Cathay de Grande

The Cathay de Grande was a nightclub on the corner of Argyle Street and Selma Avenue in central Hollywood, which featured mostly punk rock bands but also other styles of underground/alternative rock in the 1980s. It was almost as well known for rockabilly, cowpunk, the Paisley Underground bands, and the beginning of the garage rock revival. It was owned by Michael Brennan. And, unknown to most anyone that wasn't a regular, that unforgettable smile, and deeply barritoned voice that greeted the often loaded (yet lovable) LA Punkers as they sloshed through the doors, belonged to non other than... a then aspiring young film star to be...Laurence Fishburne... punk rock's most beloved doorman. Top Jimmy & The Rhythm Pigs played every Monday night for 3 years. Violent Psychosis joined every Thursday. The Minutemen also played the Cathay from time to time as well as The WILD. Bands who frequently played the Cathay included Bad Religion, Tex and the Horseheads, Dr. Know along with regulars from Orange County Social Distortion, T.S.O.L., The Vandals, Agent Orange, Love Canal and many more. The Cathay was dubbed by one newspaper in 1984 as "The most dangerous club in America". Due to problems with neighbors, violence caused in part by punk gangs such as the LADS gang, FFF, HRP and others, and legal problems related to business conflicts, the Cathay de Grande closed in 1985 With Violent Psychosis, The Mentors with El Duce and Circle Jerks performing the farewell show. Shortly before, Dobbs, the booker at the Cathay de Grande, started Raji's a block to the north on Hollywood Boulevard.

In 1983 The Mentors released an album entitled, "Live at the Whisky A Go-Go/Cathay De Grande" which consisted of 2 live shows. One recorded at the Whisky A Go-Go and the other recorded at the Cathay de Grande.

In the song "The Desperation´s Gone" from the NOFX's album So Long And Thanks For All The Shoes, Fat Mike sings "Cathay de I miss your smell"