Some thoughts following DirkFest

It is rare for a reunion show to work as well as DirkFest did at the Great American Music Hall on June 8, 2007. To be able to recreate a night from the past that actually lets a person exist in the past is extraordinary. This is not something I try to do or even think of as a good idea. IÕve been to events in the past with gatherings of people from the Òold daysÓ that were fun but never reached the level of being like the night at DirkFest. I talked to other people that night and after who felt the same way.

I got there in time to catch the end of the Contractions set and they were great. Following the Contractions were The Mutants and Avengers both of whom played their hearts out and like the previous had people tearing up the dance floor. Jello Biafra was MC for the night and did a great Dirk imitation at the end of the night telling everyone to go back to their hovels, etcÉ

Since I no longer live in San Francisco it was even a joy when after the show I was on the cold windy streets walking and catching a bus back to the Hotel. When I got to my room it took a couple of hours to fall asleep. It was good to see a lot of people from back in the day but it also remained me of how dangerous Rock nÕ Roll is because of the people who are no longer around. Of the people who are in my book Punk77 at least 10% died a young death. Even a sport like Motorcycle racing does not have this rate of attrition.

And a BIG thanks to Kathy for all of her hard work bringing everyone together for two great nights.

 

The following came off of MySpace

----------------- Bulletin Message -----------------

From: Klaus Flouride Date: Jun 11, 2007 12:09 PM

So Friday I was going to go to the DirkFest. I had purchased tickets from Virtuous online in May. No Alternative offered to Guest list me but I said thanks but it's a benefit and I'd like to respect to the spirit of that. We were hoping to arrive early so as to get a table upstairs and out of the spotlight and enjoy the evening without making a point about being there for anything more than support, and as I said to enjoy some bands for which I had a lot of respect.

When my friends and I arrived first we saw Damon Malloy, gave him a hug and said great to see him etc. then we went to the box office and got our tickets. No problem. Keep in mind that we were going to the show to honor Dirks memory, help Damon with his expenses and see a good show. I had back in December and January taken a poster from the Fillmore Fab Mab Reunion Show and gotten everybody who played to sign it for auction being put together by Kathy Peck. This involved running all over town and fed-ex to NYC and back etc. Everybody in all the bands were very co-operative in helping with this effort. It was framed and given to Kathy for the auction.

After about 20 minutes Damon Malloy came over and said he had bad news, and I said "Don't tell me, Bridget's camera can't go in, right?" and he said no but that he was sorry to have to say that Biafra had instructed Scott (the stage manager?) that I was not to be allowed into the venue. That if I tied to enter I would be forcibly removed.

I want to point out again that I did not want the focus to be about me that night, but about Dirk's memory, so I made no fuss, got a refund for my tickets as did my friends Mike, Eric, Kate and Bridget. People expressed shock to us that Biafra would do such a thing and all said that it was just plain wrong. I had paid for my tickets and was going to a show. Plain and simple.

A few people spoke to Biafra that night but no one has made any public mention of this and so I find the need to post this just to get it off my chest.

Mr. Biafra apparently can tell a club whomever is and isn't allowed in and they will roll over.

So be it. Nobody wants to come forward to say perhaps that doesn't seem right, so be it.

I guess that's just the way things are.

-Klaus