On that day in 1979 - 22 July

For decades, the suburban hamlet of Manhattan Beach has held Sunday summer concerts in Polliwog Park. These days, these nearly all consist of tribute bands or cover bands in various genres, but on this day in 1979 the park hosted Eddie and the Subtitles, Big Wow [Who was in Big Wow?], The Tourists (no, not Annie Lennox; these were "tourists" as being pale persons from Hawthorne; this is what would be shouted at us should we ever venture near the beach in the daytime, and these tourists soon changed their name to Red Cross, and later, to Redd Kross) and the original line-up of Black Flag.

As I report, as soon as Black Flag began their set they were pelted with all manner of food, cans, rocks; it was crazy! Even little kids were throwing things. Strangely, the local press blamed it all on the fans and friends of Black Flag, but we were the only ones behaving ourselves!

Dez and Robo were just horsing around, play-fighting here. But you can see some of the garbage that had been thrown at the band all over the stage.

This was also the day I first met Jeff and Steve McDonald. Strangely, I don't say anything about it though! Both Black Flag and the Tourists played another informal set at a party at the old church, their rehearsal studio in Hermosa Beach, where several people (Greg Ginn, Robo, Ron Reyes, Joe Nolte) also lived.

22 July 1979

I had gotten Magazine's new album the day before - it was so good!!!

Went with Dad to the concert in Polliwog Park. We ate fried chicken and drank wine. The Tourists were really good. Afterwards I saw Frankie and ran down to talk to people.

Big Wow were about how I'd expected. Too many fast covers.

This creep sitting in front of us was talking about punk rock - how punk rockers vomit on each other and eat their own feces and his mother goes, "I know - I watch the news!" (???!!!!)

Well, Black Flag came on and got bombarded. If only Dad wasn't there... I felt like killing those jocks and hippies who kept yelling "Led Zeppelin!!!" and throwing stuff, all kinds of stuff; I never saw anything like it! They stopped the show and the jerk MC says, "If you wanna hear more of Black Flag you're gonna have to stop throwing stuff." DUH!! Finally he said there'd be no more of Black Flag and they all cheered - but Black Flag came on and played some more!

Afterwards I did go up to some sick hippies and tell them to cut their hair. Later one was talking to me when I was looking at some photos and I didn't realize who it was at first and he was pretty nice but then he said something gross. [Must have been too gross to relate, darn it!]

The jerk MC introduced Eddie and the Subtitles (who were sorta better this time) as a new wave, not a punk, band. Lame!! Oh yeah, I forgot to say that I couldn't believe how many people were there when I arrived but half of them left when Black Flag came on.

Then Rod and Greg came! When I was standing there talking to them, some jock threw a beer can and it hit me in the head!! It was half full and really hurt - I got SO MAD!!!

Dad left. Greg tried to steal my other Crash Course badge. He was being such a pervert - kept trying to pull up my dress. I told him he laughed like a guinea pig and he wiped all my lipstick off on his jacket and hit me in the nose - he was just joking around but it hurt for hours!

Since he had already exposed me enough I did somersaults down the hill. It was fun.

Rod gave me a ride to the Black Flag party [at the old church in Hermosa Beach]. And Greg would not leave me alone!! He kept trying to kiss me. He opened the door while we were driving and Rod got really mad! Then he made me sit on his lap and asked what I wanted for Xmas - I said, "Not you!!"

We went in the church; in the hall I asked Greg for a sip of beer and he said he didn't owe me anything - that we had nothing between us. Then a minute later he tried to talk me into going into the bathroom with him. The creep!!!

The Old Church, when it was still a church in 1967