Looking west along the legendary Sunset Strip, the road stretches out like a journey into infinite possibilities, passing the storied sites where landmarks like Tower Records Sunset, SST Records, and Duke’s Diner once shaped the boulevard’s iconic legacy. Today, the Rainbow Bar and Grill and the iconic Whisky A Go-Go, thankfully, keep the heavy metal flame burning bright.
Three quick facts about the Rainbow…
Iconic bands Dokken and Guns N’ Roses both prominently featured the Rainbow in their iconic music videos.
The Sunset Strip haunt is so legendary that Richie Blackmore named his band Rainbow after the restaurant, which opened in 1972.
Joe DiMaggio took Marilyn Monroe out for their first date to Villa Nova, which stood where the Rainbow does today.
Faster Pussycat, Michael Monroe to help welcome in spring at Rainbow’s 53rd annual ‘Parking Lot’ party.
On April 13, the Sunset Strip will reverberate with an intensity unmatched by any other night when the iconic Rainbow Bar and Grill kicks off its 53rd Annual Party in the Parking Lot. A mainstay of Southern California’s rock ‘n’ roll culture, this legendary event is a haven for diehard metal enthusiasts who crave their music blistering and their beers ice-cold.
The party will once again feature an all-star roster of Sunset Strip stalwarts, with the notorious Faster Pussycat leading the charge. HanoiRocks frontman Michael Monroe will also take the stage after kicking off his first tour in nine years on April 2. The glam-rock icon shares the bill at the 53rd Annual Party in the Parking Lot with powerhouse support acts such as enduring Hollywood hard rockersOdin, legendary Southern rock band Black Oak Arkansas, which is on a special West Coast mini-tour, and red-hot L.A. rockersBlaze Francisco.
The excitement begins early, as throngs of metalheads, clad in vintage band tees and studded leather, begin to gather before the first note is struck. Expect a line stretching down the Sunset Strip, from the Rainbow all the way to the Whisky A Go-Go, long before the event officially kicks off at 1 p.m. But trust us, it’s worth the wait. Inside the event, which spills into the Rainbow and Roxy’s back parking lots, you’ll be transported back to 1985, when big hair and denim ruled the day. Amid the haze of ever-present smoke, expect to see rockers rocking their tightest Poison t-shirts, looking as if they’d just walked off the set of The Decline of Western Civilization, and others whose leather-clad looks scream Shout at the Devil-era Motley Crue.
The event is a veritable who’s who of both local rockers and rock legends, alongside the ever-present faces you’ve seen at Ultimate Jam Night Hollywood or packed into the Whisky’s raucous crowds. It’s a celebration not only of music but of community, a gathering of like-minded souls united by a love for the loud, the fast, and the unapologetically rebellious.
The atmosphere at Rainbow’s Party in the Parking Lot is always electric — yet remarkably welcoming. It’s a chance to revel in the camaraderie of the metal community, to relive the glory days of ’80s rock, even if just for a single afternoon. No need for a hot tub time machine to experience it; all you need is the right attitude and a thirst for chaos.
Admission to the event is free, but guests must prepay for two drinks upon entry. Trust us, the party’s about to get LOUD!
WeHo prepares to give the Roxy and Rainbow Bar & Grill the iconic status these rock institutions deserve.
The City of West Hollywood’s Historic Preservation Commission will recommend that the City Council approve a Mills Act Contract for two of the city’s most rockin’ cultural icons: the Roxy Theatre and the Rainbow Bar & Grill, both located on the world-famous Sunset Strip’s “Rock Row,” at 9009 and 9015 Sunset Boulevard, respectively.
The Historic Preservation Commission is dedicated to preserving historic structures that represent WeHo’s unique cultural and social heritage. “Protecting these landmarks helps deepen public understanding of the city’s past and ensures that future generations can appreciate its rich history,” says the Commission on its website.
Rock Venues Land a Mills Act Contract
A Mills Act Contract is a legal agreement between the owner of a historic property and the municipality. It allows for lower property tax rates in exchange for the owner’s commitment to undertake specific rehabilitation, restoration, and maintenance work. To qualify, a property must be listed in a historic national, state, county, or city register, be privately owned, and not be tax-exempt.
The Roxy Theatre and the Rainbow Bar & Grill meet these criteria, being listed in West Hollywood’s Register of Cultural Resources and privately owned.
We’ve got your go-to list for the hottest spring and summer shows – it’s time to rock, L.A.!
Get ready for a scorching summer of rock and roll with our “Hot Groove Summer” 2024 concert guide for the Greater Los Angeles area. From No Doubt to Cinderella, L.A. Guns to Pat Benatar, the world’s greatest rock and heavy metal legends are taking over L.A. County’s hottest venues in the coming months. So, shake off the recent rains and get ready to pump your fists all summer long. We’ve got your go-to list for the hottest spring and summer shows – it’s time to rock, Southern California!
