DEAD KENNEDYS - PUNK MUSIC IMPRESARIO DIRKSEN DIES

PUNK MUSIC IMPRESARIO DIRKSEN DIES

DIRK DIRKSEN, a punk music impresario who ran San Francisco's Mabuhay Gardens nightclub during its heyday in the 1970s, has died. He was 69. According to the San Francisco Chronicle, Dirksen died last Monday (20NOV06) in his sleep. The cause of death has not been revealed. Considered the godfather of the city's punk rock scene, Dirksen supported a wide variety of acts in his more than 10 years running the club, including DEAD KENNEDYS, DEVO, RAMONES, MUTANTS, BLACK FLAG and THE GO-GOs. After leaving the club business in the early 1980s, Dirksen operated a video production firm. He originally found his way into the entertainment business as a tour manager for RAY CHARLES, THE SUPREMES and IRON BUTTERFLY.