had a car phone, a big deal in 1989 or whatever it was.  She would either just hang with friends for drinks or perhaps sit in with the band.  Others I remember seeing there, jazz musician, Ben Sidran, Dutch saxophonist, Candy Dulfer, members of heavy metal band, Tesla, saxophonist, Kenny G.  Donny Osmond sang one night.  And there are many I've forgotten.

For quite some time I did not miss going at least once a week.  And often it was both nights.  What a great place.  What a great scene.  What a great band.  Dr. Mambo's Combo is now, The Combo.  A few musicians have come and gone but they are still very good, and they now play every Sunday and Monday.  But as mentioned in previous blog entries, I'm an old person now and don't get down there very often anymore.  But I will never forget the great times I had at Bunker's Music Bar in the late 1980's and early 1990's.

Now complete, another installment in the Minneapolis dive bar series, in glass, Bunker's.