[Deathwatch] Dirk Dirksen, 'godfather' of punk rock scene, 69

[Deathwatch Central <cdw@slick.org>]

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Dirk Dirksen -- 'pope of punk' amused, insulted S.F. crowds

Joel Selvin, Chronicle Senior Pop Music Critic

Wednesday, November 22, 2006
 
Dirk Dirksen, the godfather of San Francisco punk rock and the often
abrasive ringmaster of the North Beach punk emporium Mabuhay Gardens,
died unexpectedly in his sleep Monday night. He was 69.

Mr. Dirksen presented acts such as the Dead Kennedys, Devo, the
Ramones, Flipper, the Mutants, the Nuns, Black Flag, the Go-Go's and
literally thousands more in the 10 years he operated the Broadway
nightclub, fondly known as the Fab Mab.

Mr. Dirksen, who called himself "the pope of punk," was known for
peppering audiences and performers alike with abuse and insults.

"I'm sorry to see you're that easily pleased," he told the crowd at the
end of one band's performance. "You should try and show some
intelligence and sophistication and not just accept any slop that's
thrown in your trough."

He turned to the musicians, who were trying to stalk off the stage,
thinking he was not going to let the band have an encore.

"I'll give you one," he said, "but only because the next group is an
absolute pimple in the armpit of progress. Now everybody, please pay
attention because it's time to play 'People Are Stupid.' "

"He was super obnoxious onstage," said Penelope Houston of the
Avengers. "He would stand there with that little dog under his arm,
being a target for whatever they wanted to throw. At the same time, he
loved all those people. In a way, they were his family."

The dog's name was Dummy.

Mr. Dirksen once estimated that his nose had been broken seven times
during his years as a nightclub impresario.

Among the highlights of the Mabuhay's annual calendar was always his
birthday celebration, where each year he dreamed up a different mock
torture for himself -- flogging, beheading, etc. One year he had
himself burned at the stake.

Mr. Dirksen, who operated the Dirksen-Malloy Productions video firm
since leaving the nightclub business in 1984, also worked with the
children in the Mission Recreation Center, across the street from where
he lived, teaching cooking and helping resolve disputes. He hosted the
various Mabuhay reunion events, including a Fillmore Auditorium show
last April with members of the Dead Kennedys, the Mutants and Flipper,
or the Contractions' recent reunion at the Café du Nord. Only last
weekend, he attended the show by the Mutants at Lennon Studios.

Born in Braunschweig, Germany, in 1937, he followed his father, a
professor of aerodynamics, to this country in 1948. The family
eventually settled in the Los Angeles suburb of Downey. He served in
the Army as a public relations expert and made his show business debut
in 1957, producing an all-night live television remote from a Wilshire
Boulevard auto dealership featuring neophyte and amateur entertainers
called "Rocket to Stardom." An unknown Lenny Bruce once appeared on the
12-hour weekly broadcast.

He attended San Jose State but dropped out to open a surfing business
in Santa Cruz. He worked as a producer on an ABC-TV series about
surfing and served as tour manager with acts such as Ray Charles, the
Supremes, Iron Butterfly and the Doors. He also managed the 1968
presidential campaign of comedian Pat Paulsen.

He moved to San Francisco in 1974 and, two nights later, stumbled into
the Mabuhay Gardens. He started presenting late-night events at the
club featuring Les Nickelettes, an all-female guerrilla comedy troupe.
Whoopi Goldberg made an early appearance at the club.

When punk rock emerged on the scene, Mr. Dirksen immediately began to
book the unruly bands. He presided over his impolite empire with an
enduring patience and a sly smile. Robin Williams once described comedy
hell as "opening for the Ramones at the Mabuhay Gardens."

"He was a father figure to me and a lot of other punks," said Kathy
Peck of the Contractions. "Louie of the Vktms said we thought he hated
us, but he loved us."

Mr. Dirksen produced the recent video documentary on the Mutants and
had been involved in video production since leaving the Mab, including
a long-running, late-night San Francisco cable access show called
"Cosmos S.F."

He underwent heart surgery in 1990.

He is survived by his longtime partner, Damon Malloy, and two sisters,
Molly Dirksen of Bethesda, Md., and Theodore Ernst-Dirksen of Los
Angeles.

Memorial plans are pending.


Dirk Dirksen, 69; the 'godfather' of punk rock scene in San Francisco
>From Times Staff and Wire Reports

November 25, 2006

Dirk Dirksen, 69, a punk music impresario who ran San Francisco's
Mabuhay Gardens nightclub during its heyday in the 1970s, died Monday
in his sleep, the San Francisco Chronicle reported. The cause of death
was not reported.

Considered the godfather of the city's punk rock scene, Dirksen
presented a who's who of punk acts in his more than 10 years of running
the club. Acts included the Dead Kennedys, Devo, the Ramones, the
Mutants, Black Flag and the Go-Go's.

After leaving the club business in the early 1980s, Dirksen operated a
video production firm.

According to the Chronicle, Dirksen was born in Braunschwig, Germany,
in 1937. His family moved to Southern California after World War II and
settled in Downey.

Dirksen served in the Army and briefly attended San Jose State before
dropping out to open a surfing business in Santa Cruz.

He found his way into the entertainment business as a tour manager for
Ray Charles, the Supremes and Iron Butterfly, the Chronicle said.


Many thanks to Deathwatch Central for posting this obituary