San Antonio R.I.P. Ram, Taco Land owner killed in robbery

[Wickerman]

If you spent any time pursuing music in San Antonio in the last 2 decades then chances are you have memories of Taco Land. Chances are most of them are rather hazy. I've been in music clubs all over the country, but never been in one like Taco Land. Never met a bar owner like Ram Ayala.

Ram was a tough as nails old man who let punk bands and alternative bands play for the door as long as he got the beer sales. I recall going in the first time and asking for a can of Bud. He said short or tall. I said, short. He shot back, "p---y!" One night we crammed the place on a Monday night for a touring act. Asked Ram what he thought of the night and he sputtered, "you mo^(*^%*&ers, I ordered 18 cases of Shiner Bock for the week and I got nothing left, assholes."

All that has ended due to a couple of creeps who decided whatever was in the cash register was more important than Ram's life.

R.I.P. Ram, you p----, have a beer on me. :beer:

http://www.mysanantonio.com/news/metro/stories/MYSA062705.1A.ram.fce0fbd.html

Taco Land and slain owner get mournful goodbye
Web Posted: 06/27/2005 12:00 AM CDT

Karisa King
Express-News Staff Writer

Grieving musicians and patrons loyal to the legendary San Antonio bar Taco Land gathered Sunday night for a concert tribute to the club's slain owner, Ramiro "Ram" Ayala, and bid farewell to one of the longest standing underground music venues in Texas.

The epic history of the club, which started in 1969 and came to represent a segment of San Antonio culture in its rawest form, abruptly ended early Friday when Ayala was shot to death during what police say was an apparent robbery attempt. Now, those closest to Ayala say the bar will close for good.

--snip--

Since then, an eclectic parade of obscure bands from around the country has performed at the low-frills bar. They included the Dead Milkmen, GWAR, the Poster Children, the Fleshtones and Yo La Tengo.

Over the years, the place held onto its blue-collar roots, but evolved into a unique cultural force that sometimes made for a weird juxtaposition of people — well-groomed college students in the same mash pit with middle-aged rockers and silver-studded punks.

Band members and customers cherished the bar for its gritty authenticity and an atmosphere that remained free of the sneering pretension of other alternative venues.


--more-- at link

thanks for the heads up, Michele.

[GOPisEvil]

1. Man, this just sucks.

I never went there by myself, but I usually had a good time and saw a good show.

RIP Ram! :beer: