Comments on: Ace Junkyard Is Dead, Long Live Ace Junkyard

By: Mike Kupietz

Mike Kupietz — Wed, 28 Oct 2009 18:52:52 +0000

Bill, I just had to add to the growing caco^h^h^h^h euphony of voices celebrating your work and lamenting the passing of Ace. I myself disconnected from the underground art scene here in SF some time ago, but continued to go to events at Ace, because it was *just that cool*. You made a real contribution, man. Best of luck, and remember to see every change as a beginning, not an ending.

By: tamara li

tamara li — Mon, 19 Oct 2009 19:11:23 +0000

oh no! this is a REAL tragedy! Ace Auto. This is soooooo SAD. Oh my…. Home to a million memories and some of the goodest of good times i ever had in San Francisco. Truly. Always you and Ace will be cherished SF Icons…. Flaming Lotus girls and a hundred other artists could never have succeeded without you!!! Seriously. This a sure sign of the Decline of Western Civilization

Well, Bill, if you come to Hawaii for some well-deserved R&R we’ll host you on the west side…. Seriously. we’ll shoot off some fireworks and cheer on the apocalypse while sucking back tecate, fernet, or pass-o-guavas, you decide…..

Sending you love and blessings and best wishes on new beginnings… and mass amounts of gratitude for all the goodness you have bestowed on Bay Area humanity for the past, wow, 25 years…

and for the record, i never told you, but you look fucking HAWT in a miniskirt.

By: Jenner

Jenner — Sun, 11 Oct 2009 16:27:08 +0000

There is a hole in my heart, now. It’s sad to think I’ll never see another show at Ace. Go to Last Call, San Francisco to read my farewell.
lastcallsf.wordpress.com

By: Debbie

Debbie — Sat, 10 Oct 2009 15:36:25 +0000

Sorry bout ACE, Bill. I have appreciated and loved what you hath wrought for several decades (can you believe it’s been that long?) My child learned how to build his own computer because ACE was there for him to experiment on discarded ones. And priceless are the memories of movies, car crashes, parts hunting, tool races, yard kitties, and your never ending wit. I know the latter shall be intact. We shall mourn the loss of your yard and love you forever for giving us everything.

By: Rudy Rucker

Rudy Rucker — Wed, 07 Oct 2009 07:39:28 +0000

Where will I find random server parts, poles for wi-fi antennas, and shelves for 19″ racks? I’ve gotten many a piece of junk from this place and used it in Monkey Land. Oh, and the junk Bill has let me leave there for FREE! Thanks for it all, Bill!

PS: many thanks for letting Cyclecide run amok for so many years in your yard.

By: John Law

John Law — Tue, 06 Oct 2009 05:36:59 +0000

Ace was one of THE PLACES. Unique. Mysterious, compelling and more than a little confusing to those visiting for the first time. Home for those who made a second visit. What I gained through my association with ACE and the patronage and friendship of Bill Kennedy, I cannot begin to explain. Most “patron’s,” “benefactors,” and “philanthropists” give without ever straining their pocketbooks or making any real dent in their net wealth or lifestyle because they are financially rich. Most of them give to enhance their status, or to gain influence or to appease their god as a way into heaven after a lifetime of greed and theft. Billy gave stuff away with no expectations. No catch. Billy gave stuff away to those to whom it belonged. Good stuff. Stuff they made art out of. He gave cars that worked well to those who REALLY needed a car that worked & couldn’t afford one. He gave away working computers, valuable metal and other building materials, furniture, appliances…… He gave away stuff that, as a small businessman he could have hoarded and sold for real $$$. Billy Kennedy is not only not rich, he is, like all those he patronized, struggling and working hard to pay the bills. THAT is a true philanthropist. A real benefactor. Like all the best spirits Billy gave it away. Ace will be no more than a memory in a few months. Billy will move on into the next phase, whatever that may be. He goes with the love and gratitude of so many he helped, so many who had a grand, singular, maybe life changing experience at ACE. Thanks a million, William Kennedy – see you down the road.

By: JK

JK — Tue, 06 Oct 2009 02:43:10 +0000

Sad news… Good think there are awesome picture that captured the funky vibes. Thanks for mentioning the cheerleaders, it wouldn’t be a race without cheerleaders (I was one of them, had loads of fun!)

By: Dale N Scott

Dale N Scott — Tue, 06 Oct 2009 01:59:55 +0000

help Doc – busted stud

thank you, Bill and sacred Ace

old part – new life – hope

By: UnnecessaryUmlaut

UnnecessaryUmlaut — Mon, 05 Oct 2009 18:42:16 +0000

Have fond memories of the Power Tool Drag Races at Ace.

Another end of an era.

By: yasi

yasi — Mon, 05 Oct 2009 16:37:33 +0000

well, it’s a good thing i’m making a film about ace then, innit? i would love any and all input towards this endeavor. i have made significant progress on the story of ace, but any personal hooha’s or photos/videos would make the movie o so great-er. you can contact me here: yasi.mak@gmail.com
long live ace!

