Oz

Oz was one of the oldest and most popular clubs in Chicago for the punk and alternative scenes. First established in 1977, there were three different incarnations of Oz, as the venue was routinely getting shut down by the city. Oz had no liquor license, would ignore mandatory closing times and typically had no sign out front. Because of this, Oz was a club for the dedicated, hardcore fans of the scene. The owner of Oz was Dem Hopkins.

Oz Locations

• Oz #1 - On Greenleaf in Rogers Park
• Oz #2 - Hubbard St. between Clark and LaSalle
• Oz #3 - 3714 N. Broadway (2/1981)

Legacy

• On March 9-11, 1981, a live record of the most popular local punk bands at the time played at Oz. This record, later named Busted at Oz, because the definitive compilation of the Chicago scene. It is the first recording of many notable Chicago acts, including Naked Raygun and The Effigies.

Notable Shows

• December 13, 1980 - Black Flag
• December 31, 1980 - Naked Raygun
• April 21-23, 1981 - Husker Du
• April 25-26, 1981 - D.O.A., Subverts

References

• Music and Art in Chicago 1978-1982 - Most info from this page
• Hopkins interview - with dates/locations etc
• OZ Beat history - Gives opening year of Oz

External Links

• Interview with Dem of Oz in February 1981