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rcsi1 — Gilman Group Shot
Published: 2007-09-07 05:59:34 +0000 UTC; Views: 952; Favourites: 18; Downloads: 23
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Description
Edit: After spending a year and a half working at 924 Gilman, I now realize that this drawing is missing many key individuals and bands in Gilman St. History. The people in this drawing only breach the surface. To find out more about Gilman and all the people involved, check out "924 Gilman" complied by Brian Edge or just come to Gilman yourself.This is what happens when you listen to AFI's "The Weight Of Words," The Horrorpops' "Bring It On," Tim Armstrong's "A Poet's Life," and Green Day's "Warning" back to back.
Some of the many young musicians who came to Berkeley, California from as close as San Francisco to as far as Denmark to perform at 924 Gilman St. in the 1990s. They developed a close community and a bond so strong that it followed them as they continued into their music careers. Some became globaly aclaimed as they signed to major labels while others became heroes of the indie scene. The one thing they all shared were those ten years at a little run down club in Berkeley, CA: 924 Gilman St.
From left:
Tim Armstrong of Rancid and Op. Ivy (with the mohawk)
Davey Havok of AFI, Son Of Sam and later Blaqk Audio (who looks like his eye is a black hole but he's supposed to be winking)
Billie Joe Armstrong of Green Day and later The Network
Nick 13 of Tiger Army
Patricia Day of The Horrorpops
Kim Nekroman of Nekromantix and The Horrorpops (AAAAAAAAAAAAH! I made his hair too big!)
Fat Mike of NOFX
I didn't have any ref pics at the time I drew this so it's all from memory. I hope you can at least sort-of tell who they are XD.
Copics on printer paper.
Rancid, Tiger Army, The Horrorpops, Nekromantix and NOFX (c) Epitaph/HellCat/Fat Wreak Chords/*insert other Epitaph subdivision here*
AFI (c) Interscope
Green Day (c) Reprise
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Comments: 29
Yeah. I've been a stage manager there for a year and I'm training to be a coordinator now.
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i always wanted to go there , can you describe what its like to go there work there, and can you explain what DIY is?, btw im really sorry to bother you with all these questions... i really like all the punk bands who used to play there and i just wanted to know more about the gilman..
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It's different for everyone. The experience of just going to shows is usually amazing but it depends on the night. Sometimes, it can be unpleasant when there are drunk jerks doing what drunk jerks do but it's usually great. It also depends on the kind of music you like.
There are different levels of work one can do. Anyone can work the door for half of the show which varies in difficulty depending on how many people show up. Anyone can also work the side door (which is used for a loading dock for the bands) and make sure only bands enter. That job also varies in difficulty depending on the crowd. You can clean up after the show too, which is always appreciated. I personally found working those jobs very gratifying mostly because I love the club and want to feel like I'm helping.
Once you do jobs like that on a relatively regular basis (I usually try to go once a week) the staff will let you train to be a stage manager. Basically, the stage manager makes sure all the bands get on and off on time. That's a relatively hard job usually but it can be easy if the bands behave. (I love it when Ramones-like bands get on, play 25 songs in half an hour and get off. Both because it's easy to stage manage and because it's a very classic punk thing...not to mention that those bands are a lot of fun.) The hardest part of that job is keeping calm. I tend to freak out a lot if we're running late. I've really got to work on that.
After you've been a stage manager for a while, you can train for a staff position (the staff don't get paid except for the security guards but they get in free every night, even nights they don't work, plus they get keys to the club). You can train to book shows (learn how to contact bands, negotiate how they'll be paid, etc.), to be a security guard (making sure nobody gets hurt, stopping fights, keeping people from bringing drugs and alcohol into the club, etc.) or to be a coordinator, which is what I'm doing. The coordinator appoints people to work each show and manages most of the money made on each show. Thursday night shows get the smallest turnout usually so trainees start their training on Thursdays usually. After that, they usually move on to Sundays before finally being able to work Fridays and Saturdays.
Each department has a head. Our heads are the executive director (in charge of business issues and other club issues that don't have to do with the shows themselves) a head of security, a head coordinator, a head booker, a head of promotion (also called the flyer coordinator) and a head of clean up and maintenance.
As for DIY, it stands for "do it yourself". I think that part is pretty straightforward. It means a lot of different things to different people. It can mean anything from booking a show yourself to making your own clothes and a bunch of different things. Because punk was trying to get away from the mainstream, there was a lot of different DIY stuff happening during the early years of the punk moment. That's why it's often associated with punk (though it applies to any situation where you do things yourself, not just punk).
I hope that helps. Is there anything else you'd like to know?
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thank you so so so much, btw as i know it billie joe and mike used to work there as security guards now i get why, and do you know who desings the flyers for shows?
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It depends on the show. The shows for the next three months are written on white boards in the office. You can choose a show, ask the booker if you can make a flyer for it and if they're okay with it, you can do it. Sometimes it will get rejected but usually it won't. I've even done a few flyers myself.
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You have great taste in music 
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Wow, I had no idea they had that past connection. There are so many things to learn from your art! =]
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Ahhh . . . good times, good times. Gilman St. was like the CBGBs of California, or rather Berkeley, California.
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yeah. i agree completely
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why did i suddenly think of fanfiction?....*shakes head* anyway, cool piece
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fan art, fanfiction, same diff XD
and thanks
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thanks SOOOOOOOOOooo much
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yayz!!!!!!!!!!!!
btw check out this user [link] her gallery will knock your socks off
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and no problem my dear! its my pleasure!!
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i'm listening to the new Tiger Army album, right now.
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