(An introduction to Miss Kristi Maddocks’ Madison Avenue Memoirs.)
Author’s note: No one ever forgets their first apartment. In my case, very few people will ever forget mine.
My first apartment was a little one-bedroom in-law apartment adjacent to a Craftsman-style home at 1427 Madison Ave., San Diego, near Park and University. This place was centrally located to a number of highway inlets, namely the Texas Street intersection to Highway 8.
From here, I could easily reach work at La Jolla Pannikin in 30 minutes or less in my little white Rabbit called Echo (after the Bunnymen, of course). Better yet, the Madison Avenue Apartment was near downtown San Diego and the heart of the psychedelic, post-mod music scene. Many of us who attended punk and mod shows as young teenagers were becoming young adults, exploring our options in life and discovering who we really are. At the Madison Avenue flat I took my first steps into independence and a deep exploration of my burgeoning creativity.
Here I lived with my first roommate Cathy Bozzo. Following a fallout with her, Michelle Krone moved in; followed by the gay duo of Keith & Jeff; and finally, Leighton Koizumi. Needless to say, the doors were always open, and we often hosted late-night parties following gigs and shows. Countless hipsters passed through that tiny door! And from the very beginning of the Madison Ave. days, I felt I was part of something special — both creatively and culturally. I was astounded by the personalities and talent around me, and I was preoccupied by the feelings within me. … So I started to bind a collection of flyers, drawings, poems and other forms of documentation into a visual diary-with the intent that I may one day write a book or share my memories with others. … I hope you enjoy this series of excerpts from my Madison Avenue Memoirs, and the stories that the documents, drawings and pictures will tell.
Document Found: A snapshot of an evening at John Murphy’s Park Avenue Apartment
While looking through my visual diary from 1985, I came across a neat little document.
This snapshot of time was scribbled in black ink on yellow legal pad, with each contributor’s own unique handwriting. Hopefully no one is misquoted or perturbed that I added this to the Che Underground blog, but it was too classic to keep to myself.
FAMOUS QUOTES FROM DARK SAN DIEGO ALLEYS, SWEATY REHEARSAL SPACES, AND DIRTY APARTMENTS — June or July 1985
1. “GIRLS ARE FOR FAGS” – Mike Stax
2. “Only a fag would want to go out with a girl” – Bill Calhoun
3. “What key is ‘You’re the Victor’ in?”– Bill C
4. “Don’t worry, it’s only a paper moon.” – Bobby Lane
5. “Am I Evil?” – Metallica
6. “If I hear that song one more time I think I’m going to spit” – Cindy (Jaynes?)
7. “A quote is, a quote is, a quote is a quote is a quote.” – Bill
8. “You’re not war, says Gandhi” – Keith
9. “ I hope that was just gunpowder!” – Bobby
10. “You’re all just a bunch of well-dressed punks!” – David Wallflower
11. “Shut up Murphy – I’ve got to get to sleep!” – Cindy
12. “Otis the Falcon Woman says, ‘Hi, goofballs.’ ” – Kristi
13. “TELL MURPHY NOT TO GET WORRIED, IT’S TAKEN CARE OF” – Thad
14. “Kristi should be my personal secretary” – Murphy
15. “MURPHY-DEAR, THE DAY THAT I BECOME YOUR PERSONAL SECRETARY IS THE DAY YOU’RE PRESIDENT AND I’M (CLEVERLY) GOVERNING THE NATION.” – Kristi
16. “Listen, listen, listen! There’s one thing you gotta understand…” – Thad
17. “NO! NO! I CAN’T THINK. IT’S 2:30 IN THE MORNING. I CAN’T THINK RIGHT NOW. ALL I CARE ABOUT IS MY BLUE UNDERWEAR AND MY GROWING FONDNESS OF THIS GREEN THING CALLED A BASS” – Michelle Krone
18. “ No, no, no! I didn’t say that! Fuck you!” – Michelle
— Kristi Maddocks