A wild night of L.A. rock anthems proves the City of Angels’ music legacy is alive and louder than ever.
The Whisky A Go-Go once again turned back the clock for its long-running Ultimate Jam Night, delivering a high-voltage tribute to the music of L.A. bands on March 18. The night was a celebration of the city’s hard rock royalty—Van Halen, Red Hot Chili Peppers, Buckcherry, Guns N’ Roses—blasting through a two-hour setlist that turned the iconic venue into a time machine straight to the Sunset Strip’s golden era.
Tuesday’s lineup was stacked, featuring go-go dancers, rock trivia, giveaways, guest appearances from Sunset Strip legends Femme Fatale, and fresh blood like arena rockers Classless Act, who surprised the crowd with new material that fit seamlessly alongside the night’s legendary setlist.
Adding to the night’s epic moments were two unexpected Ozzy Osbourne covers—an unofficial nod to the late, great Randy Rhoads, who was born in Santa Monica. With the 43rd anniversary of Rhoads’ passing the next day, the tribute hit extra hard and was one of the most memorable moments of the evening, with BulletBoys guitarist Ira Black effortlessly delivering faithful renditions of Rhoads’ legendary solos.
The show kicked off with Quiet Riot’s “Metal Health,” a fist-pumping, headbanging classic that immediately had the crowd pumping their fists. The Ultimate Jam Night house band delivered a razor-sharp rendition of the metal anthem, setting the tone for a night that felt like a rowdy reunion of rock’s wildest anthems. Host Hal Sparks respectfully gave proper dues to Quiet Riot for igniting the ’80s metal explosion with their genre-defining album, Metal Health.
Ultimate Jam Night celebrates L.A.’s greatest music exports at the Whisky, March 18.
There are few things in life as badass, life-affirming, and—let’s be real—completely free as Ultimate Jam Night at the Whisky A Go-Go. This monthly rock ‘n’ roll blowout is a full-throttle celebration of music, bringing together L.A.’s best musicians (plus a few legends) for a night of epic covers, surprises, and pure Sunset Strip energy.
On March 18, the jam gets even wilder with a tribute to “Bands of L.A.,” meaning anything from the Beach Boys and the Bangles to Mötley Crüe, Metallica, and Slayer is fair game. The setlist is top secret until showtime, but expect a rollercoaster of rock anthems delivered by world-class talent.
KICK OUT THE JAMS: Hal Sparks & guitarist Miles Schon at a recent “Ultimate Jam” event.
For over five years, Ultimate Jam Night has been the city’s premier live-music spectacle, blending rock trivia, giveaways, and jaw-dropping performances. Past guests have included rock royalty like Don Dokken, Black Sabbath’s Bill Ward, Eagles of Death Metal’s Jesse Hughes, and Metallica’s Robert Trujillo—so don’t be surprised if a few icons crash the stage.
Actor, comedian, and all-around rock aficionado Hal Sparks returns as host, dropping music history anecdotes between songs and maybe even jumping onstage himself—no surprise for the multitalented frontman of Nerd Halen.
ERUPTION: Nerd Halen frontman and “Jam Night” host Hal Sparks covering the classics.
And because one insane set isn’t enough, the night kicks off with Mr. Crowley’s Ozzy Experience, delivering face-melting covers of the Prince of F***ing Darkness himself. Plus, free tarot card readings before the show? That’s some rock ‘n’ roll mysticism right there.
HELLRAISER: Mr. Cowley paying tribute to Ozzy Osbourne at a past “Ultimate Jam” show.
This is pure L.A.—a legendary venue, top-tier musicians, a party-ready crowd, and an unforgettable show. And did we mention it’s free?
Details: 📍 Whisky A Go-Go (8901 Sunset Blvd.). Doors open at 6 p.m. ⏳ Free tarot readings at 8 p.m. 🎸 Mr. Crowley’s Ozzy Experience at 9 p.m. 🔥 Ultimate Jam Night at 10 p.m.
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.
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.
Whisky A Go-Go is getting a new look, and the Sunset Strip is welcoming a ‘Rock Walk of Fame.’
