Financial Failure Closes Tea Party After Four Years

The Boston Tea Party, for four years the center of the rock scene in Boston, closed last weekend. Simple lack of economic success brought an end to the club that had been a primary stop on any rock band's tour of the U.S.

The economic squeeze has struck this type of enterprise all across the country. With the closing last week of San Francisco's Fillmore West, the first of the big clubs, the last left is the Fillmore East in New York.

Big News

During its short history the Tea Party presented some of the biggest names in the rock field. Groups ranging from the Grateful Dead to Sha-na-na played there, and among the Tea Party milestones was the Byrd's first U.S. concert.

"Is the Tea Party gone? In its present form-yes. It simply isn't able to support itself," said Ray Riepen, majority stockholder in the venture.

"The trend is toward smaller groups, more sensitivity, and lower volume," Riepen said. "We must find a way to produce this music in a way that's economically feasible."

Priced Out

"Rock groups have essentially priced themselves out of the club market in my opinion," Riepen said, "the future of rock is in concert promotion and not in club dates."