It is hard to separate the man from the building; after all, Rick Cautela has been the owner, manager, booking agent and bartender at the Alrosa Villa for 34 years.
The Alrosa at 5055 Sinclair Road has been home to numerous local and national acts since 1974 and can seat up to 700 people.
It has a plethora of stories to tell, including the infamous shooting of “Dimebag” Darrell Abbott of Pantera and Damageplan on Dec. 8, 2004.
The “Rock and Roll Reverend,” Cautela’s nickname from radio spots he did on the old 99.7 “The Blitz” radio station, and the Alrosa has maintained longevity by keeping business personal. He says he has tried to keep a positive attitude through the ups and downs, even after the devastating tragedy of 2004.
Bands that have graced the stageAlrosa has featured bands such as Deftones, Incubus, Korn, Pantera, Slipknot and many more.
“I’ve seen bands on that stage that turned out to be huge. We caught them when they were on their way up, and then we catch them when they’re on their way down,” Ron Mowery, the light director at Alrosa, said.
“It was funny because we had a tribute to KISS and then the actual Ace Frehley and (Peter) Chris, the drummer, played here,” Cautela said.
The Alrosa is most known for putting on metal and heavy shows, but they have also branched out to other genre,s including hip-hop and reggae.
“Back 10 years ago business was good, but we weren’t doin’ good enough to have rock for the whole time,” Cautela said. “We had Snoop, Foxy Brown, Jay-Z. It was a period that lasted about five or six years.”
Keeping it personalIn a business that can be fickle, the Alrosa has lasted longer than many other concert venues.
“We try to keep a neighborhood bar atmosphere in a concert hall. (If) it ever goes away from that I don’t want to do it anymore,” Cautela said.
He credits his staying power to maintaining a close relationship with his customers.
“That’s been my secret the whole time.” Cautela said. “They (other concert venue owners) don’t want to get that personable with their customers. Most people get throwed out at the end of the night by the security and I’m tryin’ to tell them ‘wait a minute, I know that guy.'”
He also asks his clientele their opinion on potential bands by sending out message son MySpace or asking his customers’ opinions during a show.
“I like to talk to my people,” Cautela said. “It’s easy for me. It’s a no-brainer because I trust what they say. I trust them completely.”
Cautela keeps it personal with the bands as well.
“I’ve had bands when they come into town; I take them to get their hair done and when one of them guys gets sick, I take them to my doctor,” he said.
The day the music diedCautela is very aware what people think of him and of the club. He said he has received many e-mails and posts from bloggers that blame him for “Dimebag’s” death. He is reluctant to talk about it, saying that he has denied requests for interviews for the past two-and-a-half years.
“It was horrible what the bloggers said. They wanted me dead, like I had killed him; it hurt,” Cautela said. “Part of me died (that night), because I felt like I had credibility and I’ve always spent all these years to try and be so close to everybody.”
“I’ve worked there for 20 years and I have never seen a gun or knife,” Mowry said. “I’ve never seen anyone stabbed or shot up until that night.”
Nathan Gale killed four people that night before Columbus police shot and killed him. Gale hopped a fence and entered through a side door and rushed to the stage during Damageplan’s opening set.
“That guy that did it was…full of mental problems. It could have happened anywhere,” Kevin Goodrich, a bar employee, said.
Gale had also caused an altercation in Cincinnati at another Damageplan show a week prior to the shootings.
“It is for sure, positively, unequivocally, if Cincy hadn’t had happened, then Columbus wouldn’t have happened,” Cautela said. “Who knows how many clubs he was planning to do this at?”
Vinnie Paul Abbot, “Dimebag’s” brother and drummer from Damageplan, was also there that night.
“I was the one that broke the news to his brother… I wrapped a blanket around him and spent time with him,” Cautela said.
Cautela, like many others would like some closure.
“I’d like to go to Texas and see Dime’s gravesite and talk to Vinnie if he would welcome me there,” Cautela said. “But I don’t want to bring up bad memories.”
The show must go on The club has survived the fallout of the murders.
“A lot of the bands in the beginning shied away from the place,” Goodrich said. “Only 25 percent are still shying away.”
But, the local music scene has stayed with Cautela.
“He supports all of the local bands and the local music,” Mowry said. “If they were to shut down, they would have nowhere to go.”
But for Cautela, it’s about the music and the people.
“They come here for the music, 100 percent, and that’s what I’m proud of – to see them come in here and enjoy themselves.” Cautela said.
“You’re not going to get rich doing this, but it’s been a lot of fun,” Cautela said.
And he said he’ll keep doing it, “until I drop dead, hopefully.”
Juan Sanchez Jr. can be reached at [email protected].
