Welcome To The Jungle: The Classic Rock Clubs Of The Sunset Strip

Colorful Sunset Boulevard1

It's so easy when life consists of loud music, parties, drinking and having nothing but a good time. Many young rebels, eccentrics and party-happy fun-seekers live this life every night on the infamous Sunset Boulevard. The portion of the road that plays host to the all-night debauchery has simply become known as" The Sunset Strip." This popular stretch of road in West Hollywood extends about 1.5 mi (2 km) between Hollywood and Beverly Hills. Featuring an array of restaurants, trendy boutiques and nightspots, it is the rock clubs that have made the Strip the most notoriously popular place to spend any night of the week. This is the birthplace of many music stars and the street where many of the world's most famous bands partied and rocked their way through the cut-throat jungle that is the music industry, and found themselves at the top of the rock n' roll world.

HISTORY

1920s
Before delving into the hard and heavy classic rock clubs, let's rewind time and go back to the Strip's beginning. Right from the get-go, this stretch of road became infamous for its wild nightlife because in the 1920s it was illegal to gamble in the city of Los Angeles. At the time, The Strip was located just outside city limits, but was part of the County of Los Angeles where it was perfectly legal to gamble. During Prohibition, nightclubs and casinos started setting up shop, which attracted many who were seeking good times, including many movie stars of the day who found plenty of alcohol flowing in the clubs' backrooms.

1930s, 40s and 50s
During the 1930s and 40s, The Strip increasingly became the place to be seen. Glamour swept along the boulevard as those with power, clout and fame graced The Strip with their prescence. It was rumored that some of the fancy and pricey clubs and restaurants were owned by gangsters, but the rumor didn't seem to bother anyone. Business was booming.

The Hyatt on Sunset Boulevard2

1960s and 70s
The fickleness of popularity reared its ugly head in the early 1960s as many movie stars decided The Strip was no longer the place to be seen. Instead, the mid-1960s to 70s saw the glitzy boulevard turn into a counterculture refuge. One of the most memorable incidents that occurred during this time was a fight between a large group of hippies and the police in the summer of 1966. The brawl between the two groups began a series of clashes, known as the Sunset Strip Curfew Riots or the Hippie Riots, which lasted through to 1969.

The area also became home to many musicians during the 60s and 70s, with several opting to stay and even live at the Hyatt West Hollywood. The hotel was an ideal choice due to its close proximity to The Strip's rock clubs, and soon became reffered to as the "Riot Hyatt" and the "Riot House" because of the crazy antics pulled by guests such as the Rolling Stones, Led Zeppelin and The Who. Singer Jim Morrison of the Doors also lived at the hotel for a time until he got kicked out for allegedly dangling himself out of a window.

1980's
The 1980s saw women and, oddly enough, numerous men running to the nearest drugstore to buy cans of hairspray by the truckload. Why? It was all thanks to the colorful, over-the-top glam metal bands that now dominated The Sunset Strip. These bands featured men working the stage in high heels, sporting higher-than-heaven hair and wearing more make-up than a car full of circus clowns. This decade was probably the most hedonistic and decadent times on The Strip.

Business was good for the local rock clubs since the nothing-to-lose, anything-goes attitude of rock bands taking the stage attracted tons of party-happy patrons. Many new bands like Guns N' Roses and Mötley Crüe crafted their skills playing various Sunset clubs, and later went on to world domination rocking sold out arenas across the globe.

1990s and 2000s
With the decline of glam metal in the early 1990s, The Strip started to lose its appeal with up-and-coming bands due to increasing rent rates in the area and the pay-to-play tactics of some clubs. Also, the music industry dominated the clubs on The Strip, meaning many only wanted major acts to perform.

	A Sunset Boulevard Street Sign3

Today, The Strip is still frequented by locals and many tourists wanting to see and visit the infamous rock clubs where many of their favorite bands honed their rock n' roll skills. It may not be as glamorous or excessive as in the past but it is still a vibrant stretch of road with plenty of clubs to choose from and offers hours worth of people watching. The eccentrics of The Strip are hard to miss. Many local bands still play here, with plenty of good times waiting to be had. This is still an ideal place for drinking with friends and catching a good rock show.

ACCESS

Those looking for a night of decadence will find The Strip on the section of Sunset Boulevard in West Hollywood between North Crescent Heights Boulevard just west of Fairfax, and Doheny Drive. Cruise down to The Strip from the Hollywood (101) Freeway, exit on Sunset Boulevard and then head west beyond Crescent Heights for good times. For those traveling from Rodeo Drive, get rocking by driving north down Rodeo to Sunset Boulevard, then take a right (east) on Sunset.

A night on The Strip offers a view of everything including numerous neon signs that light up the sky, over-the-top billboards, traffic jams, and of course, the ever present stream of celebrity wannabes. While driving to The Strip is an option and visitors can find car rentals in West Hollywood, those opposed to being stuck in traffic should consider walking The Strip as an alternative. A stroll along this stretch of road offers a more rewarding and memorable Sunset Strip experience.

