"Well, do you want me to tell you how so-and-so still owes me a hundred bucks, or do you want me to tell you how Apollinian it all was, and how exciting it was, and how it was all really just about the music?"
The above is a response I got when first calling around for interviews for the oral history on the Philadelphia punk era you're about to read. My question was a simple one, and over the last few weeks, I've posed it many, many times:
What kind of place was Philadelphia at the end of the '70s?
I wasn't asking this of cops, or of people who worked for the Chamber of Commerce, or of politicians, or even of the baby boomers who were flooding the discos and bamboo-laden restaurants of that era. I was asking the punk rockers themselves--or at least people who used to be punk rockers.
And that simple fact changed the context more than you could imagine.
Philadelphia, at least according to history, has always been a tough town. But in 1977--when the rumblings of punk rock and New Wave started to filter down from 90 miles to our north--Philly was tougher than it is at this particular moment: Rizzo reigned, and whole sections of town--many of which are now regarded as gentrified--were completely blighted.
The late-'70s economic slump created a down-and-out attitude in this city that we're still trying to get over. Pretty much everything we have since come to take for granted about Center City back then was either a distant idea in a young entrepreneur's head or just plain inconceivable.
The state of live music was just as depressed. By the end of the 1970s, disco and corporate rock had a virtual tyranny over the city, and few cared or dared to look beyond whoever showed up at clubs to entertain on the weekend. This set the stage for a renegade sound.
What follows is an oral history of those first brave days of the punk and New Wave scene in Philadelphia. The testimony comes courtesy of a select group of players who were there, saw the future, and figured it's a lot more fun to ride the tide than run out of the way.
"What was it like? It was all right. I don't know what to say. I mean, it was Philly."
--TIM BOWEN
"What was it like? Oh God. If you looked different, people tried to intimidate you all the time. It was the same kind of crap you had to put up with as a hippie, when people started growing long hair. Only now it was the guys with the long hair yelling at you. You think they would have learned something. I had this extreme parrot red hair and I got hassled so much I carried a sign that said 'FUCK YOU ASSHOLE'. I got so tired of yelling it, I would just hold up the sign."
--BOBBY STARTUP
"There was a clothing store called Amarcord on Walnut Street. I remember the guy in there had New Wave and punk tapes. He'd be trying to close and no one would leave because it was the only place you could hear this music."
--MICHAEL MCGETTIGAN
"South Street was blighted with stores that were remnants of the '40s. I don't know that it was that safe, either. But people were starting to open up all these shops and restaurants. So it was an exciting time, and the music scene was exciting. Rock 'n' roll--I still call it rock 'n' roll, but I guess it was New Wave or punk--was alive. There was new energy and it had an almost Beatles-esque feeling, even filtering down from New York. You could feel it."
--STEPHEN STARR
Article:
Intervention: Philly
Article:
Terry Oleson: The Fifth Victim

Article:
Hippocritic Oath
Article:
A Snitch in Time
Article:
Cracking ACORN
Article:
Kurt Vile: Guitar Hero
Article:
Philly DJ Day
Article:
David Dingwall Goes Balls Out
1. Patrick Stafford said... on Aug 24, 2008 at 08:29PM
“There is a film about LA punk band, The Germs, coming to Philadelphia. What We Do Is Secret starts at the Ritz at the Bourse on Friday the 29th of August. Check it out.”
2. James Regan said... on May 6, 2008 at 01:42PM
“Good article. I was in a New Wave Philly band called Lemmy Caution (later renamed The Tickets) in '77 and '78. We played the Hot Club on occasion as a local warm up act, Artemis on Samson, the Ethical Society on Rittenhouse Square, JC Dobbs and Grendel's Lair (wth the Stick Men one night). True story about Grendel's: we rented out the venue one night to produce our own show. A few weeks before the gig we were down on South Street plastering posters all over the neighborhood to generate interest. As we were about to post the last one an employee from Grendel's tapped us on the shoulder and said: "We had to cancel your gig because we had a chance to the book the Brecker Brothers." It was about 15 degrees that night and about 2 in the morning. Grendel's paid for new posters for a rescheduled night and, well, I have to admit the the Brecker Brothers were pretty damn good. This was the era of Pink Flamingoes at the TLA at midnight (with the chess board in the lobby), the Ramones playing Irvine Auditorium at Penn, Bob Marley delivering at the Tower, and local fave, Kenn Kweder and the Secret Kids kicking it Blonde on Blonde style with a SW Philly twist (remember the Lee Harvey Oswald poster?), and a lot of other happenings . . . .”
