The Rink, a longtime roller skating rink on the South Side, has a starring role in a new music video by Chicago band Wilco, out Thursday.
The video for “Meant To Be,” a song off Wilco’s 2023 studio album “Cousin,” was filmed at The Rink, 1122 E. 87th St. The Rink was one of the birthplaces of “JB skating,” a flowing, laid-back style often skated to the music of James Brown. According to The Rink’s website, the location has been open for some 50 years and is the sole African American-owned roller skating rink in Illinois.
In the video, the skaters swirling around the band include a number of Chicagoans, according to a band announcement Thursday, including Calvin Small, an originator of JB style, and champion skater Darius Sanders.
===and other great Illinois acts at the state fair? ===
I used to argue all the time that the state should make the fair into a major musical venue. That could help draw groups like Wilco which usually shun state fairgrounds because they ain’t cool.
- Cool Papa Bell - Thursday, Jan 18, 24 @ 9:55 pm:
Margo Price + Wilco w/ special Guest Mavis Staples.
- Friendly Bob Adams - Thursday, Jan 18, 24 @ 11:29 am:
Nice song. Very cool video.
- very old soil - Thursday, Jan 18, 24 @ 11:29 am:
Thank you.
- Cool Papa Bell - Thursday, Jan 18, 24 @ 11:58 am:
So every skating rink has/had the same carpet?
- Keyrock - Thursday, Jan 18, 24 @ 12:12 pm:
And best wishes to Jeff Tweedy for a speedy recovery.
According to his wife’s Instagram account, he had hip surgery Tuesday (and was up using a walker yesterday).
- Dave Dahl - Thursday, Jan 18, 24 @ 12:26 pm:
All skate … all skate !
- Red Ranger - Thursday, Jan 18, 24 @ 12:29 pm:
Very cool indeed. Wilco really needed this album. The last few have been very underwhelming. Cousin is fantastic.
- JoanP - Thursday, Jan 18, 24 @ 1:32 pm:
That was great! I wish they’d had light-up roller skates when I was a kid. We just had the kind that clamped to your shoe with a skate key.
- Dan Johnson - Thursday, Jan 18, 24 @ 2:03 pm:
I had no idea there was something called JB Style. That should definitely be featured at a Governor’s campaign event.
- Thomas Paine - Thursday, Jan 18, 24 @ 3:51 pm:
Why can’t we get Wilco and other great Illinois acts at the state fair?
- Rich Miller - Thursday, Jan 18, 24 @ 3:54 pm:
===and other great Illinois acts at the state fair? ===
I used to argue all the time that the state should make the fair into a major musical venue. That could help draw groups like Wilco which usually shun state fairgrounds because they ain’t cool.
- Cool Papa Bell - Thursday, Jan 18, 24 @ 9:55 pm:
Margo Price + Wilco w/ special Guest Mavis Staples.
Let them play the renovated Coliseum.
I don’t even need credit.