Batteries Not Included

Batteries Not Included was a bar/venue from August of 1985 to about 1994 or 1995. They put on a fair amount of punk shows during its run. The owner of BNI (who Ben Weasel called "s paranoid freak who was a dead ringer for Eddie Murphy"), changed the name to Chez Delphonse in the mid 90s - Chez adopted a Carribean theme and stopped booking shows. After Chez Delphonse the bar became it's current name/location, Flounders Bar and Grill, in 1999.

Address

 * 2201 N. Clybourn
 * 60614

Shows and Bands who played there

 * Screeching Weasel's first non-house gig in the summer of 1986
 * An early show of the Smashing Pumpkins in 1987 or 1988 (rumor)
 * Dead Milkmen
 * Poster Children
 * Devil Luggage (late incarnation of Toothpaste)
 * Barbie Army
 * December 10, 1987 - No Empathy, The Maggots, Mystery Girls
 * Chesterfield Kings and Precious Wax Drippings

Fun Facts

 * Jim Elison from Material Issue used to book the bands in the mid 80's
 * The original building is from 1880 and is possibly haunted
 * Russ Forester and Ben Weasel met there, resulting in the first SW record to be on Underdog Records