The other day, my friend’s toddler took off his swimming suit and pooped on the sidewalk in his backyard, just a few feet from his little blow-up pool. Without missing a beat, my friend said, "Who do you think you are, GG Allin?"
It had been years since I thought about the notorious GG Allin show at the long gone Odd Rock Café (originally Café Voltaire), 2010 S. Kinnickinnic Ave.
I didn't attend the Allin show -- it took place before I figured out how to weasel my underaged self into clubs -- but I have heard a lot of shocking stories from that evening.
In March of 1989, Allin -- a punk rock shock performance artist -- caused quite a commotion when he crapped on stage and then threw his feces at the audience. This was nothing new for Allin, who had a history of including blood, urine and fecal matter in his live shows.
Jack Koshik, the owner of the Odd Rock, allegedly stopped the show. A couple of years later, Allin was charged with disorderly conduct and public indecency in a Milwaukee courtroom, and he was sentenced to 90 days in prison and a $1,000 fine.
After his sentencing, Allin wrote the song "Shove That Warrant Up Your Ass," that specifically mentions Milwaukee.
According to Wikipedia, Allin was born to an abusive and religious father who named him Jesus Christ Allin. His name was later shortened to "GG" when his younger brother couldn't pronounce "Jesus." The family lived in a cabin without electricity or running water in rural New Hampshire.
Allin threatened to commit suicide on stage on Halloween Night, 1990, but did not follow through. Instead, he overdosed in 1993.
Molly Snyder started writing and publishing her work at the age 10, when her community newspaper printed her poem, "The Unicorn.” Since then, she's expanded beyond the subject of mythical creatures and written in many different mediums but, nearest and dearest to her heart, thousands of articles for OnMilwaukee.
Molly is a regular contributor to FOX6 News and numerous radio stations as well as the co-host of "Dandelions: A Podcast For Women.” She's received five Milwaukee Press Club Awards, served as the Pfister Narrator and is the Wisconsin State Fair’s Celebrity Cream Puff Eating Champion of 2019.
