Kool & the Gang, has always been a guilty pleasure for me. They are legendary pioneers of funk, jazz, and R&B, and have been inducted into the 2024 Rock & Roll Hall of Fame, celebrating over five decades of influential music. The music they have created such as Celebration is an anthem of pure happiness.

In 1975, Kool & the Gang brought their infectious groove to Rockford, Illinois, playing a memorable show at the Wheels Rockin’ Roller Rink. Known for their high-energy performances and hits like Hollywood Swinging and Jungle Boogie, they turned the roller rink into a dance floor, leaving fans with unforgettable memories of funk, soul, and celebration. This concert became a part of the vibrant roller disco culture, marking a golden era of live music at neighborhood rinks across America. Now keep in mind, this was before the big hits such as Celebration, Get Down on It and Ladies Night became big radio earworms.

Now you may be thinking, where was Wheels Rockin' Roller Rink?

Well, it was located in the former Lincolnwood Shopping Center, 3500 West State St. The two major businesses there were Piggly-Wiggly and May's Drug Store as well as a laundromat, liquor store, and a few others.

Once closed, Wheel Rockin' Roller used the space. The largest building which was the Piggly-Wiggly contained the main rink, which was huge. I remember going a couple of times as a very young child.

So the part that Kool and The Gang played a show there is true, the one rumor I have heard quite a few times is that the rink owners could not afford to pay Kool and The Gang and were then forced to shut down. Again, this is a rumor.

WHEELS ROCKIN' ROLLER RINK - "Where you bump into the nicest people!

TAKE A TRIP TO THE REMAINS OF HEBNERS HOUSE OF GIFTS ON ROCKFORDS WEST SIDE.

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EXPLORING THE REMAINS OF WHEEKS ROCKIN' ROLLER RINK - PHOTO GALLERY BELOW

The one memory that stands out is back in the 80s, the building had been shut down and boarded up for years. Myself, my friend Mike Purl and his brother Brian decided to go inside, and inside we went running around the rink. After 15 minutes, we got out, and of course, never told our parents. Not a very smart thing to do but I still have those crazy memories today.

This past week, I went down to the former location with 97ZOK's Emily, who waiting in the ZOK vehicle, letting me know over and over "You know you are crazy" and I decided to take some pictures, with Jungle Boogie running through my head! What is left, well, you can see in the pictures. I can understand why it was demolished but the parking lot and the concrete pad of the building are still there. It must be a lot less expensive to leave the skeleton of Wheels Rockin' Roller Rink there for crazy people like myself, to go explore.

Wheels Rockin' Roller Rink Location Today

Gallery Credit: Dave Alan

32 Stunning Google Maps Pics Show Just How Much Downtown Rockford Has Changed

Changes to downtown Rockford in a little over 10 years.

Gallery Credit: Google Maps

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