Punk Rock Turns 50: Flipper and Friends to Headline Historic Anniversary Celebration at Mabuhay Gardens and On Broadway

SAN FRANCISCO, CA — On Saturday, February 28, 2026, San Francisco’s counter-culture history returns to its birthplace to mark a historic milestone: the 50th anniversary of punk rock in the city and the legacy of the venue where it all began.

Co-presented by Radio Valencia in association with SF Music Week and co-produced by Steve DePace (Flipper) and Michael Rosenberg (John Hell of Radio Valencia).

The legendary Mabuhay Gardens (The “Fab Mab”) and On Broadway (435 Broadway) will host “Flipper and Friends: A Celebration of 50 Years of Punk in San Francisco.” This day-long multimedia takeover serves as a high-octane concert and a historical reclamation, honoring the moment the tremors of the 1970s underground first shook North Beach.

The Legacy of the “Fab Mab” from its unassuming location on Broadway, the Mabuhay Gardens became ground zero for a cultural explosion that reverberated globally. Under the guidance of Dirk Dirksen—the uncompromising promoter and ringmaster whose irreverent emcee style turned the venue into a laboratory for rebellion—the Fab Mab nurtured a scene that was confrontational, artistic, and defiantly independent. The venue launched icons like Dead Kennedys, The Avengers, Crime, The Nuns, Negative Trend, and Flipper, establishing a uniquely San Francisco sound that blended radical politics with satire and noise.

Event overview: the event is co-produced by Steve DePace (Flipper) and Michael Rosenberg (John Hell of Radio Valencia) and hosted by Tom Watson. The celebration is split into two distinct segments: an afternoon of oral history and an evening of live music.

The Afternoon: Mabuhay Gardens – Video Presentation and Oral History Panel

• Time: 2:00 PM – 7:00 PM
• Price: $20 (Free after 7PM) in advance
• This location is wheelchair accessible.
• Presentation (3:00 PM): Rock historian Richie Unterberger presents a video archive of bands performing songs from 1976 – 1987 followed by a short Q & A.
• Panel Discussion (4:30 PM): A rare gathering of original scene architects—moderated by Unterberger—featuring Steve DePace (Negative Trend/Flipper), Penelope Houston (Avengers), Henry Rosenthal (Crime),
  
  and V. Vale (RE/Search and Search & Destroy). They will engage in a deep-dive oral history of the 1976–1987 era.
• Mutants will perform at the Fab Mab following the panel discussion.
• Zine and Record Swap (Ongoing from 2PM): A curated market featuring V. Vale, and a variety of local DIY vendors.
• The Gallery: Throughout the venue, rare photography, flyers, and video projections will pay tribute to the bands and “fallen brothers and sisters” who defined the era, including Dirk Dirksen, DH Peligro, Bruce Loose, and Howie Klein.

The Evening: On Broadway – The Live Assault

• Time: Doors at 6:30 PM | Music 7:30 PM – 11:30 PM
• All ages
• Price: $40 in advance
• This location is not wheelchair accessible, but Mabuhay will be video-streaming the bands.
• The Lineup: Headlined by Flipper and Friends, the bill features a cross-generational assault of sound including legends Fang, and The Freak Accident.
• The New Guard is represented by two exciting, high-energy young bands: False Flag and Bitchfit.
• Members of Avengers and Dead Kennedys will be performing with Flipper and Friends.
• Radio Valencia DJs will be spinning your favorite Punk bands between acts.
• Bar and merch tables will remain open until 1:30AM.

Commemorative posters will be available for purchase along with band and Radio Valencia merchandise.

Event Details

• Date: Saturday, February 28, 2026
• Venue: 435 Broadway, San Francisco, CA (Mabuhay Gardens & On Broadway)
• Ages: Mabuhay (21+), On Broadway (All Ages)
• Tickets: Link will be active soon.

For interviews with Steve DePace please send inquiries to hellyeahfrisco@gmail.com

About Mabuhay Gardens The Mabuhay Gardens was a seminal San Francisco music venue that became the epicenter of the city’s punk rock movement. Under the guidance of Dirk Dirksen, it hosted hundreds of groundbreaking performances that helped define punk rock in America and establish San Francisco as one of the world’s most influential punk cities.