THE CLASSIC ROCK CLUBS

Whisky A Go-Go
The Whisky has seen plenty of rock stars walk through the doors since opening back in 1964. Some of the rockers who have graced the stage at this well known Sunset Strip anchor include Alice Cooper, The Doors (who were the house band for a time), Jimi Hendrix, The Kinks, The Who, Led Zeppelin, the Ramones, Van Halen, Mötley Crüe, Metallica, Guns N' Roses, Nirvana and Oasis.

The club was originally meant to be a discotheque, meaning it would only play recorded music and featured no live bands. However, the first live band, led by Johnny Rivers played shortly after the clubs opening. A female DJ performed between sets from a suspended cage at the right of the stage and danced in the cage throughout Rivers' show. This is where the concept of go-go dancers performing in cages was born. In 1966, The Miracles recorded a song titled, “Going to a Go-Go,” which helped officially brand the club Whisky A Go-Go. Several franchises popped up across the United States afterward.

The Popular Roxy and Rainbow Bar and Grill4

Over the years the Whisky has stood the test of time and been at the forefront of several musical trends. Hard rock is the musical genre of choice here, with the occaisional rap act thrown in. Newer bands such as Velvet Revolver can be caught playing here, and for those looking for some nostalgia, the club regularly books cover bands.

The Roxy Theatre
This prestigious music venue known simply as The Roxy, has seen its fair share of notoriety since opening in 1973. Previously a strip club, The Roxy has been a haven for musicians honing their rock n' roll showmanship skills. Guns N' Roses played here before anyone knew who they were, and many other Hollywood celebrities have also been known to do some partying here, including John Belushi who died after a night out at The Roxy. This is also the place where John Lennon hung out during his “lost weekend” in 1975. The 1980s saw the club host parties arranged by the infamous “Hollywood Madam” Heidi Fleiss.

Today, patrons of The Roxy can catch live music performances as well as stage productions, comedy shows and performance art. The club also has an open dance floor and features an on-site, after-hours hang-out. Located above The Roxy, the space is aptly named On The Rox. Here, guests can enjoy drinks from the full-service bar and groove to the tunes emanating from the DJ booth.

The Viper Room
Partly owned by actor Johnny Depp until 2004, The Viper Room burst onto the decadent Strip in 1993. The club perhaps best known as the place where actor River Phoenix died of a drug overdose out front on the sidewalk on Halloween morning, the same year it opened. The Viper Room was also used as a filming location in Oliver Stone's film The Doors. In keeping with the Sunset Strip rock club tradition, the Viper Room is no stranger to hosting some of the world's most famous rockers such as Iggy Pop, Pearl Jam, Lenny Kravitz and Bruce Springsteen just to name a few. It has also been a haven to some of America's underground cult heros like comedian Sandra Bernhardt and author Hunter S. Thompson.

Those visting The Viper Room today will find the club has two floors. The upper level is where guests can catch a live band or DJ performance. Drinks flowi fromthe full-service bar, and for those who bring their dancing shoes, the upper level also features an open dance floor. The Viper Room's lower level is ready to rock around 10:30 nightly, and is designed like an intimate parlour with a well-stocked bar. Lucky and unsuspecting Viper Room patrons are often treated to surprise performances and even guest appearances. A casual night out for drinks here can easily turn into a star studded experience.

	A Girls Night Out on the Strip5

Rainbow Bar and Grill
Located next to The Roxy Theatre and just down the block from the Whisky A Go-Go, the Rainbow Bar and Grill has been around for more than 30 years. This is a true rock n' roll joint where anyone who is anyone in rock, from musicians to record excutives to groupies to over-the-top rock fans, come to play and eat. In its early days the club was a restaurant named Villa Nova and was owned by Vincente Minnelli, who at the time was married to Judy Garland. This is also the place where Joe Dimaggio and Marilyn Monroe had their first date. During the 70s, with a new name and new owners, The Rainbow Bar and Grill became the ultimate hang-out for rockers such as Keith Moon, and members of Led Zeppelin and Black Sabbath. Even the King of Rock N' Roll himself, Elvis Presely, ventured out to the Rainbow once in awhile. In the 80s, the rise of heavy metal saw the wild boys of W.A.S.P., Mötley Crüe and too many more to mention spend some quality time here. The Rainbow has been immortalized in some epic 1990s videos by Guns N' Roses, most notably November Rain, which features Axl and the guys enjoying drinks at this classic establishment.

Today, the Rainbow is still holding true to its rock n' roll character by only playing rock music in its exclusive club Over the Rainbow, located on the upper level of the building. Only a select few are allowed to soar Over the Rainbow, usually musicians and a few other lucky VIPs. The upper-level club is home to a dance floor, DJ booth and, of course, a full-service bar. The lower level of the Rainbow is where the rock stars and regular folk enjoy dining for lunch and dinner.

1. c/o West Hollywood Marketing and Visitors Bureau; Sunset Boulevard; West Hollywood, California, USA
2. c/o West Hollywood Marketing and Visitors Bureau; The Hyatt; West Hollywood, California, USA
3. c/o West Hollywood Marketing and Visitors Bureau; Sunset Boulevard Street Sign; West Hollywood, California, USA
4. c/o West Hollywood Marketing and Visitors Bureau; The Roxy and Rainbow Bar and Grill; West Hollywood, California, USA
5. Girls Night Out; West Hollywood, California, USA