924 Gilman Street
The Alternative Music Foundation located at 924 Gilman Street, often referred to simply as "Gilman", is a non-profit,[1] all-ages, collectively organized music club. It is located in the West Berkeley area of Berkeley, California.
Gilman is mostly associated with being the springboard for the '90s punk revival led by bands like Green Day, Operation Ivy, Rancid, AFI, and The Offspring.
Gilman showcases mostly punk rock, specifically pop punk and hardcore punk acts, as well as heavy metal, industrial metal, grindcore, ska punk and, most recently, hip hop.
Music[edit]
Gilman showcases mostly punk rock, running the gamut from hardcore punk and grindcore to pop punk and ska punk, including as well industrial metal and, most recently, hip hop.
Bands with major label contracts, including AFI, The Offspring, and Green Day, are only allowed to play the club when membership approves that individual show,[21] a policy that enabled Green Day to play at Gilman again at least twice since they signed with a major label.[22] Many of the other bands which have played the club in the past are now defunct. The venue still serves the East Bay and Northern California hardcore scene by bringing local, national, and international acts to the East Bay.
A 2004 history of the club, 924 Gilman: The Story So Far, was written and edited by Brian Edge, who collected memories and anecdotes from many of the seminal contributors to the club's day-to-day operations from 1986 through publication in 2004.[23] The book is available through AK Press and also contains a full list of Gilman's shows from 1986 through early 2004.
Jello Biafra incident[edit]
On May 7, 1994, an incident occurred in which former Dead Kennedys singer Jello Biafra was assaulted and injured. A group of rough slam dancers in the pit had been crashing into audience members.[24] In the process one of these individuals, said to be a man using the punk rock name "Cretin," knocked Biafra into a chair, with another rolling over his legs, causing serious damage to one knee and leg.[24] Biafra is said to have yelled an epithet at the individual who crashed into him and demanded that he produce identification so that he could be billed for whatever hospital costs would ensue.[24] A fight ensued, during which Biafra is said to have been knocked to the floor and held down, where he was kicked in the head by "Cretin."[24] During the incident others are said to have taunted Biafra, yelling "rich rock star" and "sellout."[24]
Police were called but "Cretin" and his friends escaped the premises in a van bearing Arizona plates.[24] Biafra was hospitalized, where it was determined that he suffered detached ligaments and a broken leg.[24] Biafra was also forced to cancel a scheduled spoken word tour as a result of the injuries he suffered.[24] Biafra held Maximumrocknroll indirectly responsible for the incident, claiming that his assailants were repeating allegations that he was a "rich rock star" made in a column which had recently appeared in the magazine.[24]
