Disco Sucks

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In 1979, at the height of disco music's popularity, Chicago radio DJ Steve Dahl (then at WLUP 97.9 FM) led a tongue-in-cheek but nevertheless intense campaign against the genre. He was also highly critical of the lifestyle that disco had popularized in American culture. Under the banner of "Disco Sucks," the campaign/gimmick was often discussed by Dahl and his guests on air and eventually led up to a promotional tie-in with the Chicago White Sox. The proposed event was dubbed "Disco Demolition Night." Dahl told his listeners to bring all of their disco records to the second game of a double-header against the Detroit Tigers on July 12, 1979 for the express purpose of destroying them. Before the second game began, Dahl led the explosion of the records on the field of Comiskey Park (now U.S. Cellular Field). Tens of thousands of teenagers and young adults swelled the crowd to overcapacity, leading to multiple arrests and general disorder. What's more, as a result of the chaos the White Sox were forced to forfeit the game to the Tigers.