Since the Whisky A Go-Go set up business at the corner of Sunset and Clark back in 1064, the two-story club has famously sported a number of shades and exterior looks, from the groovy purple and yellow scheme in the ‘70s to the more recent red and black design.
And of course, the billboard above the club has been advertising new album releases since the 60s. At one time or another everyone from Alice Cooper to Motley Crue has been featured on billboards above the club.
MODERN ROCK; Whisky A Go-Go, November 2022.
Now, the world-famous club and the Sunset Strip are about to get a modern makeover.
Earlier this week, the West Hollywood City Council approved the conversion of the club’s static billboard into a double-sided digital billboard.
CLASSIC ROCK: Whisky A Go-Go, April 1972.
The mammoth billboard’s origami-inspired 500- and 1,000-square-foot screens are designed to evolve as motorists and pedestrians pass the billboard. Either way, it’s certainly going to get the attention of crosstown traffic at Sunset and San Vicente.
DOWN AT THE WHISKY: Motley Crue overlooking Sunset, summer 2005.
The billboard is part of a new agreement between the Whisky and the city, which expects the digital billboard to bring in over $60 million in revenue over the next 30 years.
Green Day and Riverdale cover the Whisky, fall 2017.
The best part is that the billboard is going to lead to a rock ‘n’ roll tribute on the Sunset Strip. The contract stipulates that the city will use nearly $350,000 to add a commemorative “Rock Walk” honoring the music legacy of the Sunset Strip.
Stellar L.A. bands Dina Dover and The Band Called Sex are proving Gene Simmons wrong.
Music icon Gene Simmons caused a stir with rock and rollers in the recent past when he proclaimed that rock and roll is dead.
The outspoken Demon was referring to the fact that modern rock radio simply doesn’t have any decent new rock bands that seem like they will stand the test of time like KISS did, and Van Halen, Motley Crue, and other legendary bands from the ’60s, ’70s, and ’80s (and a few from the ’90s) who we all still listen to today.
LOCALS ONLY: Whisky welcomes back original rock from L.A.’s best new bands.
While we’d never refute the legendary Demon’s opinion on such an important topic, there is a good sign that rock and roll may not necessarily be dead. Proof of life is found at the Whisky A Go-Go, where we recently took in a set by the totally awesome L.A. ’80s tribute band Fast Times.
On a random Monday night, as we were checking out the two local bands opening the show, Dina Dover and The Band Called Sex, we were stoked by the rock and roll authenticity of both bands, whose original songs were memorable, catchy, and rocked hard without any bit of pretentiousness or gimmickry.
Plus, you could see and hear obvious influences of the likes of The Go-Go’s, Led Zeppelin, and Black Sabbath in the performances by these new young bands that played straightforward melodic original rock and roll that the crowd seemed to really appreciate.
I WANT YOUR SEX: The Band Called Sex rocks the Whisky.
The two bands that supported Fast Times, Dina Dover and The Band Called Sex, had the 40 or 50 people in attendance riveted to their music as they banged their heads, bopped to the beat, and cheered on the bands as if they were watching Aerosmith. It was a sight to behold, especially after post-pandemic L.A. nightlife had been stagnant for so long.
The Band Called Sex delivered some badass, unpretentious original rock and roll that echoed of the bluesy grooves of Led Zeppelin and the powerhouse pipes of Ronnie James Dio but delivered with a straightforward musicality all its own.
ROCK N’ ROLL THRILLER: Dina Dover’s fun, edgy tunes had the house transfixed.
Dina Dover followed TBCS and the excellent band may look like a misfit group of high schoolers who just stepped out of The Breakfast Club, but when they jam together, it’s magic–a marvelous cohesive rock and roll sound that is slick, edgy, and instantly catchy. If The Go-Go’s ever got together with Blink 182, this could be their love child.
Plus, any rock band that opens their set with a fantastic cover of Michael Jackson‘s “Thriller,” automatically gets a gold star in our book. It’s not easy to make an MJ song your own, but they did it effortlessly.
