MADONNA / BREAKFAST CLUB - ORIGINAL 1979 DEMOS & REHEARSAL TAPE (1)

Here is the original cassette tape featuring some of the earliest known recordings of Madonna rehearsing in 1979 whilst living in a New York Synagogue with Dan & Ed Gilroy, which includes numerous tracks of Madonna playing drums, singing, playing guitar & rehearsing with the Breakfast Club, This is the actual cassette used to make the rehearsal recording (and not a copy) which was sold by New York's Guernseys auction house in 2024 directly coming from Dan & Ed Gilroy who auctioned off some of the earliest guitars, drums, audio tapes from the 'Breakfast Club' sessions  ... read on for the full background story.

In 1978, with nothing more than grit and determination, 20 year-old Madonna Louise Ciccone left college in Michigan and headed for New York City. She survived by waitressing and modelling nude, while honing her talents as a dancer under the guidance of legendary Martha Graham.

But life took a turn for Madonna when she met the talented musician, Dan Gilroy. It wasn’t long before the young dancer moved in with Dan and his brother, Ed. Living in a unique setting - the brothers were renting a repurposed Queens, NY synagogue! - the Gilroy's taught Madonna how to play drums and guitar. It was there that Madonna began writing and recording her own music, and Madonna was on her way to stardom. 

By 1979, the threesome had formed a band - Breakfast Club - which attracted attention at clubs around New York including CBGB. - This item has come directly from the rehearsals at that Queens, New York setting where Madonna’s fabulous career got its start. 

Madonna’s original rehearsal demos and performances. Sony Black C90 compact cassette. Handwritten notes and drawings in blue ink both sides of cassette. Side A "Curtis Come Home, 15, Dan, Angie, Madonna" note torn diagonally Side B "Drawings". c.1979

This cassette includes:

• Side A:
• "Curtis Come Back" Written by Dan, Madonna on drums and backing vocals.
• "Jam Session"
• "Curtis Come Back"
• "Jamming" Madonna asks, "Do you want me to sing" Dan says, "Yeah!"
• "Unknown Song" Madonna sings and plays guitar. Dan plays drums.
• "Again and Again" Written by Madonna, Madonna plays keyboard. Cuts out at times.
• "Trouble" Written by Dan, Madonna, and Ed. Dan on drums, Ed on guitar, Madonna sings vocals. Cuts off after 2 minutes.

• Side B:
• "Hot House Flower" Full version. Written and performed by Madonna.
• "Trouble" Prolonged ending. Written by Dan, Madonna, and Ed. Dan on drums, Ed on guitar, Madonna sings vocals. broken into by another recording, then picks up again with Ed lead guitar. Madonna says, "Get it over with, Ed"
• "Dan's Song"
• "Say hey, Joe" Madonna harmonizes beautifully with Dan

This 'one of a kind' original cassette is the actual cassette used by Madonna with Dan & Ed Gilroy to record rehearsals in 1979, which has never been made available previously until the 2024 New York Guernsey's 'Chelsea Auction' where it was offered for sale by Dan Gilroy, the cassette tape includes a typed info sheet which gives details of the tracks and other notes he remembers from the recordings.

As further provenance the item comes with a '"Guernsey's - Chelsea Auction' lot sticker and we will include the original invoice as proof this is the actual real 1979 recorded cassette which came directly from Dan Gilroy to us via the auction house. We can confirm the item plays well and there will be and has not been any other copies or recordings of this item made or distributed by us so it will remain the only one in existence.

Own a piece of music history , featuring some of the earliest ever recordings known of Madonna singing and playing drums on a genuine 1979 demo rehearsal cassette from the New York Synagogue living quarters of Madonna , Dan & Ed Gilroy

Also for a further insight into these recordings check out the 2019 documentary film release 'Madonna & The Breakfast Club' which features interviews with Dan & Ed Gilroy with photos & excerpts from this era, Also in December 2024 'Sky' made a Documentary 'Becoming Madonna' which uses some archival footage from Dan & Ed's archives around these audio tapes.

Layaway Payment Program available for this item
with a 25% deposit we can reserve this item for up to 3 months ... Contact us for info