Ruthie’s Founder Dies

Wes Robinson, 77, who founded Berkeley, Calif., punk club Ruthie’s Inn, died December 31st after reportedly falling down a flight of stairs at his Oakland studio, although no official cause of death had been released at press time.

Ruthie’s was a thrash metal and punk rock haven in the ’80s, hosting the Dead Kennedy’s, Bad Brains, Social Distortion, Metallica, and Slayer.

Robinson had spent the past few months working on a documentary about Ruthie’s that featured a reunion show at Oakland’s Nimby Warehouse.