Skeleton Club vs. SDPD: The trial of Laura Fraser

Photo of Laura Fraser and Harold Gee, 1979A fabulous gift arrived just arrived for Che Underground: The Blog, and ultimately the San Diego Punk Archive!

Skeleton Club founder Laura Devlin (née Fraser) sent along a trove of photos, flyers, ‘zines and other ephemera of the San Diego punk scene in the late ’70s.

“I painted that sign myself, with some leftover house paint.” (Photo D. Reutter)

Her contribution comprises many posts’ worth of seminal rock-‘n’-roll history. Today, we’ll start with Laura’s own account of the rise and fall of the  Skeleton Club (which operated from 1978 to 1980 at 202 Market St., then 921 Fourth Ave.). Her tale illustrates the resistance, corruption and downright brutality San Diego music pioneers faced from the authorities at the turn of the ’80s.

Were you there for the Skeleton Club’s last night — or at the subsequent trial? Tell us about it in the comments below! 

Laura Devlin writes: A little bit of my personal history: In 1977, I was a nursing student at San Diego State, living with my boyfriend Greg Willis, bass player for the beloved Glory band. Greg was a wonderful man and helped me with the Skeleton Club, along with many other people.

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Glory reunited!

Glory on the beachReaders of Che Underground: The Blog who thrilled to Ray Brandes’ history of Glory will have an extraordinary chance to see the legendary San Diego band in action.

Glory (which dissolved in 1978 after a storied 11-year run) will reunite on May 26 to raise funds for the California Music Project and raise funds for music education in public schools. The event will feature Glory alumni Jerry Raney, Jack Butler and Jack Pinney as well as their current musical projects: the Farmers, Private Domain and Modern Rhythm, respectively.

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