HEY, I KNOW THAT DUDE! Fast Times brings the awesome ’80s to Sunset.
The memorable evening at the Whisky A Go-Go was an authentic music moment that was goosebump inducing because it seemed to be a noticeable, pivotal moment where music fans were in the mood to get their faces rocked off and they were certainly getting exactly that on this random Monday night on the Sunset Strip.
This musical experience was all about being moved by the entire enormity and majesty of this rockin’ showcase of original music that was followed by Fast Times’ incredible spot-on covers of the best rock songs of the ’80s by bands like Def Leppard and Van Halen.
So, with all due respect to the mighty Demon, rock may be on its last breath, but it is being resuscitated nightly at the corner of Sunset and Clark, where you could still rock and roll all night and party everyday. And for that we’ll forever be grateful.
Sunset Strip rock landmarks Rainbow and Whisky set to pay tribute to metal legend Ronnie James Dio, July 7 and July 19.
The immortal Ronnie James Dio would have hit the big 8-0 on July 10, and to celebrate, the Rainbow Bar and Grill is celebrating with a rockin’ party dedicated to the late, great singer-songwriter, who once famously fronted a band named after this very restaurant.
On July 7, the Rainbow is hosting “Dio at the Rainbow in the Dark,” a record release celebration in honor of Rhino Records’ 40th anniversary remixed and remastered edition of Dio’s spectacular 1983 solo debut, Holy Diver. The classic rock masterpiece is being released on three formats: digital, vinyl, and as a two- and four-disc CD set.
Ubiquitous Sunset Strip headbanger and radio personality Eddie Trunk is emceeing the event, which is happening from 7-9 p.m. in the upstairs bar, where the evening is sure to be dominated by the glorious sounds of Dio’s timeless classics rockin’ the roof off of the Rainbow.
The Rainbow Bar and Grill is located at 9015 Sunset Boulevard. The “Dio at the Rainbow in the Dark” event is free.
One week after the Rainbow’s Dio celebration, the Whisky A Go-Go is hosting a night honoring the heavy metal legend on July 19, with the club’s biweekly Ultimate Jam Night Hollywood event set to crank out career-defining classics spanning Ronnie James Dio’s career, from Holy Diver to 2004’s Masters of the Moon as well as scorchers like “Man On the Silver Mountain,” “Gambler, Gambler,” and “Rock ‘n Roll Children” from his time in Black Sabbath, Rainbow, Elf, and Heaven and Hell.
The Whisky is located at 8901 Sunset Boulevard at Clark Street in West Hollywood. Ultimate Jam NightHollywood’s Dio tribute will kick off at 10 p.m. and is free to those 21 and over, and $10 for those under.
Def Leppard’s Diamond Star Halos shines on the Sunset Strip on eve of band’s invite-only Whisky show.
On the eve of their hotly-anticipated show at the Whisky A Go-Go on May 26, Def Leppard left their mark on the Sunset Strip earlier today to announce the release of their new album, Diamond Star Halos.
Sunset Boulevard welcomes rockin’ resurgence thanks to Rainbow’s ‘Party in the Parking Lot’ and Whisky’s tireless championing of live rock n’ roll.
For almost two long, agonizing years, the world-famous Sunset Strip’s “Rock Row” seemed like a ghost town because of the pandemic and it’s stranglehold on the fears of the general public.
But once the mask debates subsided and the world got back to semi-normal, the sounds of authentic rock and roll began once again filling the Sunset Strip with a buzz that has kept the scene alive since then, courtesy of some of the coolest concerts to ever hit WeHo post-pandemic.
Cherie Currie delivering timeless classics by The Runaways at “Ultimate Jam Night Hollywood.”
The Whisky A Go-Go and RainbowBar and Grill should be commended for keeping the flame of rock n’ roll alive through some challenging times by hosting recent free shows at the Whisky, with Tuesday’s Jam Night, and at the Rainbow with April’s “Party in the Parking Lot” with Ratt‘s Stephen Pearcy, Steel Panther, and Hollywood legends Pretty Boy Floyd.
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