Dirk Dirksen Dies In His Sleep

Dirk Dirksen, a central figure in the punk rock community in the San Francisco Bay Area and beyond, has died. The immediate cause of death was not determined. According to several accounts, he died peacefully in his sleep on the night of November 19th.

Dirksen is perhaps best known for being a promoter and presenter at two seminal punk clubs, the Mabuhay Gardens and On Broadway, in San Francisco's North Beach entertainment district. He was born in Germany in 1937, and at an early age, moved to the United States, his family settling in southern California. He was also distantly related to the late Everett McKinley Dirksen (R-Ill), former Senate Minority Leader.

Ginger Coyote, lead singer of the White Trash Debutantes and publisher of Punk Globe, wrote:

"Dirk was a special human being. He introduced us all to Punk Rock at The Mabuhay Gardens in 1977 when he started promoting shows there. . .Throughout the years of knowing Dirk, I grew to love and respect him greatly.. Dirk was a member of my family. . .my Punk Rock Family. . .This Family was much closer to me than my blood family.. We cared and looked out for each other. Dirk did so much for so many. . . .
"People would contact him when someone was in trouble, sick or had passed away. Because he would be the person, who would always know what to do.... I am having problems dealing with the fact Dirk has really passed on and no longer with us . . . He was the voice of reason. . .
"Ruby Ray, had seen him on Sunday [the 19th] at a Mutants get together and he was enjoying himself and even dancing a bit. . .Kathy Peck [member of The Contractions, and close friend of Dirksen] said he had eaten a sandwich and seemed to be in a good mood before going to bed on the eve of November 19. Dirk passed away in his sleep with no lingering pain or complications."

A former business partner, Robert Moselle, with whom Dirk had formed a video production company, one of several Dirksen had been involved with, too, reported that he had spoke with Dirk just a couple of days ago, and he sounded well.

It is known, however, that Dirksen had been suffering from coronary artery disease for at least a decade.

The response in the music community has been one of shock, and also of fond memories. If Dirksen was not always portrayed with the most lovable persona at times in the media, it is true that he was certainly loved, and will be missed.

He is survived his sister Molly, and Theodora Ernst-Dirksen; by Damon Malloy, his life partner.

Plans for a memorial have not yet been announced. Check http://www.punkglobe.com/, sfgate.com [San Francisco Chronicle], and KUSF.org [USF college radio] for additional information.

Link to SF Chronicle obituary by Joel Selvin:

http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?
f=/c/a/2006/11/22/BAGCJMHQ8B1.DTL&hw=dirksen&sn=001&sc=1000f=/c/a/2006/11/22/BAGCJMHQ8B1.DTL&hw=dirksen&sn=001&sc=1000