3. johnnydelrey said... on Jul 11, 2008 at 09:27PM
“Geez, I was looking for any remnants of the XPN punk show and I find this great little piece. I was part of the jersey suburb contingent that logged many trips over the bridge into philly for shows in the official 1960 Caddy Hearse punk mobile. Try finding a parking space for a 22 foot long Caddy downtown! Lee and Roid were definitely instrumental in bringing a "scene" into philly and I still thank them every day. I wound up doing the punk show on WPRB in Princeton for the sububan punks and helped warp many young minds. Punk rock cost me my friends, my job, eventually my house, and it was the most fun I ever had. I was at the Cramps show that tramatized Mr Star so badly and it was nothing compared to the Cramps show at Act 3 which never re-opened after that. Lee and Steve (Roid) would give me copies of advance demos they got from bands for my show. We thought we were doing something very important. No one else was playing the new music. It had to be heard. I was very sad when I heard about Lee Paris death. I never knew it was suicide. He was a great guy. Never forget the Hot Club. Where are we now, The legendary Johnn Roxx and Darling Rose Manitoba still together and living in a trailer park near Princeton NJ, Unemployed! (Trying to put together a "Live 365" punk show)”
4. johnny ruin said... on Mar 2, 2009 at 11:21AM
“I have the sid vicious flyer with 999 and the autistics playing the show framed and hanging on my bedroom wall”
5. Mel Toxic said... on Feb 27, 2009 at 05:49PM
“The Hot Club in 1979, is where I was baptized into the new wave punk scene. Saw the B-52's and Plasmatics. I was hooked.”
6. Safety Pin said... on Feb 14, 2009 at 03:16AM
“"Philly is a jungle, a jungle, the jungle where I live!" Lee Paris and Bobby Startup were the two people most responsible for bringing punk to the people of Philadelphia and its environs. (Stephen Starr doesn't even belong in the discussion. Even back then, Starr glommed onto punk, hiring Lee to book and spin at Ripley's, the former "Disco For Blacks" (what they called it on their radio ads on WDAS) on South Street, the building that later housed Tower Records.) Lee and Roid and also (later) Jazz Connor spun the stuff on the radio, on Sundays, on XPN; Bobby spun it 'live' at the Hot Club. Where did they get those amazing records?! Third Street Jazz! Any self-respecting Philly punk knew to show up every week at 3rd St and check 'The Wall' for the new 7"s. The 7"s were numbered on the wall (and also underneath the stairs, above the cash register on the first floor.) You told the clerk what number/s you wanted and they pulled 'em from the corresponding slots behind the register. If you'd a clue, you hung by Bobby's booth and checked out what he was playing, then hit up 3rd St early the next day for the goods, before the rest of the clued-in showed up and bought out the best of it. Bobby'd tell you what he was spinning: Bobby's always been about the music. God Bless You, Bobby Startup: you certainly blessed us, playing all those great records. Lee played all kinds of stuff on 'YNMT', not just punk. He 'broke' Prince in Philly: he loved Prince almost as much as he (sadly) loved CBS Records' drugs. J.C. Dobbs didn't really have clue what was up with punk. Grendel's Lair didn't have a clue, either; they pulled in less than a dozen people for that first Police show that Starr mentioned. "Eat the Rich and Save the Hot Club!!!" Thank you, David Carroll, for keeping the Hot Club going as long as possible. Ok for Amarcord, though credit Split Enz barbershop/hair salon for the same reason. Hans, booker/cashier, made tapes of the best stuff and played 'em all day in the shop. He found out about good stuff directly from Bobby. Kudos to Cynthia for the stylin' cutz sported about town by many mod punks of the day. Bobby was managing the Stray Cats before the Hot Club closed, btw. Bloodless Pharaohs, anyone?!? Hey, Hey, Hey; Meet a Punk; Pizzas and Pepsi Lites... Hot Club, East Side Club, Filly's, Omni's, Love Club, Elk's Center, Starlite Ballroom, Ripley's Disco, Emerald City (Cherry Hill)... Bind me, tie me, Chain me to the wall. To you all: Oh, Nostalgia: up yours!!!”
7. James Regan said... on May 6, 2008 at 02:42PM
“Good article. I was in a New Wave Philly band called Lemmy Caution (later renamed The Tickets) in '77 and '78. We played the Hot Club on occasion as a local warm up act, Artemis on Samson, the Ethical Society on Rittenhouse Square, JC Dobbs and Grendel's Lair (wth the Stick Men one night). True story about Grendel's: we rented out the venue one night to produce our own show. A few weeks before the gig we were down on South Street plastering posters all over the neighborhood to generate interest. As we were about to post the last one an employee from Grendel's tapped us on the shoulder and said: "We had to cancel your gig because we had a chance to the book the Brecker Brothers." It was about 15 degrees that night and about 2 in the morning. Grendel's paid for new posters for a rescheduled night and, well, I have to admit the the Brecker Brothers were pretty damn good. This was the era of Pink Flamingoes at the TLA at midnight (with the chess board in the lobby), the Ramones playing Irvine Auditorium at Penn, Bob Marley delivering at the Tower, and local fave, Kenn Kweder and the Secret Kids kicking it Blonde on Blonde style with a SW Philly twist (remember the Lee Harvey Oswald poster?), and a lot of other happenings . . . . ”
8. Sbaoteur said... on May 2, 2009 at 11:56AM
“I have a bunch of the flyers Tina Peel Dead Kennedys Bloodless Pharaohs
I would never miss Dead Kennedys or 999. Omnis was good but nothing like the hot club. The real question is how did they get that great music on 45s in the juke box”
9. johnj said... on Jun 10, 2009 at 09:08PM
“the ramones and the clash played the walnut st theater(different dates of course)in 79 the east side club the hardcore shows at broad&south those days were cool.”
