Toad’s Founder Spoerndle Dies

Mike Spoerndle, 59, founder of the 750-capacity Toad’s Place in New Haven, Conn., was found dead in his home May 6.

Spoerndle founded the club in 1975. His cause of death was unknown at press time but he had battled drug and alcohol dependency for a decade, according to the Register Citizen.

Some of the Toad’s Place shows credited to Spoerndle include a surprise Rolling Stones performance in 1989, a six-hour Bob Dylan performance in 1990 and shows by acts like Billy Joel, Bruce Springsteen, U2 and Bon Jovi, as noted by the newspaper.

Toad’s owner, Brian Phelps, became manager under Spoerndle in 1976.