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Los Angeles Punk Pioneer and Author Brendan Mullen Dies at 60

Brendan Mullen, a hugely influential figure in the Los Angeles punk scene of the late '70s and early '80s, died Monday after suffering a stroke at the age of 60, according to the Los Angeles Times. As the owner of famed venue the Masque, Mullen provided the stage for the first shows for a who's who of L.A. punk bands, including X, the Dickies, Fear and the Go-Go's.

Originally from Scotland, Mullen moved from London to L.A. in 1973. He opened the venue in 1977 on Hollywood Boulevard after reportedly looking for a spot to bang his own drum, and bells, gongs, and other percussion instruments. Though the club only lasted until '79, it became a part of L.A. lore, also hosting the Dead Kennedys, the Germs, and the Weirdos during its memorable two-year run.

After the club's demise, Mullen became a fixture in the L.A. music community, going onto DJ and book gigs at Club Lingerie and the Variety Arts Center. As impressive as the list of acts who played the Masque is, those he went on to book in subsequent years would make the greatest festival lineup of all time, including Hole, Guns 'N' Roses, Husker Du, Jane's Addiction, Black Flag, Sonic Youth and more. He also could lay claim to introducing L.A. to R.E.M., Soundgarden, the Replacements and the Flaming Lips, bringing all of them in for their debut L.A. gigs.

In later years Mullen turned his attention to chronicling and archiving the L.A. punk world, writing about his own history and that of the scene helped bring to life in 'Live at the Masque: Nightmare in Punk Alley,' 'We Got the Neutron Bomb,' an oral history of Jane's Addiction called 'Whores' and 'Lexicon Devils,' about the Germs.

He is survived by his companion, Kateri Butler, and three sisters. Plans for funeral services are pending.

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fan of the nose

There are moments in history that go by so fast and we don't often appreciate their importance until much later. Brendan was integral in promoting the modern punk music scene in Los Angeles and later chronicling that scene and the lives of the musicians within it. As one who came after this historic artistic period, I appreciate his life's work as archivist and his ultimate love of music as art. I am so happy to see he made it onto the AOL feed today.

October 13 2009 at 7:58 PM Report abuse rate up rate down Reply
Greg

Well, that is what I said when Reagan and Nixon died. I am sure I would say it if I knew you died, too, but oh well.

October 13 2009 at 7:42 PM Report abuse rate up rate down Reply
bill

Wrong headline. Should say - Punk reaches age 60 and dies.

October 13 2009 at 7:35 PM Report abuse rate up rate down Reply
jkmhcc

Starting w/ Lou Reed punk was born in NYC. I never knew of him, but Brendan Mullen must have been a decent guy opening a club for the bands to play, and some great bands they were!!! RIP Brendan and godspeed.

October 13 2009 at 7:20 PM Report abuse rate up rate down Reply
Rog

Been a punk for 33years now !
and a conservitive for the past 20 !
Those of you who think punk is only leftist and commies , Got news for you !
It started out of boredom nothing political about it !
Till the Clash and Crass came along !

October 13 2009 at 7:16 PM Report abuse rate up rate down Reply
steve

im so sorry, he will be missed, and who is he...?

October 13 2009 at 7:05 PM Report abuse rate up rate down Reply
rannarleaf

ROCK ON ! ROCK IN PEACE ! WE'RE SO PRETTY !

October 13 2009 at 6:40 PM Report abuse rate up rate down Reply
Michael

the man that gave The GoGo's a place to perform and so many others. Music of my generation that I love!

October 13 2009 at 6:30 PM Report abuse rate up rate down Reply
Johnny

Thats, the problem with world to many heartless people. oneday will be be dead. heartless people.

October 13 2009 at 6:21 PM Report abuse rate up rate down Reply
Rico

He died when he was 60 years---that must be ancient for a Punk dude or the world record so far. He chronicilied the history of the punk scene in LA which leads me to ask "what were sales like for these books". Well, we all have our dreams and with all due respect---RIP.

October 13 2009 at 6:15 PM Report abuse rate up rate down Reply