New Wave Outpost Forum

I'm trying to date a Rodney on the ROQ recording. Thru the whole recording, all he says about dates are "next wednesday" or "next friday". But, he does talk about "the great new club, Madam Wong's, which just opened last week" - wow! Admission...$2.50! Hah! Anyone know their SoCal history and know when Madam Wong's opened? I've got zilch on google.

[quote]Originally posted by Blir
[br]I'm trying to date a Rodney on the ROQ recording. Thru the whole recording, all he says about dates are "next wednesday" or "next friday". But, he does talk about "the great new club, Madam Wong's, which just opened last week" - wow! Admission...$2.50! Hah! Anyone know their SoCal history and know when Madam Wong's opened? I've got zilch on google.
[/quote]

from her obituary:

"The native of China originally booked Polynesian bands to play at her restaurant, but when hardly anyone showed up to hear them she decided to take a chance on rock acts. Almost overnight in 1978, hundreds of people began showing up at her Chinatown restaurant to hear the new sounds, and she opened a Madame Wong's West in Santa Monica that same year."

so the year is 1978- as for the rest....

found this in a LA punk gigography

Skin, The Plugz
- Madame Wongs, October 1978

http://www.flipsidefanzine.com/Liveshowhome.html

Much thanks Schwenko. My guess would have been '78, but there's surprisingly little documentation about Madam Wong's. A shame. Also a shame I didn't have a car in '78...coulda caught those early Plugz and Mystic Knights of the Oingo Boingo shows.

Saw mucho bands at Madame Wong's and her 'West' location... the original was on Broadway in Chinatown, near downtown LA. Schwenko and I actually drove by the old Chinatown location, although he didn't know it, and I didn't say anything.



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