Chicago Tribune
"Take 2" -Fridays Guide To Movies & Music
Article: Friday, June 13, 1992

Home Front
Baseball, Hockey and Joe Jammer Converge At China Club
Article by: Mary Stevens

        When one thinks of great Chicago sports bars, the China Club doesn't immediately spring to mind.  But Friday, at least, baseball and hockey buffs just might find the China Club a hot place to hang out.  According to local music promoter Bud Monaco of Sopro, Inc., players from the Montreal Expos and the Chicago Blackhawks are expected to be in the audience when native South Sider/guitarist Joe Jammer and friends climb aboard the China Club stage.
        What's the connection between Jammer and the athletes?  A onetime regular at local venues ranging from the gone-but-not-forgotten Harlow's to the still-alive-and-well Connolly's and P.J. Flaherty's, Jammer has also globe-trotted as a roadie for Jimmy Page, Jimi Hendrix and The Who.  Those behind-the-scenes jobs led to playing guitar with British recording artist Maggie Bell, members of Foghat and Procol Harum, French rock star Julien Clerc and French-Canadian pop artist Robert Charlabois.
        Eventually settling in Montreal (where Clerc and Charlobois have strong followings), Jammer's frequent attendance at the Montreal Canadien's hockey games and his reputation around Montreal's music scene let to his co-writing the Montreal Canadiens theme song "Le Blue, Blanc, Rough" that is now played at every Montreal Canadiens home games.  Next thing Jammer knew, he was giving guitar lessons to numerous NHL players.
        Then a few members of the Montreal Expos baseball team approached Jammer for lessons while he was a groudskeeper for the Expos at Olympic Stadium.   Jammer and Monaco have also "pitched" theme-song proposals to both the Expos and our own White Sox.  The Expos liked Joe's song "Let's Go Expos!" and have been using it as their theme song at Olympic Stadium during Expos ballgames.  And while the Expos face the Cubs in Chicago this weekend, Jammer's facing the music at the China Club.  We're not sure which team he'll be rooting for, but quite a few of his sports pals/students reportedly will be out rooting for Jammer afterhours..................The Adventure Continues....................