By: John Wilson

John Wilson — Sun, 04 Oct 2009 17:26:12 +0000

Bill this is even sadder than the closing of the Filmore. You are without a doubt a real hero of life, love and happines. What comes next I know that this will not keep you down and you will never be a surfer bum you may be crazie but not supid and I am sure that there will be another ACE in the future. If you want to make some cash e-bay parts of the junk yard for example the shed should be worth 20-30K to SFMOMA and the sign worth $$ to some of the followers like the boxshop or the new place in Oakland. Really think about it and if nothing else make some t shirts I still have my xlarge but could use more

love peace and happines

artfag

By: Paul de Jong

Paul de Jong — Sat, 03 Oct 2009 22:04:17 +0000

…and billy with the likes of Chet Helms! One of the nicest people you will ever meet; a true hero!

By: Paul de Jong

Paul de Jong — Sat, 03 Oct 2009 21:59:18 +0000

This is VERY sad indeed! This was one of the all time best places in San Francisco and will 20 years from now it will be remembered like places such as the Avalon Ball Room and Mabuhay Gardens.

By: Phat Man Dee

Phat Man Dee — Sat, 03 Oct 2009 18:40:55 +0000

Sad sad sad. May the gods and goddesses of all creation bestow upon you every blessing under the sun, Bill. I only ever performed at Ace once, for Jarico’s bachelor and then Sean and Annika’s bachelor/ette party last week, and I feel blessed for that one ooprtunity and for every piece of junk that became the building blocks for the art and community I love today. You will always have a friend in Phat Man Dee. I am sorry to hear of its passing, but I pray you see a brighter day and love will shine upon you for the sacred work you gave voice too these many years. Thank you from the bottom of my chubby heart.

By: Simone Davalos

Simone Davalos — Sat, 03 Oct 2009 18:02:42 +0000

Also, Billy, you once fixed the alternator on my 67 Plymouth Valiant with vise grips and a hammer. Sometimes all you needed to do was laying on of hands. You are amazing and we will do whatever it takes to make sure you are well done by.

By: Heckle

Heckle — Sat, 03 Oct 2009 14:38:06 +0000

Belinda,
Thank you for the ass bad coffee, the home in heartbreak hotel, the amusement.
Ace is dead, but the queen is not. Long live the Queen!
Love,
Heckle and the animal farm

By: Tracy Feldstein

Tracy Feldstein — Sat, 03 Oct 2009 06:00:59 +0000

Bill, you can identify an engine by hearing it. You know how to ship metal to China. You know how things work better than many engineers.
Wounded in a foxhole, I’d trust you to operate on me with an exact o knife, upholstery needle & fishing line…& get better results than my local ER.
Bill, you are a smart fucker. You brought the art to the Yard. It was all junk, until you got your perfectly manicured hands on it. When you look in the mirror, see the concerts….see the art…see the magnet that made it happen. A plot of land is just a plot of land unless there is a visionary that can see it put to best use. & a junk car is just a junk car without someone who can give it new life.
So, take care of that beautiful self of yours..whatever it takes,
Love, Tracy

By: St. Mae

St. Mae — Sat, 03 Oct 2009 01:38:59 +0000

I’ve started and backspaced over this comment five times already. Ace Junkyard was the site of some of my most treasured memories. Ace and Bill the Junkman have done *so* much for the SF freak artist underground, and it’s hard to imagine this place without them.

A particular favorite: somewhere around 1999, I was at an Attaboy and Burke show at Ace. It was dark, and there was a full moon shining down on the party. I was standing on a stack of cars watching the performers when I had a near samadhi experience. It was a direct experience of the Divine. I wasn’t drunk or high. It was just that I suddenly realized that here was the chance I had been waiting for: I really could live over the rainbow. These crazy junkyard poets and musicians and artists and everyone who had come to be a part of the event… these were my people. Growing up didn’t have to mean growing out of it. I’d known that stuff before, but that night was one of my first really intense experiences completely outside the pale. Thank you for helping to make that happen.

THANK YOU JUNKMAN BILL for all the years you’ve put into San Francisco. Ace will be sorely missed, and I dearly hope that we can find a new home base for Bill the Junkman here in the community he has uplifted for so long.

By: Michael Prados

Michael Prados — Fri, 02 Oct 2009 23:28:06 +0000

Next time I see a pile of industrial detritus (it won’t be long,) I’ll raise a Tecate to the good (if often fuzzily memorable) times at Ace. My heart goes out to Bill the Junkman, a hero to dumpster divers everywhere.

By: glenn campbell

glenn campbell — Fri, 02 Oct 2009 22:40:27 +0000

does bill the junkman need support? if so, i am sure people would paypal some dough his way… dribs and drabs make a difference. my heart fundraiser was amazing and helped my healing and transition like i never thought possible… the coming together of people was incredibly moving. glenn campbell

By: Simone Davalos

Simone Davalos — Fri, 02 Oct 2009 22:36:50 +0000

There will be, but not there. . .

By: CTP

CTP — Fri, 02 Oct 2009 22:26:41 +0000

damn. damn. damn.

A lot of my misspent adulthood was misspent best there. Soooooo many great memories.

There’s gonna be a party, right? Say yes.