  Kid_dynamite Member Username: Kid_dynamite Post Number: 365 Registered: 06-2007 |
So, tonight's the big night. Is this even an issue any more? Are there any arsons still being set? I seems like it is just a bad memory and no longer a problem due to all of the neighborhood watches. | ||
The_ed Member Username: The_ed Post Number: 475 Registered: 10-2007 |
As a child we usd to call this garbage can night. And being kids, we turned over garbage cans, teepee'd houses and trees and wasted good eggs on bad neighbors who were candy-less the previous year.  | ||
Jfried Member Username: Jfried Post Number: 1081 Registered: 11-2003 |
The amount of cops out last night blew my mind. I saw at least 15 cars pulled over in front of my place last night. Not to mention the other city vehicles on the streets, and there were several volunteers out, too. It will be interesting to see how many are out patroling tonight. | ||
Danny Member Username: Danny Post Number: 6738 Registered: 02-2004 |
Tonight is Angels' night not Devil's night. | ||
Gravitymachine Member Username: Gravitymachine Post Number: 1855 Registered: 05-2005 |
devil's night alley cat bike race, 8pm hart plaza not related, but way better than beating the same dead horse every year | ||
Ray1936 Member Username: Ray1936 Post Number: 2158 Registered: 01-2005 |
Ed, right you are, along with ringing doorbells. It sure escalated from there, didn't it? | ||
Carolcb Member Username: Carolcb Post Number: 2350 Registered: 11-2006 |
Or throwing corn on windows..... | ||
Fury13 Member Username: Fury13 Post Number: 2876 Registered: 10-2003 |
I will be out tonight, TP-ing small children and egging teenagers. Fun! | ||
Dds Member Username: Dds Post Number: 423 Registered: 10-2006 |
Fury, make sure they are unarmed first, please. | ||
Spacemonkey Member Username: Spacemonkey Post Number: 249 Registered: 03-2006 |
I met Joe Strummer of The Clash one time. It was backstage at Clubland after his show there for the "Earthquake Weather" tour. All excited he turns to me and says, "Hey did Detroit burn on Devil's night this year?" and I said that it had, which he thought was pretty crazy. Then I said, "And you thought London was Burning." Joe Strummer laughed at my stupid joke. I'll never forget that. He was just the coolest guy ever. My geetar hero. | ||
Birwood Member Username: Birwood Post Number: 41 Registered: 10-2007 |
Devils night used to be a night of fun and stupid pranks. Like ringing door bells, tipping over trash cans, soaping windows, dog poop in a paper lunch bag and lit on fire ring the doorbell and run on neighbors who were less than friendly to us kids all year, dog poop in the exhaust or in the fresh air intake of someone car or on the door handle Ambushed the kids who lived the other side of Schoolcraft with eggs and rotten tomatoes, built a barracade with garbage cans across a dark portion of the cross streets Kendall or Intervale. When I was in HS, about 10 or 12 of us did pickup a little Renault Delphine and turn it sideways in the driveway between 2 houses...I think the guy lived on Pinehurst. BUT WE NEVER lit houses, garages, dumpsters, trashs cans or fields on fire, WE NEVER called in any False Fire Alarms or pulled the corner street box, WE NEVER broke out any windows, WE NEVER broke into anyones home or garage to vandalize and steal, WE NEVER poured paint solvents on anyones car or home. WE NEVER slashed anyones tires.....We're we Devils? Hell Yes | ||
Thejesus Member Username: Thejesus Post Number: 2573 Registered: 06-2006 |
Ah, Devil's Night... I have fond memories of when we used to go and egg all the cars in our neighborhood and then come home to watch free premium cable channels all night! :D | ||
Johnlodge Member Username: Johnlodge Post Number: 3319 Registered: 10-2003 |
"I met Joe Strummer of The Clash one time. It was backstage at Clubland after his show there for the "Earthquake Weather" tour." I am now officially jealous. | ||
Lefty2 Member Username: Lefty2 Post Number: 550 Registered: 07-2007 |
every night should be devils night. the city would be taken care of the shit in no time. Congrats to all the volunteers taking names and kicking ass. | ||
