To celebrate the diversity of the early-’80s San Diego underground (and shamelessly solicit contributions to Che Underground’s Related Bands page), here’s a double-decker salute to David “GI” Klowden, nimble navigator of the San Diego scene and keystone of 5051, the Mystery Machine and the Tell-Tale Hearts.
Side One: “El Salvador” from 5051’s 1981 seven-inch. David Klowden (vocals); Sam Topper (guitar); Squirrel Oberg (guitar); Scott Harber (bass); Joel Roop (drums)
Side Two: “She’s Not Mine,” recorded in 1983 by the Mystery Machine. Ray Brandes (vocals, tambourine); Carl Rusk (six-string Guild Starfire, 12-string Rickenbacker 370-12, vocals); Mark Zadarnowski (bass); Bill Calhoun (Vox Jaguar); David Klowden (blue Japanese Majestic drumset).
What a difference two years make!
Ahhhh- I love the 5051 stuff- always have. In my opinion this along with the BOS Fighting Boys Ep easily make up the best examples of clean, tight San Diego punk at that time.
First time I saw 5051 was at Adams Avenue theater, where Dave made rye comments about all us posers in the front slam dancing that early in the night (I think they may have been doing their sound check) and probably that late in the evolution of punk. I think that was early 1982.
I too am hugely impressed with how tight, fierce and focused 5051 sounds to these old ears. (Dave Fleminger recently digitized some of what Yours Truly sounded like at age 15 … I drowned it in the sink and buried it in the back yard!) 🙂
One of the coolest things about DK is that at age 13 he was a fully contributing member of the San Diego punk scene, helping to organize and promote shows, playing in bands and putting out records. When I met him around the end of ’82, he was already a veteran.
Dave gets very self-deprecating about his drumming, and from what he tells me, pretended to play drums so that he could be in a band with us. The truth is, Dave may not have been a stellar musician at first, but in the Tell-Tale Hearts, with the exception of Eric, none of us could play worth a shit anyway. It was more about the sound, and Dave had that down on the first day. And while he still is a bit shy to toot his own horn, he’s become one of the best drummers I’ve ever played with.
who can digitize “target of insanity”. I beg of you, someone.
Dave was a true friend and just a blast to hang out with. I remember looking through every pepsi bottle in the liquor store on 24th and adams for the old logo style bottles to make a six pack to go. Watching Bonzo dog doo dah band video clips that first circulated 85 ish when he met Dave the video guy (who now runs Reeling in the years production company, who source most of the vintage clips you see on vh1 and other documentaries).
Doo DAH indeed.
Dave writes for CITY BEAT as DA kolidinko (SP), so all you out of towners can catch up on Dave;s creative interests online. City beat is the competition for the local SD Reader.
01.5051_TargetOfInsanity.mp3
Thanks Toby! that made my day!
We like happy campers!
Is that the same Mystery Machine that Rocket From The Crypt covered on 5″ vinyl?
5051 (Be My Friend Zine Spring 1982)
Bigger photo:
http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3254/2403656817_4c02e63dd4_o.jpg
Hey Dave K! Long time no see.
Can you guys believe this, Dave Klowden and I went to elementary school together. We met in the sixth grade! We used to walk home together and plan all sorts of subversive things we were going to do in our lives. And we did them too.
5 ” Vinyl ! Really ? ! Is that really a format ? Wow.
I am also a survivor of the Slow Death punk scene.
I did some interning with Tim Mays (Maze back then) when it was still Dead or Alive presents. I mostly hung out with Bobby Lane (does tattoos in SD now), was more of a comic artist back then. I introduced myself to him at High School after someone gave me a tape of Black Flag at the North Parks Lion Club from a few nights earlier. I still have this recording BTW. Bobby knew Squirrel some how and that is how I came to know 5051.
I had a car and did not live far from “The mod house” where Chris Smith, George Nutron, Jeff the Mod, and Tims partner in Dead or Alive )I can’t recall his name, Lee maybe?). So I hung out there a lot.
I think I saw every 5051 gig. I was at the show at the Headquarters w/ the Red Rockers, and the trouble was they booked that heavy metal band Kaos between 5051 and RR. That is was caused all the trouble.
A few months later, after Dead or Alive became Tim Maze Presents… I went to work at the Headquarters and did some punk shows in between all the Ska cover bands.
Shattered Faith, Social D, The Salvation Army/3 o’clock, and 11 Sons (Jeff the Mod was in this band).
The thing that would help David put a name to the face is….
In 1984-85 I had moved to Springfield MO, and Daves’ new band had come to play the grand opening of a club that was owned by a friend
and I came out to the show and we talked for an hour or so before the show.