While doing research for the blog, I came across this account from Scott McDonald in a 1981 edition of Flipside. This scene report (on Page 3 of the PDF) describes Fairmount Hall’s debut as a punk venue:
“Recently, a very successful show was produced at Fairmount Hall. This was the first gig at this location, and it features San Diego’s four best bands: thing was set up and arranged by Tim, Violent Crimes manager, with monetary help from whoever was willing and could afford it.
“Tim deserves a pat on the back for being the first one to go out and find a new location since the old Lion’s Club closed. Anyway all the bands played good sets, with plenty of energy being expended by both the bands and the people on the dance floor.
“Another good point: security was arranged by Tim and Terry Marine, using people from the scene, so no rockheads got to beat anyone over the head with ‘flashlights.’ There was only minimal harrassment by the Slow Death Police Force as well. It worked out so well that several more shows ar e scheduled for July and August featuring the Chiefs and D.O.A. with Diegobands. Hopefully, this location won’t get shafted because of police harrassment. Everything looks good so far.”
According to the San Diego Concert Archive, the Chiefs show happened July 17, 1981, with the Nutrons, Violent Crime and Anti Trust. And (according to flyers from Jason Seibert’s collection) D.O.A. was August 1 and included Hated, No Age Limit, Moral Majority and the “last show” by a band called V-5.
The article raises lots of questions: Who played that first event, and when? (It looks like the Flipside editors chopped out that line of the story accidentally!) Which Tim managed Violent Crime? How long was the North Park Lions Club closed to punk bands that year? Please chime in!
I almost got a broken neck there one night due to an over zealous stage diver . Landed on my head and knocked me out cold . I woke up in the back with a bunch of friends looking down at me wondering if I was alive . I think it was a stretch marks , or gorilla biscuits show , I can’t remember clearly . . .
There were some awfully good shows at Fairmount Hall .
Were the punks the first to stake out the “Halls”? When I look at resources like the San Diego Concert Archive, I don’t see NPLC, Fairmount Hall, Wabash Hall or any of the others being used for gigs before 1979.
The “comeback” show at NPLC, put on by Dead or Alive Presents, was on 3/12/1982.
> Were the punks the first to stake out the “Halls”?
On an ongoing basis, probably. I know that we were the first to book NPLC that way. The difficulty was that you needed to get another permit for each and every show, and it took a dedicated punk like Marc Rude (and, later, real promoters like Gene King and Tim Mays) to put up with the ordeal.
I have a vivid memory of condensation running down the walls of Farimount Hall -- it was so stinkin’ hot in there. Remember seeing Dead Kennedys there, back then it was like seeing -- I don’t know -- Michael Jackson? Rolling Stones? I was totally starstruck. It was awesome. I have some old fliers, one of these days I’ll dig through them and let you know what i find! 🙂
I love it when people take credit for work that other people do. Seriously. Nothing like seeing a flyer I made for a show I promoted along with an article that has other people taking credit for it. Swell.
We (Dead or Alive) went to Fairmont after getting the boot from NPLC. V-5 was Violation 5 -- it included Chuck Cole. Condensation was just half of it -- the day before one show they painted the hall. When it got steamed up the paint started to bubble, and people were peeling off the paint. That cost a few bucks.
569-7417 was the Boy’s Club number -- I lived there with Pete V, Jeff, Chuck and George Nutron (at various times.)
Getting a permit was a PITA but Marc and I didn’t do it -- that was something that Cheri did for each gig. Marc new the bands, I had the money and negotiated with the hall (and made crappy flyers) and Cheri got permits from the cops and was an adult.
>>I love it when people take credit for work that other people do. Seriously. Nothing like seeing a flyer I made for a show I promoted along with an article that has other people taking credit for it. Swell.
Hey, Mickey! Good to have you … I don’t think anybody assigned credit for that flyer, ’cause that info was lost in the mists of time. I’m glad we can give you the nod. 🙂
And thanks for shedding light on the early days of the Fairmount Hall shows … Working from 30-year-old fragments tends to be — well, fragmentary! We’d be grateful for any other blanks you can fill in.
Welcome!
it was nice to see that we were remembered , good times at the right time,we were from vista . played san francisco to mexico ,east to phoenix managed to play with alot of well known groups along the way . memories i will never shake
Pete Hernandez- Guitar/ Vocals Simon Cheffins- Drums Dave Hall -- Bass Randy Smith -Vocals . . . When Simon left to start Crash Worship we added Dirk Doucette on Drums and added Dave Sharp on bass . Dave Hall married and started a family.Years later another line -- up change with Dave and I starting Toothless Grin with Manifest Destiny mix..
Blood Lake … Here’s a CityBeat interview with a young fella named Mario Rubalcaba, who credits the band as an early influence: “I was also into a band from Vista where I grew up called BLOOD LAKE, it had Simon Cheffins (later of Crash Worship) on drums. And that right there was my inspiration when it came to playing drums in Clikatat Ikatowi. Simons’ drumming in Blood Lake had such a manic speed and intensity and he fused these weird tribal drumming fills into the mix using his toms a lot and was one of the most amazing punk drummers I have ever seen play live.”
Mickey,
Did you date Lori Hall from Point Loma?
Thanks for the name check 🙂
It was Tim who was in SDSH with me by the way. That first show at Fairmount was put on by the people in the scene for the people in the scene.
We appreciate what you guys did. and beyond that, a lot of us tried to keep it going one way or another.
Scott- I think the last time I saw you was outside Che Cafe (coincidentally) when some college rent-a-cop tried to hassle you for having a twelve pack in your jacket. The rent-a-cop didnt fare well- you fared nicely- nicely done. I think the insolents were playing that night, and I think maybe Jeanie was with you. Aloha- Toby aka Tobylifehater.
No actually I think the last time I saw you was when Jeanie was working at that store in Mission Beach shortly after that. But whatever.
Were the punks the first to stake out the halls? First in a long time. In the mid fifties Belmont park (Mission Beach) was a popular dance spot, where people from my (extended) family came down to dance. I wish Nonnie could still help us out. It was a spot where black people could dance.
could dance on the same floor with white people.
Thats Mission beach. That’s where we are from.
Has Che Underground turned into “che! did I date you?” Hilarious rhetoric thus far.
che did i date you.
>>Has Che Underground turned into “che! did I date you?”
Oh, man … That would be messy! I don’t know whether it would be funny or just combustible. (This place has been pretty quiet lately.)
Welcome back, Toby! Hope all’s well.
Sorry. I hope I’m funny when I’m drunk- rather than the alternative. Miss you guys. Cheers and take care- Aloha- Toby.
I did not submit comment. Even though that cunt is a cunt. 🙂 Cheers- T.
Not Polite