Experience an electrifying night of hard rock hits when Tom Keifer, the powerhouse behind Cinderella, brings his gritty bluesy sound and solo hits to the 90210, showcasing his diverse talent from acoustic tracks to hard rock. Joining the bill are the legendary L.A. Guns, veterans of the Sunset Strip. From “Ballad Of Jayne” to “Never Enough” and “Sex Action,” L.A. Guns always deliver a high-octane performance.
The O.C.’s favorite sons (and daughter), No Doubt, will no doubt captivate the SoCal audience at the band’s reunion shows in Indio. Groove to the beats of “Don’t Speak” and “Just a Girl” as you relish in the hit-making band’s pop-ska classics .
Rainbow’s ’Party in the Parking Lot’ reveals full lineup for April 14 concert headlined by Sebastian Bach.
Sunset and Clarkbroke the news about the Rainbow Bar and Grill‘s much-anticipated free spring show featuring Sebastian Bach, and now, the iconic Sunset Strip venue unveils the full lineup for its 52nd annual “Party in the Parking Lot” on April 14.
The all-day rock festival happens in the Rainbow’s back parking lot, behind the Roxy, and boasts a stellar roster, including Sunset Strip legends and international heavy metal icons Faster Pussycat along with Powerman 5000, Shark Island, Donnie Vie, Melody Mortal, Villa Nova, and Black Star Sinners.
INSIDER TIP: This semi-annual live music event, which takes place at the Rainbow each April and September, has started to get super-packed very early these last couple of years. The previous two events saw long lines forming long before the gates opened. So, get there early, get in, get stamped, and enjoy the in and out privileges.
Rainbow is located at 9050 Sunset Boulevard in the heart of WeHo. Gate opens at 1 p.m. The event is free, but guests are required to prepay for two drinks (around $20). Plus, early arrivals usually get an exclusive event shirt!
All-star rock-and-roll lineup at ’Ultimate Jam Night’ had fans braving L.A.’s rain to get rocked!
We’re all about supporting the local arts community, and wow, it certainly paid off for us earlier this week at the Whisky A Go-Go’s “Ultimate Jam Night Hollywood.” Tuesday’s torrential rain couldn’t dampen the spirits of the dedicated fans who braved the storm to get their faces rocked—including by a stellar Jon Bon Jovi impersonator!
“Ultimate Jam Night Hollywood” is a free live music showcase happening every other Tuesday and featuring a themed night of non-stop rock hits performed by world-class musicians.
Celebrate the timeless influence of rock’s most revered guitarist on his birthday.
Today is the birthday of the pride of Pasadena, who was born on Jan. 26, 1955 (in Amsterdam), when the world welcomed Edward Lodewijk Van Halen.
After leaving an indelible mark on music history, the iconic 65-year-old Van Halen guitarist died of cancer on Oct. 6, 2020 at Santa Monica’s St. John’s Hospital, which is where fellow guitar legend Randy Rhoads was born (Dec. 6, 1956).
EVH delivering a solo at the Forum, around 2012.
To honor EV’s unparalleled influence, we’re sharing evanescent tributes that popped up across Los Angeles circa 2020. Although most of these memorials have faded away, we’ve captured their essence to share with fellow Van Halen fans.
So, crank up some VH tunes today and relish in the musical legacy!
Artist Robert Vargas’ mural at Guitar Center SunsetGraffiti art covers a trash bin on the Sunset Strip just outside the Whisky.EVH graffitied bin outside the Whisky A Go-Go, 2020.Continue reading EDDIE’S INFLUENCE→
The Sunset Strip scene is becoming unrecognizable. But it’s nothing a shot of Whisky can’t cure.
Lately, the ever-evolving Sunset Strip scene seems to be changing as rapidly as Machine Gun Kelly shifts musical genres. The iconic Tower Records Sunset building, though closed since 2006, recently underwent a controversial exterior alteration that affected the look of the structure, but at least Tower’s famous front facade was preserved as a testament to the magical musical palace it once housed.
Across the street, the Tower Records Videoand Classical Music Annex was the go-to spot for concert tickets, where fans lined up on Sunset and Larrabee, sometimes stretching east all the way past Book Soup for events like Ozzfest. Those were the golden days, spanning from the ’80s through the 2000s. The space eventually housed a longstanding Chase Bank, which recently closed its doors, leaving the building vacant.
A big bright yellow part of L.A.’s music history has been whitewashed. The location of the former Tower Records Sunset is now a Supreme store, which opened last week. Sure, it’s cool to see a halfpipe skate ramp inside of what was formerly the famous record shop, but we already miss seeing the L.A. music landmark.
Legendary guitarist Ace Frehley’s debut headlining show at Whisky A Go-Go brings out the KISS Army’s rock soldiers to the Sunset Strip.
Legendary KISS guitarist Ace Frehley headline The Whisky A Go-Go for the first time ever on February 27 and he did not leave without tearing the roof off of the joint. The 71-year-old rock icon looked great and was in High spirits as he continually tossed guitar picks to the fans and shared stories about his life in music.