Crash_nyc Member Username: Crash_nyc Post Number: 1042 Registered: 08-2004 |
I remember standing on my rooftop as a kid on Devils Night 1984, looking out across the horizon, and thinking that this was nearly as trippy as watching the fireworks. The sad thing is, that even today as I live in NYC, one of my co-workers (knowing me as a Detroit native) asked me "How bad do you think Devils Night will be in Detroit this year?" I answered "I dont know. Can you tell me the last time the Tigers won the World Series?" Blank stare. Ugh. | ||
The_ed Member Username: The_ed Post Number: 480 Registered: 10-2007 |
Ray1936 "Ed, right you are, along with ringing doorbells. It sure escalated from there, didn't it?" It escalated to the point that instead of kids having a little fun, to vandals, hoodlums and roughnecks destroying peoples property. My brothers and I were the paperboys of the neighborhood. From 14th street to Poe; from W. Grand Blvd. to LaSalle Blvd. If there was anyone who would stiff us on collection day, we would stuff bananas in their tailpipes. Needless to say there were some folks who were late for work the next day. | ||
El_jimbo Member Username: El_jimbo Post Number: 361 Registered: 12-2006 |
The sad thing is that even though Devil's Night is not what it used to be, the national perception is that it is. There is even a reference to Devil's Night in Detroit in the book "I am America (and so can you) by Stephen Colbert. | ||
Lowell Board Administrator Username: Lowell Post Number: 4287 Registered: 10-2003 |
Congratulations and thanks to the thousands of unsung heroes of Detroit who have made Angels Night yet another success! | ||
Ray1936 Member Username: Ray1936 Post Number: 2167 Registered: 01-2005 |
"we would stuff bananas in their tailpipes." Ah! So that's where Eddie Murphy came up with the idea, eh, Ed? | ||
Gistok Member Username: Gistok Post Number: 5606 Registered: 08-2004 |
Spacemonkey... why did you lie to Joe Strummer? Were you trying to be cool? How pathetic is that? And in the process propogating a perception of Detroit that is no longer true... (Message edited by Gistok on October 31, 2007) | ||
The_ed Member Username: The_ed Post Number: 521 Registered: 10-2007 |
no comprende señor Ray1936 | ||
Rsa Member Username: Rsa Post Number: 1305 Registered: 10-2003 |
watch "beverly hills cop" ed... | ||
Swingline Member Username: Swingline Post Number: 934 Registered: 11-2003 |
quote:What was the bike race all about last night? People were going every which way it seemed. I was confused. | ||
The_ed Member Username: The_ed Post Number: 523 Registered: 10-2007 |
To Rsa "watch "beverly hills cop" ed..." Haven't seen it for years. I think my brother has a copy. | ||
Spacemonkey Member Username: Spacemonkey Post Number: 251 Registered: 03-2006 |
Gistok, I did not lie to Joe Strummer. I spoke the truth. I also mentioned to him that the previous night over by St. Andrew's Hall, a man on the street asked me if I wanted to buy a gun and showed me a revolver, I told him no, I didn't want to buy a gun and he replied, "How about some acid. Wanna buy some acid?" Strummer joked that I should have bought both, then made a crazy face while waving his hands around firing stoned. No need to lie. In detoilet, truth is stranger than fiction. | ||
Fury13 Member Username: Fury13 Post Number: 2903 Registered: 10-2003 |
Spacemonkey, I'm the first one to point out that Detroit has problems, and that mindless rah-rah-ing is not productive, but I really disapprove of the use of "Detoilet." That's to be expected from an out-of-towner, but not from anyone that claims metro Detroit as home. | ||
Spacemonkey Member Username: Spacemonkey Post Number: 252 Registered: 03-2006 |
I am sorry that I offended you, Fury. | ||
Fury13 Member Username: Fury13 Post Number: 2908 Registered: 10-2003 |
Thanks, I'm over it. I believe that we are our own worst enemies here in Detroit. Our collective inferiority complex and cynicism often prevents us from seeing the good that's happening around us. And I'm guilty of that, myself... I know that too well. | ||
