Exene was one of the first people I heard complain about the dearth of all ages shows , back in the early 80's. She said , in LA , they had a system , if you were underage , you could'nt get a wristband to drink alcohol , but, you could still get into shows (Not all of them ,of course.). I had to wait until X had been through Dallas/Ft. Worth twice before I could go see them , and the drinking age was only 19 , back then. For years , all ages shows were an afterthought. Most , if any , were held in the middle of nowhere.....Venues that did'nt serve alcohol , obviously , died the death in a year or less.....
Many years later , in Chicago , they turned a postwar bowling alley into an all ages venue. You just had to be 21 to go in the bar , but , they had soda machines in the lobby , more than a lot of all ages joints had. In fact , Exene and D.J. Bonebrake played there once with Auntie Christ. I played there ,twice , myself , and brought my friend's 5 year old son onstage to sing "Rock 'n'Roll High School". But , I STILL met younger people who'd bitch and moan about how having one all ages venue was'nt enough.
REV said:
"It's like if you're under 21 you're a second class citizen."
-Exene Cervanka of the band X, referring to their efforts to have all-ages access to their shows