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Back in 1979, City Gardens started gaining popularity with its epic “90 Cent Dance Night.” DJ Randy Now, who later became the venue’s longtime booking agent, would spin tunes from the punk scenes of the late 1970s in the US and UK, as well as some awesome “new wave” music like Ska and Reggae. These nights were a hit, attracting 700-1000 people each time. Even Greg Hetson couldn’t help but praise the genius idea of a 90 cent cover charge, suggesting that someone in Los Angeles should follow suit.

Soon enough, big-name acts started gracing the stage at City Gardens. The Ramones, Nirvana, R.E.M., Bad Brains, X, Butthole Surfers, Agnostic Front, and Joan Jett were just a few of the incredible artists who rocked the house. And guess who else was part of the City Gardens crew? None other than the hilarious Jon Stewart, who tended bar in the mid-80s before his MTV and Comedy Central fame.

But all good things must come to an end, and City Gardens closed its doors in 2001, shortly after parting ways with Randy Now. It was truly the end of an era.

Now, let’s talk about Bad Religion. These punk rock legends graced the stage at City Gardens not once, not twice, but seven times! They rocked the house on various tours, including the “Suffer” tour in 1988, the “No Control” tour in 1990, and the “Generator” tour in 1992. They even played two nights in a row during the “Recipe For Hate” tour in 1994. Talk about dedication!

If you want to learn more about the legendary City Gardens, check out the book “No Slam Dancing, No Stage Diving, No Spikes: an Oral History of the Legendary City Gardens” by Amy Yates Wuelfing and Steven DiLodovico. It’s a must-read for any music enthusiast.