Dope playing at Planet Rock in 2008

Battle Creek's Planet Rock has hosted a slew of rock acts from Saliva to Pop Evil and local acts in between. Bruce Tuck, who has recently stepped up as owner of the venue this past week, talks to REVUE about the new ownership.

Tell me about the purchase.

Basically taking over the bar has been a bittersweet thing. The previous owners are an older couple and have owned it 24 years in that location (it was Bojangles beforehand). They have great employees and the best sound and light show in the state as far as I'm concerned, which is kind of the reasoning behind buying it.

So what will change now that you're in charge?

Pretty much everything is going to say the same. It's been doing well for over 12 years as a rock ‘n'roll venue with a combination of local and regional and major national bands. No major renovations, everything is gonna stay the same at this point. We have great employees and so there's no point in changing any of that. Gonna keep bringing in the same people, too.

Do you mean the clients, or the bands?

Both. We have all rock'n'roll music, so we have a varied and diverse clientele. Some of local regular bands are Circus Asylum, Man Unkind, and Dunk Tank ... Pop Evil started in Grand Rapids but they've done many shows at Planet Rock-it's become like a second home for them.

And for you, too?

It's very much a family atmosphere.

So is that why you decided you wanted to become owner?

This is my first time owning a business and a bar especially. [I've] always been a live rock ‘n'roll fan. Now I get to be part of it, be behind the scenes, trying to get fans in front of the bands. I'm not in it to make a million dollars, I'm in it for the passion. I have a regular full-time job at the VA medical center. [A] balancing act is very time consuming. It's difficult but it's not unattainable, I just gotta get organized.

What will be your first act as owner?

We have Evans Blue coming up on April 8 and Tantric on April 30.

If you are 21+ and want to party like a rock star at Planet Rock, visit its MySpace (myspace.com/planetrockbar) for full event line-up and show details.