Alex Kayne is widely regarded as the club’s most influential DJ. The DJ, originally from Brooklyn, started frequenting L’Amour in 1979, became a resident there from 1980 to 1985, and continued to play records there intermittently until the club closed. Not only was he the longest-tenured DJ at the club, but he was also its first VJ and the creator of its metal DJ scene. Kayne was the sole permanent DJ at the Staten Island L’Amour, where he worked, and he also worked at L’Amour East. Kayne “had a huge impact in breaking American and European metal bands,” Metal Hammer said. Kayne is still performing in bars, clubs, and concert halls around the United States.
Brooklyn, New York’s L’Amour was owned and operated by brothers Mike and George Parente. In 1978, L’Amour debuted as a disco club; by 1981, it had morphed into a rock club; and by February 2004, it had shut its doors. The area was billed as “Brooklyn’s Rock Capital.” Patrons dubbed it “La-Morz,” and it hosted some of the greatest names in hard rock and heavy metal, such as Iron Maiden, Kiss, Megadeth, and Metallica. It also regularly featured underground bands from all over the world. For over 25 years, the original L’Amour in Brooklyn was a staple of the rock and metal community.
