Metro

Founded by Joe Shanahan in 1982, Metro is the Windy City's premier venue for live music. Its mission? To bring a cross-platform of the best local, regional and national emerging artists to Chicago. Since its inception, Metro has accomplished this goal many times over while at the same time establishing itself as one of the country's top cutting-edge, new music venues. Metro's is a history best told through the names that called its stage home-if only for a single night. As a hotbed of emerging talent, Metro boasts a roster of modern music's defining artists. R.E.M. played the venue's opening live show, and, in the club's first year of business, Shanahan hosted future music heavyweights New Order, Depeche Mode, Killing Joke, Billy Idol and O.M.D.  As alternative rock took the '90s by storm, Metro supported local favorites the Smashing Pumpkins, Urge Overkill, Liz Phair and Veruca Salt; from Seattle came Nirvana, Soundgarden and Mudhoney; Los Angeles sent Jane's Addiction. Today's hit-makers and tomorrow's influencers have also cut their teeth at Metro: No Doubt, Pete Yorn, Creed, Disturbed, Travis, Papa Roach, David Gray, Limp Bizkit, Korn, Moby, Tori Amos and many more have graced Metro's historic stage. Not to be outdone by its long list of rock & roll neophytes, Metro has welcomed such renowned artists as James Brown, Iggy Pop, George Clinton, Joe Strummer and Prince. One of Shanahan's most humbling career highlights took place when, to celebrate the club's 15th anniversary, living legend Bob Dylan performed two shows there.