Mmrothenberg | The Che Underground

Tell us about your first time!

March 29, 2019March 20, 2008 by Mmrothenberg

What was the very first bona-fide rock-‘n’-roll gig you ever played? Mine was with future Noise 292 guitarist David Rives and Hannes Kling (big brother of Noise 292 percussionist Wendell) in early 1980 — at a chili cook-off in the University of San Diego gym.

We played at the end of the bill; the school administrator/MC stopped us after two songs to announce the cook-off winners (compelling drummer Chris Gessel to play rolls throughout the awards); and then everybody packed up their chili and fled the building. By the time we finished our set (with “Twist and Shout”!), kids were playing basketball in the empty gym.

How rockin’ were your formative gigs?

Presidio Park

March 27, 2019February 18, 2008 by Mmrothenberg

Here’s a picture Harold Gee took of Wendell and me at Presidio Park. According to some notes I posted to my personal blog, Harold took this while Sergio and I were serenading a group of skinheads. (I remember the kid in the picture telling me how much his mom liked Donovan.)

This was the summer of ’84, when we spent almost every night at Balboa or Presidio Park. What are your fondest memories of our evenings al fresco?

(BTW, I’d like to get in touch with Mr. Gee ASAP to find out if he’s got more photos of our crowd. Is anyone in contact with him? Lovely guy.)

Noise 292/Hair Theatre?/Answers?? at the Che

October 19, 2018February 16, 2008 by Mmrothenberg

Help me reconstruct the back story on these photos, which come from a set of snapshots I’m betting were taken on Nov. 17, 1983, when Noise 292 played the Che with Hair Theatre and 11 Sons. Near as I can make out, Jeff Lowe is playing bass with Hair Theater that night, while Dave Fleminger is drumming for Noise 292 … Or was this a show when Sergio was fronting the Answers?

Oh! And Jeff and I seem to be playing the same bass in these pictures … Was that his? ‘Twasn’t mine or Kristin’s.

Ack! Kicking the tires …

January 1, 2011February 16, 2008 by Mmrothenberg

Things that confuse me so far about this blog:

1. It looks like I needed to approve you guys’ comments to make them appear. I’d like to skip that pre-approval step in the interest of faster gratification.

2. I don’t know why the first post was dated May 2007??

3. Has anybody registered successfully yet? I just talked to Cole onna phone, and he was going to try.

4. I’d like to tart up the appearance, but I haven’t figured out how to upload themes.

Welcome to the Che Underground!

April 21, 2012February 16, 2008 by Mmrothenberg

This site and blog will be the gathering spot for us to assemble the inside story on the vibrant scene that flowered in San Diego around 1983 and 1984 and performed many of its most crucial shows at UCSD’s Che Cafe.

This “Che Underground” encompassed the varied sounds of the Answers, Hair Theatre, Noise 292, the Rockin’ Dogs, and the original and definitive Wallflowers. It spawned collaborations and friendships that have lasted a quarter-century. But it produced few artifacts and monuments, since the participants were frankly too busy enjoying the creative milieu to document it systematically.

We plan to change that. Welcome to the Che Underground!