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Dirk Dirksen RIP

Category: Entertainment & Pop Culture

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Photo of Jeff D.

Elite '08

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11/22/2006 Jeff "The Cheesemonger" D. says:

All of my heroes are dying.......

Another one bites the dust.  Dirk operated the Mabuhay Gardens in SF duirng the seventies, and singlehandedly shepherded in the punk movement in SF.  

The Fab Mab was where we saw The Nuns,  Avengers, Fear, Blondie (first concert in SF),  Ramones (ditto), Devo (ditto -I saw them at the Mab about tentimes!!), The Mutants, the Offs, the Dils - everybody!  

I lived in Santa Cruz at the time, and spent two - three nights a week driving to SF and back to see shows.  What a scene.

Dirk was the ringleader, ascerbic, rude, hilarious.  He had the right touch with us punk kids - mean uncle? demented older brother who insulted you?  Whatever.  He was an abrasively lovely man.

Later he retired and ran a video service.

I had occasion to meet him as an adult a few times in the nineties when I was PR guy for the DNA lounge and we had old school SF punk nights.  He remembered everything and everyone - including me in my handmade tee shirts.  

He died in his sleep at 69.  An appropriate age for old dirk.

Here's the choronicle obit
http://www.sfgate.com/...
Photo of maiko h.

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11/22/2006 maiko h. says:

I heard yesterday from my coworker, but I couldn't find any news so thanks for the link.  Dirk was so hilarious.  When my boss was on medical leave and I told Dirk, he said "I'll be sure to send him an offensive get well card."  I wish I could say something clever and offensive in his honor, but I'm not anywhere near as funny or rude as Dirk.
Photo of Jeff D.

Elite '08

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11/22/2006 Jeff "The Cheesemonger" D. says:

Yeah, I tried to come up with something snarky to say in his honor, but couldn't.


Hmm, how about: RIP you moron?
Photo of Brian B.

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11/22/2006 Brian "I don't think you can give YOURSELF a nickname" B. says:

or 'you call that dying? in your sleep? that's ok with you?'

rip. i'm sure my wife will chime in. she was a fab mabber with her fake id and mohawk.
Photo of Kim R.

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11/22/2006 Kim "What IT dO" R. says:

Anyonw who passes away I say RIP but truthfully I thought he was a jerk ...At the old on broadway my stepmom worked the door and my dad did security and took photos.. they worked with Paul Rat RRZ productions..

I knew nothing about punk music and thought it was kind of weird until I started going to shows and help working at the door or keeping the balcony Clear etc...

I met alot of bands GBH stayed at my parents house and I have photos hanging out with them in the house and Im in my basketball uniform after school...

Dirk was always yelling at everyone he was rude as hell..Guess that was just his personality but he was still an ASS
Photo of Jeff D.

Elite '08

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11/22/2006 Jeff "The Cheesemonger" D. says:

Most of it was a put on SF N.  ALone, in person, he was a sweetheart.   Perosna persona
Photo of Jeff D.

Elite '08

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11/22/2006 Jeff "The Cheesemonger" D. says:

bump
Photo of Kim R.

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11/22/2006 Kim "What IT dO" R. says:

Well he did not  singlehandedly shepard the punk movement what about Paul Rat he put out shows and had a punk record label....

Im glad you have good memories though
Photo of Jeff D.

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11/22/2006 Jeff "The Cheesemonger" D. says:

enlighten me about Paul Rat.  what year(s) was he presenting shows?  I am talking about the early days of punk/new wave in SF 1976-77.  From what I remember, there was: the fab mab, then later savoy tivoli, the deaf club (1978), and then some other clubs.  On broadway was 1979 or 80.   I could be wrong - as I am old....

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