"The Legendary Toad's Place," A conversation with Brian Phelps and Randall Beach, 10.14.21

ORDER THE BOOK: https://rowman.com/ISBN/9781493058617...

Authors Brian Phelps and Randall Beach have recently penned "The Legendary Toad's Place: Stories from New Haven's Famed Music Venue," a fantastic chronicle and send-up of New Haven's most storied music venue, Toad's Place.

Verso Studios sits down for an hour long conversation covering the club's beginnings, iconic performances by the Rolling Stones, Bob Dylan, Bruce Springsteen, NRBQ, the Ramones, Eric Burdon, Wu-Tang Clan, Queen Latifah and more.

Brian Phelps was born in New Haven, Connecticut. Brian met Mike Spoerndle, owner of the new Toad's Place in 1975. Several years later, Mime made Brian an offer to become business partners. In January 1995 Brian took control of the company and bought the rest of the business in 1998.

Randall Beach was the rock music critic for the "New Haven Register," from 1978 to 1984, covering many shows at Toad's Place. He later wrote about rock music for the "New Haven Advocate," "The Hartford Courant," and "Billboard" magazine. He was also a reporter and columnist for the "New Haven Register," from 1997 to 2020.

Moderator Brendan Toller is the Marketing Manager of Verso Studios at the Westport Library. Toller is a New York City and New Haven, CT based filmmaker, musician & artist. Brendan’s film work ("I Need That Record!" "Danny Says") has been featured in the "New York Times," "Rolling Stone," the "Village Voice," "Wire", "Pitchfork," the "Onion," and "Dazed & Confused Korea."