Opening Kings Road Cafe

Detail: Kings Road Cafe opening party flyer (collection Jason Seibert)Jason Seibert’s generous donation of early-’80s San Diego flyers offers a prime opportunity to open discussion of the Kings Road Cafe (née the International Blend), a small venue that played an enormous role in fostering and showcasing an eclectic mix of bands.

Detail: International Blend flyer, Dec. 22, 1981 (collection Jason Seibert)The Seibert Collection represents a slice of life at Kings Road in the summer of 1982, starting in June when the club morphed from the I-Blend under the management of Peter “English” Verbrugge. Other artifacts, including a July 1982 calendar (with membership card offer!), highlight the variety of performers that visited 4034 30th St. that summer, both San Diego regulars and up-and-coming out-of-towners.

Detail: Kings Road Cafe flyer, June 25, 1982 (art by Bobby Lane, collection Jason Seibert)Detail: Kings Road Cafe July 1982 calendar (collection Jason Seibert)Detail: Kings Road Cafe flyer, July 3, 1982 (art by Clayton Colgin, collection Jason Seibert)Detail: Kings Road Cafe flyer, July 9, 1982 (art by Clayton Colgin, collection Jason Seibert)Detail: Kings Road Cafe flyer, July 31, 1982 (art by Bobby Lane, collection Jason Seibert)

 

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Saving Bobby Lane

Detail: Dead Kennedys/Raw Power flyer (collection Kristen Tobiason)The Che Underground flyer collection is overdue in giving credit to Bobby Lane, one of the greats of San Diego rock-‘n’-roll graphics. While I hope we can open a complete (and pristine) Bobby Lane Wing in our online gallery, I like the personal history behind these two well-loved examples, courtesy of Kristen Tobiasen.

Detail: Minor Threat/Husker Du/Skullbusters flyer (collection Kristen Tobiason)“What flyer gallery would be complete without the art of Bobby Lane?” Kristen writes. “Probably the most ‘iconic’ of San Diego punk flyer artists, definitely the most prolific. Years before I ever met him, I remember seeing his flyers posted around.

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The Che Underground