Detroitnerd Member Username: Detroitnerd Post Number: 1557 Registered: 07-2004 |
A tree on my Detroit street grew toilet paper last night! | ||
Gistok Member Username: Gistok Post Number: 5610 Registered: 08-2004 |
Spacemonkey I realize that you were likely starstruck... but in reality the number of Devil's Night fires is so low right now that we are no longer the "fodder" of jokes nationwide. However, your comments did a disservice to all the volunteers who make sure that we no longer are the laughingstock of the country on Devil's night. | ||
Spacemonkey Member Username: Spacemonkey Post Number: 253 Registered: 03-2006 |
Dude, Joe Strummer is dead. It was many, many years ago that I met him. | ||
Ffdfd Member Username: Ffdfd Post Number: 225 Registered: 09-2006 |
Gistok, Earthquake Weather came out in the 1980s. Joe Strummer has been dead for five years. This obviously wasn't a recent encounter. Get over yourself. | ||
Ffdfd Member Username: Ffdfd Post Number: 226 Registered: 09-2006 |
Oops, Spacemonkey beat me to the punch. | ||
Granmontrules Member Username: Granmontrules Post Number: 244 Registered: 01-2007 |
We were outside talking to neighbors last night when two beat cops walked by. We were very surprised and happy. They said that Angels' Night was very quiet. This was about 10:30 or so. | ||
Dds Member Username: Dds Post Number: 429 Registered: 10-2006 |
quote: According to an interview done by the Detroit News, that's about the time all hell broke loose on the east side. quote: Detroit News | ||
Gistok Member Username: Gistok Post Number: 5615 Registered: 08-2004 |
I've never heard of Earthquake Weather... must have been before my time... Ffdfd... I'm sure Spacemonkey can take care of himself... and doesn't need your help... | ||
Detroitrise Member Username: Detroitrise Post Number: 388 Registered: 09-2007 |
That's an oxymoron. An Earthquake is not an atmospheric phenomena. | ||
Dds Member Username: Dds Post Number: 430 Registered: 10-2006 |
Detroitanize- Earthquake Weather is an album, not something that can be measured with a barometer. Gistok- Maybe do a little research before you pounce next time, and those of us familiar with Strummer and his post-Clash projects won't be so quick to correct you. | ||
Dannyv Member Username: Dannyv Post Number: 38 Registered: 08-2007 |
When it's no longer necessary to marshall the collective forces of the City to patrol the streets and enforce a curfew then Devil's Night will no longer be an issue. With the slow real estate market in Detroit, as elsewhere, arson becomes an alternative method for clearing out empty, abandoned, unsold homes. Did anyone see the Sex Pistols on Leno last night? I believe they're on the Late Late Show tonight. They did Anarchy in the UK. | ||
Gistok Member Username: Gistok Post Number: 5618 Registered: 08-2004 |
Whatever... I don't know a Earthquake Weather from the Weather Girls... Still don't know the difference between Jack White and Jack Shit... (Message edited by Gistok on October 31, 2007) | ||
Dds Member Username: Dds Post Number: 431 Registered: 10-2006 |
quote: There's where you're absolutely right. Not much difference between those two at all. | ||
Ffdfd Member Username: Ffdfd Post Number: 227 Registered: 09-2006 |
quote: No doubt. Spacemonkey proved that. quote: But let's not get carried away Gistok. Things were rockin' and rollin' yesterday. It was not "just another day." | ||
Swbaby12345 Member Username: Swbaby12345 Post Number: 35 Registered: 02-2007 |
any memories of how Devil's used to be? any pics? | ||
Detroit_stylin Member Username: Detroit_stylin Post Number: 5288 Registered: 10-2003 |
If anything, I know it was no where near the 814 fires reported on the three day period in 1984.... But of course someone is gonna say "there were still fires, so it don't count"... | ||
Crumbled_pavement Member Username: Crumbled_pavement Post Number: 30 Registered: 08-2007 |
There were still fires, so it don't count! | ||
Flyingj Member Username: Flyingj Post Number: 38 Registered: 08-2006 |
