Wrex - 1980-82

WREX SHOWS - October 1980 - February 1982 
2018 1st Ave

Sources: The Rocket, Seattle Post-Intelligencer, Seattle Times, Jive Time Records website

WREX was established in Belltown by Michael Clay, Wes Bradley, and Aaron McKiernan. The venue was formerly a leather gay bar called Johnny’s Handlebar, located on the ground floor of a former brothel. Bands played at WREX three nights a week, originally booked by Mike Vraney, who brought both national and international acts to the tiny venue. WREX manager Ted Ladd eventually took over the booking duties. Steve Pritchard and other independent booking agents also brought shows to WREX. The club also featured the city's first music video system, curated by Ted Ladd.  WREX opened in October 1980 and closed in March 1982. The space reopened as The Vogue in January 1983.

"...[WREX was] a tiny deliberately dilapidated club furnished with parts of wrecked cars. The fenders and smashed hoods lining the walls were a take-off on the clubs name, a pun that few of the sound-benumbed, glassy-eyed patrons seemed to comprehend. The place featured live music played a ear-numbing volumes." - Regina Hackett, Seattle PI, March 13, 1983

"WREX is shaped like a long tunnel. The music happens in the rear and blasts back to those drinking at the bar in the front. The title is a variant on wreck, as in car wreck. There are odd bits of car grills and fenders nailed up around the room. WREX has the best selection of video featuring New Wave acts. Nearly anyone, excepting men with long hair can be comfortable there (New Wavers tend to be intolerant of hippies, but the bigotry on both ends is lessening). Anyone can dance with anyone here. Gays report that it's the best live music club in town for them to frequent." - Regina Hackett, Seattle PI, January 31, 1982

For a lot more information on WREX, check out this essay (written by Dennis White) on the Jive Time Record website

October 1980

2 - X-15, Fastbacks

3 - Mental Mannequin, Fastbacks

4-5 - Delta 5 (UK), Blackouts, The Beakers

11 - Karen Hansen's "Flipsides" Fashion Show, The Frazz
12 - The Pudz, The Frazz

14 - AKA, The Beakers

15 - DOA (Vancouver BC), Solger

16 - Young Canadians (Vancouver BC), Modernettes

17 - Blackouts, Corrective Lenses

18 - Macs Band, Blackouts

19 - B-52s after-party

24-25 - The Beakers, guests
28 - The Raybeats, guests
29 - The Excuses, X-15
31 - The Dickies (cancelled), The Pudz

November 1980

1 - X-15, guests
5-6 - Black Flag
7-8 - Young Marble Giants (Wales), Blackouts
14 - Los Microwaves (San Jose), guests
15 - Los Microwaves (San Jose), The Units (SF)
21 - The Pudz, The Frazz, The Enemy
22-23 - Rank & File (Austin)
28 - Mission Of Burma (Boston)
29 - Suburban Guerrillas, AKA

30 - A.K.A.

December 1980

3 - The Excuses

5 - Student Nurse, Audio Letter

6 - Visible Targets

19 - Young Canadians (Vancouver BC)
20 - Westside Lockers

26 - The Accident, Junior Handjive

27 - Spectators
28 - X-15

31 - Visible Targets

January 1981

3 - Debbies

9 - Subhumans (?), Student Nurse, The Fags

10 - The Frazz

16 - Modernettes (Vancouver BC)

17 - Excuses

23 - The Beakers

24 - BOB

30 - AKA

31 - The Shivers

February 1981

4 - Rockefellers

6 - Connections

7 - Skinny Ties

11 - The Features

13 - Section 8

14 - Visible Targets

15 - X-15

18 - Vizzion

20 - Los Microwaves (San Jose), The Spectators

21 - Student Nurse

25 - Skeezix

27 - The Numatics

28 - The Hoovers (England)

March 1981

4 - The Hands

6 - Joan Jett & The Blackhearts, Section 8, Fastbacks

7 - The Rockefellers

11 - The Connection, The Professionals

13 - X-15

14 - The Features

18 - Skinny Ties

20 - The Metros (Vancouver BC)

21 - The Untouchables (PDX)

