Image Via L.A. Times
Former Location –
Originally a restaurant built in the early 1920’s, the Golden Bear became one of the primary Orange County destinations in the 1960’s to hear up and coming groups.
Via Professor Poster
On March 24, 1983 The Dinosaurs, a San Francisco Bay Area super group played here before playing at the Country Club in Reseda the next night. The band consisted of Peter Albin of Big Brother and the Holding Company, John Cipollina of Quicksilver Messenger Service, Papa John Creach of Hot Tuna, Spencer Dryden of Jefferson Airplane, Robert Hunter of the Grateful Dead, Barry Melton of Country Joe and The Fish and keyboardist Merl Saunders from the Saunders-Garcia Band.
Other Notable Concerts At The Golden Bear Include:
1/29/1986 – Robin Trower
10/26/1985 – Greg Kihn Band
9/27/1985 – Fishbone
6/28/1985 – David Lindley & El Rayo-X
4/12/1985 – The Gregg Allman Band
3/22/1985 – Los Lobos
⅓/1985 – Red Hot Chili Peppers
4/8/1984 – John Mayall & the Bluesbreakers
3/1/1984 – The Band
11/25/1983 – Hot Tuna
8/23/1983 – Stevie Ray Vaughan and Double Trouble
5/12/1983 -Renaissance
1/20/1983 – Berlin
12/18/1992 – Poco
4/7/1982 – Tower of Power
3/8/1982 – Mountain
1/22/1982 – John Kay & Steppenwolf
11/10/1979 – Country Joe and the Fish
5/29/1978 – McGuinn, Clark & Hillman
12/13/1977 – Talking Heads
2/27/1977 – Flo & Eddie
12/11/1970 – Spirit
4/5/1970 – Seals & Crofts
1/17/1970 – The Flying Burrito Brothers
4/12/1969 – The Paul Butterfield Blues Band
3/14/1969 – Delaney & Bonnie
7/20/1968 – Ten Years After
3/24/1968 – Quicksilver Messenger Service
2/18/1968 – Arlo Guthrie
12/23/1967 – The Seeds
12/17/1967 – The Byrds
9/16/1967 – Vanilla Fudge
6/13/1964 – Ian & Sylvia
Robin Trower played the last show there on Jan. 29, 1986, and it was demolished some months later.
The Golden Bear
306 Pacific Coast Highway
Huntington Beach CA 92648
I remember seeing Flo & Eddie (Howard Kaylan and Mark Volman, formerly of the Turtles and Frank Zappa and the Mothers of Invention fame) perform there in the mid-to-late 70’s. Awesome show! They did all the old Turtles classics and a few more obscure numbers that were equally entertaining. These guys could sing!!!
I saw David Lindley at the Golden Bear multiple times
A great venue, especially considering its size. At the Golden Bear I experienced Ten Years After and, later on, Maria Muldaur. Bring it back, is what I say!
I saw Ten Years After there — they exploded the boards off the place.
Golden Bear t-shirts and mugs available at zazzle.
https://www.zazzle.com/collections/the_golden_bear_huintington_beach-119365095324180034
The location of Jo Jo Gunne’s first live shows in 1971. Long live Rock!
I saw The Red Hot Chili Peppers at The Golden Bear in 1984, I was barely 18 and had the time of my life that night!
Did The Eagles and Linda Ronstadt perform at the Golden Bear?
I saw Linda Ronstadt at the Golden Bear in 1971 on a Sunday night!
Thanks for solving my mystery! I knew I was there but, couldn’t find the concert
listed anywhere.
I remember her barefoot on stage and that powerful voice. Glad to have experienced Linda Ronstadt along with a couple of Eagles (who new?) Up close in a local nightclub venue. It was the 70’s we were just starting our 20’s and a great time for live music. Cheaper too!
I’ve been to several of their arena concerts in the 90’s but, the Golden Bear
was still the best.
Does anyone recall when Honk was there?
I saw her perform at the Golden Bearn in 1975; forget the date/day… that was a long time ago.
Sat about 10 feet from the stage.
I was born in 1992 so I’m younger than you old people, but I was born and raised in OC and still live here. My mom was born and raised in OC and was a teen in the 70s and told me about this place. It’s now a bunch of stores right across from the beach. I think it closed a few years before I was born
Saw B.T.O. at the Golden Bear in 84′ or 85′. Wish we had digital cameras back then. We took no pictures.
BTO was there october 7th and 8th 1985.I still have the ticket stubs
Saw Hoyt Axton a time or two. Ian and Silvia. A fabulous set with Jose Feliciano.
Good to know that they are using the “Golden Bear ” name in vain as they were the ones who tore it down after paying off a crooked lawyer who was supposed to be the attorney for the venue
Did anyone see Pages (Richard Page) at the Golden Bear? I think I did but can’t remember what year it was.
CAN ANYONE TELL ME IF JANIS EVER PLAYED THERE
Golden Bear! My fave club ever! Saw Tom Robinson, Talking Heads, Jorma Kaukonen, Tom Waits, Jesse Winchester, John Stewart, Ramones, Captain Beefheart etc and most amazing of all, Peter Gabriel. Missed BB King and other greats who played there.