“Quirky, cranky, verbosely opinionated and hugely influential.” – Jon Bream, The Star Tribune
Stephen T. McClellan is an American concert promoter and educator. For 30 years, he worked at a series of nightclubs housed in a former bus depot at the corner of First Avenue and 7th Street in downtown Minneapolis, promoting the careers of local musicians and expanding the reach of talent from around the world. These clubs—beginning with The Depot, Uncle Sam’s, and Sam’s (and 7th St. Entry)—eventually became the First Avenue & 7th St. Entry nightclubs that buoyed the Minneapolis sound and contributed to the development of alternative rock and independent music.
McClellan is number 1 on a list of Unforgettable Minnesota Characters. At First Avenue, a music critic gave him the nickname “Chainsaw.” Later, he taught music business and arts management at colleges in the Twin Cities. McClellan founded DEMO (originally DMAF, later DAMF) in 1999 to help aspiring musicians succeed.
As DEMO’s founder and strategic advisor, Steve continues to push the organization to represent that moment where music as an art form takes front and center stage over all other considerations.
“Steve is widely regarded as one of the last of the independents.”
– Andy Cizan, Jam Productions
“Steve always ran the club [First Avenue] with heart and not just a business sense and bands appreciated that.”
– Dan Murphy, Soul Asylum
“[Steve] sort of reminded me of Hilly Crystal from CBGB’s: the same kind of tough-talking guy, but when you got to know him, you realized he was in the business because he loved the musicians.”
– Chris Osgood, Suicide Commandos
“In running First Avenue Theater in Minneapolis for 30 years, Steve McClellan has given the city an incredible resource. Not only a place to hear the best national and international music acts but also a place for local music to receive exposure and encouragement. To survive that long in music takes many skills and qualities, including honesty, reliability, credibility, and personality – if these are lacking, the word soon gets around, and people stop coming. That Steve is still in business says it all.”
– Richard Thompson, songwriter/guitarist
“The first time I met Steve was at First Avenue. He ran the place, his big smile and realness to me that didn’t scream boss. To me, it murmured artist. The more time I spent with him, the more I realized Steve wasn’t there to be a boss. He was there to nurture, keep, protect, & create a safe place for the artist & an even safer for the music! Thank God for Steve McClellan. Without him, there would be no Minneapolis Sound!”
– Louie Anderson, comedian
“There is no one in the history of the Twin Cities music scene that I admire more than Steve McClellan. The latter half of the term “Music Business” has confounded many (including myself) who were drawn to this constantly mutating and vibrant art form. We, who are firm in our belief that the business must always serve the art, desperately need an advocate who understands and supports this fundamental axiom. In my experience, Steve is one of the few people who has consistently been able to straddle the fence between art and commerce while always keeping the balance of power straight. I applaud the people at DEMO for their efforts and wholly endorse the concept of establishing a headquarters for the varied Minneapolis music community with Steve McClellan as its fearless leader/spokesperson.”
– Peter Jesperson, Twin Tone Records