22 - A Party for U2

25 - Audio Leter, 13, guests

27 - The Frazz

28 - Fastbacks, Visible Targets

April 1981

1 - The Professionals

3 - West Side Lockers

4 - Sundance

8 - The Enemy

10-11 - The B-Sides (Vancouver BC) , David Raven & The Escorts

15 - The Numatics

17- The Contractions, Fastbacks
18 - The Contractions (SF), The Features

22 - The Rockefellers

24 - The Metros (Vancouver), Hands,
25 - The Metros, Connections

29 - Los Popularos

May 1981

1 - Visible Targets, The Byrons

2 - Sundance

6 - Repercussions

7 - DJ Stephen Rabow

8-9 - The Untouchables, X-15, Tiny Holes

13 - Instant Karma

15 - Three Swimmers, Corrective Lenses

16 - Vertical Hold, Skinny Ties

20 - X-15

22 - The Rats (PDX), Hands

23 - The Rats (PDX), Student Nurse
24 - Red Dress

27 - Sex Therapy

28 - KZAM DJ Leroy Henry

29 - The Enemy, The Cutouts

30 - The Frazz

June 1981

3 - Visible Targets

4 - DJ Stephen Rabow

5 - Romeo Void (SF), Spectators, The Crisis, Section 8

6 - Romeo Void (SF), X-15, The Executives, Rapid I

7 - Tax Party, The Edsels

10 - The Enemy

11 - KZAM DJ - Kerry Lowen

12-13 - Nutrinoz (SF), The Rockefellers 

13 - Nutrinoz (SF), The Spectators 

17 - The Lifters

18 - KZAM DJ Cyndi Bemel

19 - Visible Targets, The Repercussions

20 - Visible Targets, The Loose Crew

24 - Musical Chairs

25 - Plasmatics Party

26 - Scissors, Instant Karma

27 - Scissors, The Plugz

July 1981

1 - Spectators

2 - Kerry Lowen (DJ)

3 - Three Swimmers, The Edsels

4 - The Enemy

7 - The Features

8 - Tim Ray Band

9 - Stephen Rabow (DJ)

10 - Punts, Rapid-I

11 - Husker Du, The Executives

14 - Blue Hawaii (Movie)

15 - The Untouchables

16 - Cyndi Bemel (DJ)

17 - The Untouchables, Crisis, Spectators

18 - The Untouchables, Spectators

21 - Casino Royale (Movie)

22 - Visible Targets

23 - Kerry Lowen (DJ)

24 - The Frazz

25 - Red Dress, B Films

27 - Visible Targets

28 - Barbarella (movie)

29 - The Pudz, The Contractions

30 - RPA, Guests

31 - Section 8, Discourse

August 1981

1 - Red Dress

2 - The Fix (SF), Social Deviants

4 - The Women (movie)

5-6 - The Untouchables

7-8 - The Room (Liverpool), Audio Letter

9 - The Untouchables, Executives

11 - Bye Bye Birdie (movie)

12 - Paintings On The Plastic by Billy Schaefrer, Rapid I, Spectators

13 - Little Bears From Bangkok, Children Of Kellogg 

14 - Lenny Kaye Connection (NY), X-15 - 2 shows

15 - The Enemy

18-20 - No Alternative (SF), The Fartz

21 - The Rats (PDX), Joe Despair & The Future

22 - Visible Targets

25 - Born Yesterday (movie)

26 - Student Nurse, Rapid I

27-28 - Das Blok (SF), The Deans

29 - Three Swimmers, Children Of Kellogg

September 1981

3 - New Flamingos

4-5 - The Frazz

9 - Skinny Ties

10-12 - The Enemy

18 - The Pudz

19 - Red Dress

24 - New Flamingos

25- The Lifers (DF), Fastbacks

26 - The Lifers (SF), The Deans

30 - Concordia Discors

October 1981

1 - Sleeping Movement (w/Upchuck), Pronoia

2- Visible Targets, Pronoia

3 - Visible Targets, Chevrolets

8-10 - Napalm Beach, Grey Matter

14 - Rolling Stones After Party

15 - The New Flamingos

16-17 - The Enemy, The Deans and/or Moving Parts

21 - Seattle Syndrome Record Release Party

23 - Romeo Void (SF), Student Nurse

24 - Romeo Void, Sex Therapy

27 - Echo & The Bunnymen, The Enemy

28 - The Features

29 - The New Flamingos

30 - The Blackouts, Student Nurse

31 - Napalm Beach, Visible Targets, Sleeping Movement

November 1981

4 - The Presidents, Sharx

5 - The Kingstones

6 - Really Red, Napalm Beach, Joe Despair

7 - The New Flamingos, Three Swimmers, (AAAA)

11 - 54/40 (BC), Junko Run

13 - The Hoovers

14 - X, Napalm Beach

15 - The Hoovers, The Vacuumz

16-17 - The Enemy

21 - Blackouts

27-28 - Wall Of Voodoo, 54/40 (BC)

December 1981

4-5 - 3 Swimmers, Neo Boys

9 - Moving Parts

11-  Napalm Beach
12 - Napalm Beach, Visible Targets

16-17 - The Flakes

18-19 - Polyrock (NY) (show moved to the Athens Cafe)

23 - 54/40 (BC)

26 - Dynette Set

31 - X-15

January 1982

8 - Dynette Set

9 - Blackouts, Little Bears From Bangkok

22 - Brian Brain (Boston), The Sobbies

23 - The Kingstones

24 - "Members of the Spectators and Rapid-I"

26 - New Flamingos

29 - 54/40 (BC), Junco Run (BC)

30 - Our Daughter's Wedding, Life In General

February 1982

1 - Our Daughter's Wedding, Junco Run, Diesel Dolly

5 - The Untouchables

6 - The Scissors

12-14 - The Detours (Detroit)

19 - The Fleshtones, Napalm Beach

20 - The Fleshtones, Blackouts