On a typical Friday night in Berkeley, I decided to hang out again at one of my favorite haunts: Keystone Berkeley at the corner of Shattuck Avenue and University. As usual, The Rubinoos – maestros of Power Pop were headlining and of course, there I was in the front with my trusty Nikon F3 and a few rollos of either Agfa or Kodak film, ready to capture more fun images. 

This was a special night: I had asked Sallie out for the first time to share my favorite band at the time and she said ‘Sure, sounds fun!’

The opening band was a new one for me: Paul Collins The Beat and his rendition of Power Pop! I was immediately hooked on what became a staple of tune tape songs.

The Beat roared into the SF Bay Area on a mission. Keystone was a launching board for bigger gigs and Paul Collins knew that.  The Beat played shows in Berkeley, Palo Alto, San Francisco continuing to hone the sound. 

Before The Beat, Paul Collins first band The Nerve toured with The Ramones and recorded a song called ‘Hanging on the Telephone, evventually recored by Deborah Harry and Blondie. In 1977 Paul Collins formed The Beat and was given a RECORD DEAL thanks through a friend Eddie Money and Bill Graham Management. The Beat opened for various bands such as The Jam, Huey Lewis and the News, Eddie Money , The Police. During this time the band’s name was changed to Paul Collins Beat because of the confusion of an English Ska band named The Beat.

The Beat is four very determined young men – Steve Huff (bass), Mike Ruiz (drums), Larry Whitman (guitar), with Paul Collins fronting the stage. “We’re just four guys playing music,” says Paul, “no trickery, no bullshit, just rock ‘n roll. It’s a whole new ball game now. All of a sudden, people who had their fingers on the pulse of what was going on – no longer do. All of a sudden, groups that were the definition of the times – no longer are… It’s a big toss-up. What we’re doing is no big deal to us, we’re doing what comes to us naturally, the difference is that we’re not trying to be the stuff that’s going on now. We think we are what should be now.” 

 Paul Collins has settled in Europe enjoying a different pace of life compared to the always on the go vibe of LA and California.

Here are raw images from the Keystone Berkeley show with The Beat!