Former Location –
Creedence Clearwater Revival played their first gig here when it was called New Monk. When the owner of the Keystone Korner in San Francisco took it over in 1972, he renamed it Keystone Berkeley.
Many famous acts played here including Van Morrison, The Doobie Brothers, Tower of Power, John Cale, the Greg Kihn Band, The Talking Heads, Metallica, Canned Heat and Michael Bloomfield.
Jerry Garcia played the Keystone Berkeley in excess of 200 times between 1972 and 1984, more then any other venue he played at as a solo artist or with The Jerry Garcia Band or of course, The Grateful Dead.
Notable Concerts Played At Keystone Berkeley:
7/2/1984 – Greg Kihn Band
6/30/1984 – Dead Kennedys
6/29/1984 – The Plimsouls
5/9/1984 – Blue Cheer
4/12/1984 – The Blasters
5/22/1984 – Jerry Garcia Band
2/18/1984- Jorma Kaukonen
2/5/1984 – Chuck Berry
12/30/1983 – John Lee Hooker
9/2/1983 – Metallica
6/20/1983 – R.E.M
5/21/1983 – Ronnie Spector
2/13/1983 – Iggy Pop
9/5/1981 – Muddy Waters
8/22/1981 – Sam & Dave
11/12/1980 – Oingo Boingo
9/12/1980 – Tower of Power
4/22/1977 – Captain Beefheart & His Magic Band
Keystone Berkeley
2119 University Avenue
Berkeley CA 94704
What happened to Jack and Bruce, the original owners?
I heard Herbie Hancock with the band that had Bennie Maupin, and had just released “Thrust.”
I saw Joe Satriani play there with a band called The Squares.
saw it too! a very exuberant Joe Satriani
i was in the group…The Tow Away Zone…..that opened that venue. we had played at la vals then at the swiss village in s.f. it was us wed-sat and The Cleveland Wrecking Co sun. mon., tues.left our stuff on stage and some group with a funky name, credence clearwater something or other stacked it up on the dance floor. pricks lol. anyway thats my story and im stickin’ with it.best wishes….pihl franks
REM played their first local shows back to back at the SF and Berkeley locations. saw both!