The Peppermint Lounge was a disco in Times Square from 1958 to 1965. It was popular in the early 60's as the origination point for the popular "Twist" dance craze. It gets referenced in Sam Cooke's "Twistin' the Night Away" when he mentions "a place/Somewhere up a New York way/Where the People are so gay". The Beatles visited the Peppermint Lounge on their first US tour in 1964.

The Peppermint Lounge changed its named several times and was a mob-run gay bar from 1965 to 1980.

In November of 1980, the Peppermint Lounge was reopened as a punk and new wave music venue. On March 15, 1981, Black Flag played their first show in New York. For many New Yorkers, this was their first exposure to this particular strain of punk rock. MCA, Mike D. and the rest of the early Beastie Boys were at this show, and they were inspired to start a hardcore band.

Legend has it that Henry Rollins and Ian MacKaye were also at the show, as were a contingent of D.C. hardcore fans, who chanted "Georgetown punks!" and dominated the audience.

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