Image via wikipedia
Former Location –
Mabuhay Gardens was originally built as an Italian men’s club in 1919, complete with a gym, boxing ring, and private social/supper club space.
Also known as The Mab and The Fab Mab, this was one of the hot spots for the early punk rock movement with many of the early bands playing here, later metal bands played here as well. Some of the bands that rocked the house are:
Blondie, the Go-Go’s, Dead Boys, Devo, The Dead Kennedys, Flipper, Romeo Void, Black Flag, The Dictators, The Nuns, The Offs, The Mutants, The Avengers, The Damned, Iggy Pop, The Ramones, D.O.A., The Screamers, Minutemen, DRI, Redd Kross, JFA, Blind Illusion, Anvil Chorus, Megadeth, Metallica, and Death Angel and The Ramones.
Notable Concerts Held Here Include:
2/6/1988 – Soundgarden
7/4/1985 – Dead Kennedys
9/6/1985 – Social Distortion
5/14/1982 – Chris Isaak
11/20/1981 – Black Flag
2/16/1980 – The Go-Go’s
5/27/1978 – DEVO
The Mabuhay Gardens closed in 1988.
Mabuhay Gardens
435-443 Broadway
San Francisco CA 94133
The Police played at Mabuhay regularly, in the police uniforms until they couldn’t, with Blondie a lot.
I think 1976 Halloween it was The Ramones, Blondie and The Police. Great party.
I was a regular for 3 years
I remember that. I also remember Whoopi Goldberg and Robin Williams. I was in my early teens and my uncle Ness Aquino owned The Mab and his son Troy, my other cousin Tommy (his father Charles was the Chef) would let us hang out on non-school nights. Thank you for the memories.
we used to hit Broadway every weekend for the shows at the Mab and the stone across the st. saw Metallica there and hung out with them for a few at some little sit down joint across from the Mab. (burrito shop?) anyways was asking about them touring and whatnot …I looked to my right and Cliff was drawing a killer skull scene on the sleeve of my army jacket…..I had that jacket for years before it got stolen from me……it was awesome. I ended up seeing them 12 times….
My ex husband was a manager there during the Crime and Ramone days… Brintley Black, Dave Blacks son was his roommate…. quite the era. What a place.