Once I saw the Adolescents and Black flag, I decided that I needed to set up a venue for this, and only this, kind of music. So, I found a disbanded bowling alley in an industrial part of the San Fernando Valley and worked out a deal with the leaseholder. I was on a legally shaky sublease, which could have crashed and burned any second, but, still, I went ahead with the project.
I named the place Godzilla’s…
…and was promptly threatened with a lawsuit from Soho Pictures, which turned out to be the least of my problems…
After the club was up and running, I noticed issues with people I had hired for tasks, which included the handling of ticket money at the door. In some cases, these were serious concerns.
Then, after the first weekend, I was summoned by the City Councilman and a lynch mob of angry neighbors’ intent on shutting me down. Police helicopters would show up in the skies above, and the cops were always invading the place, warning me about this and that.
And there was the fire department.
I found myself in court so often that I lived on valium.
I was focused and, on my game, which necessitated my firing the staff that was robbing me blind and only hiring the bands they liked (or were friends with), amongst an array of other unprofessional behavior.
One evening, I received a phone call asking if I would be interested in booking The Damned…
…OF COURSE! I couldn’t believe my luck at being able to book this incredible band at Godzilla’s…