(A long-time reader puts out the call for then-and-now matchups!)
With the advent and conclusion of the Che Games this May, we are reminded of our youth and the path that brought us to the world we exist in today.
Some are still active in the scene and lifestyle; others, such as myself, have taken the experiences and philosophies of that time and melded them into the child-rearing, career-focused, mortgage- and bill-paying reality of the new millennium and the harsh realization that I am a 40-something now and “damn old.”
I discovered the Che Underground last summer, and it has been on my browser ever since. The articles and especially the pictures have allowed me to connect with old friends as well as reminisce about “the formative years” and how that small slice of time has helped me to cope with the world we live in today.
I may not be current with the scene, but my iPod pumps out a good mix of ska, punk and ’60s garage rock … Heck, my 14-year-old likes the Untouchables and Dead Kennedys and walks around sporting Jimi Hendrix and Beatles T-shirts. My mom laughed and rolled her eyes when he asked her to make his school uniform pant legs “skinny”… as she recalls spending many nights “pegging” my jeans back in the early ’80s.
Check out Che Underground’s views of San Diego then and now!
Anyway … before I get too long-winded and sappy … Che Games afforded us an opportunity to snap some pictures of the old-skool crew and compare them to the pictures of yesteryear. Here are some before-and-afters of the ’80s vs. 2009.
I invite everyone to submit photos from then and now, if for no other reason than a good laugh or “I remember this one time when …”
- Reunion of Aubrey Doolittle, Dean Fisher, Mathias Kuo and Keith Thiltgen – Friday night at Che Games for May 2009
- Dean Fisher – From Che blog, June 1, 2008 (mystery-mod post) – Presidio Park circa 1983, Cyndie Jaynes Collection
- Mathias (2nd from left), Aubrey (2nd from right) Erik (right) – Ski Beach circa 1983, Elker DeMello Collection
- Mathias, Erik deMello, Keith at Che Games – 2009
- Aubrey, the consummate Mod – Che Games 2009
- (far right) – Mathias and Keith scammed their way into a Manual Scan photo at the Headquarters – circa 1983 Union Tribune
- Keith and Mathias at Che Games 2009
— Mathias Kuo
This was a very cool submission. I am crazy about the before-and-after contrasts!
Plus, the newspaper clipping of Scan in front of the Headquarters makes me happy. I haven’t seen pictures outside the club before. (We’ve posted a few photos of the interior.)
So there was a gym just to the south? (Check out the sign in the background, over Mathias’ head.) As regular readers may recall, my aging memory had placed Sheldon’s right next door to the Headquarters, on the north side.
Anybody else notice that? Memory kind of scales stuff down and squeezes it together — every location turns into a half-scale version of itself, like Main Street in Disneyland. 🙂
By the time I’m 70, Ski Beach will be five feet long in my imagination, and I’ll be able to step over the tower in Presidio Park!
Did Aubrey work at Gelato Vero?
Gold’s gym was right there next to the HQ. There was also a fast food place in the parking lot (maybe a burger king?). Sheldon’s was north a couple of blocks from the Headquarters.
I remember this picture well from back then for a couple of reasons: (1) I always wondered who was trying to be the fifth member of Manual Scan -- thanks for clearing that up Mathias, and (2) What the hell was Kevin doing with that gloved fist? Very cool.
Man oh man, the HQ. I remember that place. Saw Paul’s band there many times. Also remember the fight at the Red Rocker’s show or was it RR/Social D? Crazy. Yeah Sheldon’s after midnight for fries and coffee. No one had money iirc! Aubrey worked with me at Kung Food btw. Miss him.