“The Spaceman” may have been unmasked but he definitely brought back the same raw energy and ferocious hard-rockin’ energy that helped make KISS one of the biggest bands in the world. Frehley started the show at around 9:45 p.m. and immediately had the crowd fist-pumping when he opened the show with “Rip it Out,” the killer opening track to his 1978 KISS-related solo album. The second the opening chords of “Rip It Out” started to echo throughout the room, the suddenly ubiquitous devil’s horns salutes let you know the crowd of diehard rock soldiers from the KISS Army were pleased.
Fast Times’ totally tubular weekly party at the Whisky is the greatest thing to hit Sunset since Van Halen.
If you’ve ever been fortunate enough to catch Fast Times‘ totally awesome Monday night shows at the Whisky A Go-Go, then you know what it feels like to be zapped back into the awesome ’80s as if you were sitting in a DeLorean with a flux capacitor pushing it past 88 mph.
The L.A. band is one of the coolest live acts to hit the Whisky in a long time, and their infectious grooves never fail to get the crowd moving whether they’re moshing, pogoing, or doing any incarnation of the timeless Axl Rose serpentine dance, the Belinda Carlisle arm sway shimmy, or the Courtney Cox “Dancing in the Dark” awkward Mambo (which inspired the “Carlton Dance”).
The L.A. always sticks with the theme and rocks their set while donned as various iconic ’80s characters, both real and celluloid, from Jeff Spicoli to Motley Crue‘s Nikki Sixx. But it’s their music that really makes Fast Times stand out as a legitimate band of phenomenal musicians who seem to enjoy rocking their set as much as the audience enjoys hearing it.
And these guys skillfully cover every iconic bit of music from Eddie Van Halen‘s guitar solo on “Jump” to Rick Allen‘s anthemic beats of “Pour Some Sugar On Me.”
Rock and Roll Hall of Fame legend Ace Frehley is bringing his KISS and solo hits to the Whisky, Feb. 27.
Get set to rock and roll all night when iconic former KISS guitarist AceFrehley gets back in the West Hollywood groove with a headlining gig at the Whisky A Go-Go on February 27.
As we said back in 2017 when he headlined the Saban Theatre in Beverly Hills, the founding KISS member is really in his element when he’s commanding the stage as a frontman. He puts on an exciting two-hour set of non-stop rockers that include his own classic KISS, Frehley’s Comet, and solo hits.
During his set, Frehley covers many KISS classics, like “Rocket Ride,” “Cold Gin” and “Shock Me” as well as solo hits like “Rock Soldiers” and his cover of “New York Groove” from his 1978 KISS solo album.
Frehley’s equally famous smokin’ Gibson guitar will also make a guest appearance along with a few guest artists to be announced soon.
The Whisky A Go-Go is located 8901 Sunset Boulevard at Clark Street. Doors open at 7 p.m. Tickets are $65.
Whisky A Go-Go and Hal Sparks set to host a night of classic rock from one of the greatest eras for music.
If you weren’t fortunate enough to have lived through at least part of the ’70s, you’re in luck because the Whisky A Go-Go is going to take rock fans back in time to the good old days when Zeppelin ruled and nobody even knew what twerking was yet.
Tuesday Night Music Club: Chuck Wright (l.) & Hal Sparks
On January 17, actor, rocker, and Nerd Halen frontman Hal Sparks is once again hosting Ultimate Jam Night Hollywood, which is themed “That ’70s Jam.” The set will include two hours of stellar rock covers of Me Decade masterpieces delivered by world-class working musicians that you probably have seen before performing in some of your favorite classic and modern rock bands, from Quiet Riot to Duran Duran.
Beasts of Burden: Rolling Stones circa 1970s
Plus, Sparks is a very entertaining and funny emcee that makes the segway between numbers go very smoothly, so the entire evening just feels like one big party.
On Monday nights in L.A., about the only sure shot you got is Fast Times at the Whisky A Go-Go.
The Whisky A Go-Go‘s Monday night house band, Fast Times, is a totally awesome and completely tubular ’80s tribute band that never fails to knock your neon lime green socks off and get your checkerboard Vans moshing.
Bored on a random Monday night, we cruised over to Sunset and Clark to catch yet another set by Fast Times, which has been the Whisky’s Monday night house band for the past two years. And they always give one of the coolest, most faithful sets of ’80s covers that are spot-on and have an awesome added edge that comes from the high-energy live show that includes plenty of audience participation.
Viper Room gives a Sunset Strip salute to iconic Fleetwood Mac member.
Fleetwood Mac‘s legendary singer-keyboardist Christine McVie died November 30 at the age of 79 following a short illness.
“A few hours ago I was told that my best friend in the whole world since the first day of 1975 had passed away,” wrote bandmate Stevie Nicks in an online tribute to McVie. “See you on the other side, my love,” she added. “Don’t forget me.”
The Sunset Strip also paid homage to McVie via the marquis of the world-famous Viper Room music club.
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