10. Anonymous said... on Jul 13, 2009 at 08:56PM
“What about the Starlite Ballroom at Kensington and Lehigh circa 1982, when they had to take down the plywood for the most excellent concert featuring headliners The Dead Kennedys, along with Informed Sources?, Autistic Behavior and another band. I recall our group being the only "regular" dressed people in the place...and the neighbors were not too happy about the concert.”
11. Paul said... on Aug 2, 2009 at 01:19AM
“Dom and I (paul) videotaped the starlight show that night-the DK's were great, man was it hot that night.”
12. bifaren said... on Aug 3, 2009 at 10:14AM
“God bless David Carroll. The Hot Club was the is of it's time. I worked with David or should I say for? What happened to the Hot Club is what happens anytime peoples sensibilities are challenged. The H.C. and it's punk attitude no longer could be tolerated by the changing neighborhood.Well to do citizens wanted the area for their own. The us vs. them mentality permeated the fabric of that time and space. Them were not comfortable with us looking fashionably dangerous. Razor blades, chains and leather were not what them wanted to see. Green, pink and blue hair unacceptable. Part of the punk mentality is confrontational therefore the confrontation. Adios in town, hello kensington. The glue huffing, dope shooting, drunken rumblers just couldn't wait for the circus to come to town. It was just a matter of some broken bones, busted lips and bloodied noses later before the Starlite Brawlroom would perish. But it was a HELL of a ride.”
13. Anonymous said... on Aug 10, 2009 at 12:03AM
“Remember the Love Hall? All the best shows, without a doubt! I remember the red hot chili peppers pulling up in a beat up van and station wagon, the Misfits, Minor Threat, YDI, and so many others. The best of the 80's. Let's not forget Long March either across the street.”
14. SandieS said... on Aug 23, 2009 at 04:27PM
“I've always wondered what happened to all the people who used to go to the East Side Club, and Emerald City which is where I mostly hung out, and of course, The Hot Club.
I worked at Platters at 10th and Chestnut. Does anyone else remember that place?
The music was phenomenal and a real music/art/culture scene was born and flourished at that time. I miss it!”
15. Art said... on Aug 26, 2009 at 03:27PM
“It's funny how time flies. I live in Cherry Hill and went to shows from 1979 to 1999. The Venues for me in the area were Emerald City, Omnis, East Side Club, City Gardens, Elk Center, CEC Center, Love, Ripley's, Dobbs, Khyber, Nicks, Troc and so many great memories of local Bands and Bands from everywhere else!! It was fun and I still enjoy hearing something that tweeks my ears. Every Scene builds and builds...untill it collapses from within from being commodified, and like Society it becomes the next Generations "Scene" ( whatever that may be ), I really liked reading the Posts.”
16. Sherry X said... on Sep 1, 2009 at 08:45PM
“I moved back to Philly in '79 ...Really liked Platters, the record store at 10th & Chestnut...First show I saw here was the Buzzcocks at Emerald City...Loved Omni's and Lee Paris”
17. Mike H said... on Sep 13, 2009 at 07:37AM
“I tended bar at the Hot Club for a while after the fire when it was temporaily on Chestnut St. Moved into E. Passyunk Av in 1979. Couldn't get folk to walk down the block back then. It was rough. We had no heat or running water the first winter, but we survived and had some fun. It was a great time for live music.”
18. Johnny H said... on Sep 27, 2009 at 09:58AM
“I remember the "punk festivals" at the Elks center, 5 bands for 5 bucks, sadistic exploits, autistic behavior, decontrol,The Stickmen and $1pbr's in the basement...line around the block to see Black Flag at eastside,Husker Du at west side club,(a rowhouse that some WKDU dj's lived in).. old city was a sleazy area and much more fun, lesbian bar Sneakers across from 3rd st jazz, riot at starlight ballroom in kensington at Dead Kennedys , cops breaking up the MDC show at a plumbing supply company in some godforsaken area of ,north philly?,Minor Threat in CAMDEN!...very scary night....and softer moments like XTC at Emerald City...don't think they ever toured again, thank god i had a fake ID and didn't miss all of this...English Beat at irvine auditorium, the Damned, Jodi Fosters Army at....remember the LOVE Club,broad and south?Philly was better than NYC,things trickled UP from DC and Philly, miss those days a lot”