Dirk Dirksen-S.F. Punk Promoter

The Mabuhay Gardens was a Filippino night club located on Broadway at the end of the North Beach area in San Francisco , where lots of night clubs and topless bars were located . It was a failing night club owned by Ness Aquino . Sometime in 1976 . Ness was approached by Dirk Dirksen to promote punk rock shows at the Mabuhay . Ness agreed , and the rest is history , the PREMIER PUNK PALACE was born.Jello Biafra of the Dead Kennedys stated that seeing the Sex Pistols , Nuns , and Avengers at Winterland , changed his life . He knew that this was what he wanted to do , form his own punk band . He wasn't alone , also in the audience were the people who would later make up some of San Francisco's most notable Punk bands . The Nuns would become one of the first bands to play at the Mabuhay , The Mary Monday Group was the first band to play there,though, I cannot remember them, or, if they were actually a punk band. Now the stage was set , these punk bands needed a place to play and the Mabuhay was there .Dirk Dirksen made the perfect emcee for the Mab.Coming from a background in television , and very much into experimental theatre and audience participation , this BIZARRE and unusual character turned a failing Filippino night club into a WORLD FAMOUS TOURIST ATTRACTION ! In fact, the Mab would soon become as famous as CBGB's was on the east coast .The Mab was host to many famous bands of that era , including , The DAMNED , DEVO , IGGY POP , Neil Young , The RAMONES , The Nuns , CRIME , The Dead Kennedys Husker Du , DOA , Pink Section, Rozz & Negative Trend and many more . By 1978 , the Mabuhay became to punk rock , what the Filmore West and Winterland were to commercial rock and Dirksen became punk's answer to Bill Graham from:Mabuhay Gardens. This is a little more than I can even begin to write. Dirk passed away last night, in his sleep. I wouldn't be here if it wasn't for him. Many of us wouldn't. He only wanted a band to be good. If he was harsh it wasn't because you sucked but because you could be better. 4 Bands a night, 7 nights a week. Think about it. With love, VKTMS - John, Steve, Lou, Nyna (R.I.P.) Man, that's sad. More than "4 Bands a night, 7 nights a week," it was a SCENE (a concept today's aggregate club owners can't seem to grasp), and no one person was more important to that scene than Dirk. The Jars' second ever SF gig and our next to last gig ever (Dirk: "It's time to can The Jars...") were both at the Fab Mab. For a time it seemed we were there every third Tuesday, and then there for entertainment 2 or 3 nights a week besides. All the bands were always (good naturedly, for punks) on Dirks ass, it meant we loved him. He was an indelible part of the last, most coherent music scene in this here city. Glad he got to do that Mabuhay reunion at the Fillmore earlier this year, he must have gotten a kick out of it. For the Jars- Mik Dow, Armin Hammer, Gary Nervo , Marc Time, Johnny Savior and sometimes Mike- bye, Dirk, R.I.P. Gary Hobish / "Armin Hammer" A. Hammer Mastering & Digital Media San Francisco, CA <http://ahammer.com>

Here is a great write up from the Chron:
http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?f=/c/a/2006/11/22/BAGCJMHQ8B1.DTL