I spent my Devil's Night watching Bono speak here & he drew great applause when he spoke of how The Clash was the first famous rock band he saw live, changed his life, etcetera, then did a swift takedown on how they were victimized by the poseur element who ignored the rally call in their songs, who "bought the Doc Martens yet didn't want to march" and such. It was 16 years ago this month when a well-lubricated friend & I saw The Pogues @ The Wiltern-Joe Strummer replacing Shane MacGowan (so bad off he couldn't fly lest his liver explode) & doing a great job(their encore cover of "London Calling" all the more amazing with Joe), A year ago I got a cellphone call from this same friend who was frontrow center for The Pogues show in Frisco, he was still well lubricated & hanging out with an Irish lineman from Royal Oak playing for the 49'ers He found it ironic he was handing up his smuggled Bushmill's to a grateful Shane MacGowan while poor Joe was nearly 4 years in his grave | ||
Markemarx Member Username: Markemarx Post Number: 34 Registered: 11-2006 |
Swbaby12345, Here is a nice site dedicated to the Devil's Night '97!. Although I'm not sure it is as crazy as stories of the '84 Devil's Night. http://hvfd.com/devilsnight.ht ml Notice that the page is located at hvfd.com, a Hyattsville, Maryland Fire Department website. The story on the page mentions their trip and has pictures. | ||
Reddog289 Member Username: Reddog289 Post Number: 37 Registered: 08-2007 |
in the mid 90,s i loved devils night i would sit on the porch and see city trucks that should have been scrapped 30 yrs before. as i get older oct 30 gets safer. i know it may be more boring but it,s better. | ||
Fury13 Member Username: Fury13 Post Number: 2916 Registered: 10-2003 |
Don't understand why there's still this big community mobilization effort every year, one that costs the City thousands of dollars. It's a job for the police. They see someone starting a fire, they should shoot 'em. Shoot 'em. Deterrence. (Message edited by Fury13 on November 01, 2007) | ||
Lukabottle Member Username: Lukabottle Post Number: 101 Registered: 12-2004 |
quote: devil's night alley cat bike race, 8pm hart plaza What was the bike race all about last night? People were going every which way it seemed. I was confused. The Alley Cat Race you saw was a scavenger hunt of sorts. Bikers would work in teams, goto a checkpoint, and then receive a slip of paper with the next checkpoint. There were 16 checkpoints and one bonus that riders could try to get too. It is a great way to promote biking, introduce new people to the City, and learn your way around downtown. Riders have come as far as Grand Rapids, Lansing, and Canada. Devil's Night was a relatively small one. I think a little over 100 arrived but it may have been more. Some in the past have been over 200. You can find more info at www.myspace.com/alleycatdetroi t. | ||
Spacemonkey Member Username: Spacemonkey Post Number: 254 Registered: 03-2006 |
Some darned kids toilet papered the house next to mine on Devils' Night. | ||
Spiritofdetroit Member Username: Spiritofdetroit Post Number: 685 Registered: 11-2006 |
The Mayor's office has said that the fire count was well below city avg (40 fires a day) for the night. | ||
Dannyv Member Username: Dannyv Post Number: 39 Registered: 08-2007 |
There's a NYTimes review of a recent documentary by Julien Temple about Joe Strummer. http://movies.nytimes.com/2007 /11/02/movies/02stru.html?8mu& emc=mua1 | ||
Swimmaven Member Username: Swimmaven Post Number: 13 Registered: 05-2007 |
"That's an oxymoron. An Earthquake is not an atmospheric phenomena." - Detroitrise Actually, there is earthquake weather. If it is warm out (80+ degrees) and the air feels like it is pressing on me, usually an earthquake happens within a 100 miles of me. It is a strange sensation. "The Mayor's office has said that the fire count was well below city avg (40 fires a day) for the night." - Spiritofdetroit 40 fires a day? Is that correct? Seems like a lot of fires. | ||
Detroitnerd Member Username: Detroitnerd Post Number: 1577 Registered: 07-2004 |
Well, those are fires, not homes burned to the ground. |
