The Masque was L.A.'s first dedicated punk rock club – a tiny, grungy basement space in Hollywood. Opened by promoter Brendan Mullen in 1977, The Masque quickly became the nucleus of the Los Angeles punk scene. Though its official lifespan was very short, its impact was enormous – virtually every early LA punk band played there or rehearsed there.
Often referred to as "the birthplace of LA punk." It was the first venue that allowed the emerging punk bands a regular place to play in L.A. Bands like X, The Germs, The Screamers, The Weirdos, The Dils, The Bags all made their mark at The Masque in late '77. All-ages, raw, and artist-friendly (Mullen charged $1 or $2 entry and often let bands rehearse for free). The walls were famously covered in graffiti by the scene's artists – which still exists preserved to this day in that basement. Official public life was only about 5 months. First show August 18, 1977 (Weirdos headlined), shut down by LA fire marshal in January 1978 for safety/code reasons. Continued unofficially as rehearsal space and for private parties in 1978. Mullen organized two "Masque Benefit" concerts in February 1978 at the Elk's Lodge to raise legal funds; those turned into notorious punk riots. The Masque space briefly reopened in late 1978 for a few gigs (Masque II) but nothing sustained.
São Paulo, Brazil
Los Angeles, United States
Buenos Aires, Argentina
São Paulo, Brazil
Los Angeles, United States
Buenos Aires, Argentina
We're collecting stories from musicians who performed at The Masque