H - Music On Long Island - Historical Venues - LibGuides at Freeport Memorial Library

Half Crown Pub

The Half Crown Pub (sometimes written as 1/2 Crown Pub) was closed many years ago -- believed to have been located at 1 Atlantic Avenue in East Rockaway -- and was reportedly called "the Half Crown because there was a Half of a wood boat as the bar." In the 1970s "the Bar was renamed the Asguard and the boat bar was removed." It was also noted to have been "a local hangout on the Mill river right across from the location of an original Grist Mill in the area that was moved several times and now located as a museum in the East Rockaway Village Park." Condos are now located on that site.

The Crumbsuckers appear to have performed at this venue on several occasions. In short, The Crumbsuckers were a crossover thrash and hardcore punk band from Baldwin, which later signed with Combat/Relativity Records. The band reportedly toured alongside Anthrax, Megadeth (here's a flyer showing a joint appearance with Megadeth), Pantera, Sacred Reich, Agnostic Front, The Cro-Mags, Bad Brains, and Carnivore. Bassist Gary Meskil and drummer Dan Richardson later formed the metal band Pro-Pain, Richardson also performed with Life Of Agony and Stereomud, guitarist Chuck Lenihan joined Christian Death and Carnivore A.D., and Marc Piovanetti had earlier played in Carnivore before joining The Crumbsuckers.

Flyers for Crumbsuckers performances at this venue:

Researched by Darren Paltrowitz on October 8, 2025.

Hammerheads

Who Remembers Hammerheads in West Islip? Twisted Sister tickets were A DOLLAR in 1977! photo credit: Reddit & Facebook Group "Long Island Bars and Bands of the 70's & 80's"

Located in West Islip, Hammerheads regularly featured Long Island artists and national headliners in the 1980s. It reportedly featured" two stages and two giant bars set up like old sailing ships." It became Chevy's in the early 1990s and the club was later knocked down, becoming a parking lot.

Among the notable talent who performed at Hammerheads include The Ramones, Twisted Sister, Rick Derringer, Mott The Hoople's Ian Hunter, Zebra, Blue Oyster Cult, Jorma Kaukonen, Rat Race Choir, and The Pretenders.

Then-upcoming concerts at Hammerheads:

Who Remembers Hammerheads in West Islip? Twisted Sister tickets were A DOLLAR in 1977! photo credit: Reddit & Facebook Group "Long Island Bars and Bands of the 70's & 80's"