California Apparel News

Jack Marquette died Tuesday, June 17, after battling a long illness. He worked for the California Apparel News, first as a graphic-production artist when X-acto knives, rubber cement and waxers were in use; then as a graphic designer; then as account representative; and finally as co-creator and Webmaster of ApparelNews.net. He came to work in 1980 and never left.

Jack supervised the computerization of the California Apparel News in the mid-’80s and was proud to note we were the first publication in Los Angeles to be completely computerized. In those early days, he would lead visiting publications through the company, showing off the system.

Jack worked with many members of the industry, first on their ad campaigns and then building their Web sites. He upgraded the Textile Association of Los Angeles site in 2002, worked with Linda and Bill Gollant on their National Registry site, and created the Save the Southwest Museum site, among many others. In 1995, Jack co-created and launched ApparelNews.net, beating all competitors to the draw. He held the title of Webmaster until his death.

Shaped L.A.’s punk-music scene

As many lives as Jack touched in the apparel industry, he touched more in the Los Angeles music scene.

Jack was instrumental in creating the Los Angeles underground music scene in the ’80s.

The 1980s were a time of punk rock, and Jack Marquette, more than anyone else, brought it to Los Angeles, from the local bands to imports from around the world. His efforts brought an awfully good time to a lot of people.

As one blogger said: “He was responsible more than anyone else for the Los Angeles underground music scene that lit up my brain in high school and gave me so much in the years afterwards. The art of all kinds that arose from Theoretical and the Anti-Club turned a lot of us upside down in the best way.”

For two years, beginning in 1980, he owned and booked bands at the Brave Dog at First and Alameda streets, next to the infamous Atomic Cafeacute;, where each weekend, punk bands such as Red Wedding, My Sin, Sonic Youth and the Blue Daisies rocked over-flowing houses.

Jack was a longtime manager of the underground art-rock band The Party Boys.

In 1983, Jack began hosting a series of parties he called “Phenomenon” at Fiesta House at Olympic Boulevard and Alameda Street.

That same year, Jack teamed with Jim Van Tyne and Russell Jessum to run the Anti-Club on Melrose Avenue. During its nearly two-year tenure, the Anti-Club hosted groundbreaking bands such as Kommunity FK, Savage Republic, Black Flag, Sonic Youth, Overman and many others.

The final club Jack booked was Al’s Bar on Traction in what is now called Los Angeles’ Artists District. The year was 1987, and Sub Pop bands, including Nirvana, played there. And all during the decade, Jack and Van Tyne put on “Theoreticals”—parties that paved the way for the raves of the 1990s.

Human Hands and El Vez member Pierre Smith recalled playing at several of Jack’s clubs in the early ’80s with the band New Marines—but he reserved his highest praise for the Anti-Club shows. “Those were the most fun,” he said.

“The list of bands Jack worked with is long and profound,” he said. “I remember he did shows with The Brat and 100 Flowers (The Urinals). Jack did it for the love of it. Dealing with him was a welcome relief from having to deal with the usual predatory club promoters.”

Jack Marquette did the work to provide us with the best punk rock had to offer. He did it because he loved the party, us and the “anti-ness” of it all. We all had a great time. Thank you, Jack.