As a live sound engineer I worked many of those clubs with up coming bands and doing show cases for record companies. Thanks for the memories and nightmares.
This vid is very near and dear to me as I frequented most of these locations at one time or another---some a lot more than others. Enjoy it and let me know if you've got a story about any of them!
LA native here ,Shame they're tearing all the old sites down . A year or so ago I was walking in downtown San Antonio, and was really impressed how they put in the tall buildings, but left all the original store fronts/facades. The country club in Reseda was an epic spot as well it can always be viewed as the disco in boogie nights. As well as the entire Sherman way /Reseda blvd, in some of P.T. Anderson movie. Licorice pizza was the name of the local record store. ( shout out to the record trader as well) Lastly I cannot recommend valley relic museum enough, really incredible items from a great Era of that wonderful location to be in. As I'm a bicycle addict( 42 and counting) his bmx stuff is incredible. Great video as always
@@diviningrod2671 There was a front page article this morning in the Los Angeles Daily News about the Valley Museum. I gotta get out there and take a look!
saw the replacements at Als Bar - X at Club 88 - gary Myrick and the figures at the Starwood - friends the Beat rehearsed down stairs at the Masque - great jobs posting these long lost gems. oh yeah the talking heads at the whiskey on their first west coast tour...
This particular episode was easy to dig into details on as I frequented most of the venues at one time or another. Thanks again for the comment. Makes my day!
Excellent video and incredible history here! Luckily, I was able to spend some time on Sunset on one of my trips. Going to that Guitar Center was so cool as well!
Excellent tour Tim, looking forward to part 2. I loved the Palomino and learned to line dance there. The late 80's were a great time, I saw the Tom Tom Club at some hole in the wall club near 6th St. and Alvarado. Club Lingerie was one of my favorites. I saw Red Hot Chili Peppers there before they were famous, John Doe and Exene were at the next table. Great times.
@@RockessentialTim Exactly, I think it was around 1983. They did the 'sock' show when I saw them. I used to read about them in the LA Weekly's La Dee Da column.
This is great!!! I’ve been a bar owner in Antigua Guatemala since 2006. Originally from Wales UK. Subscribed and think I’ll jump on a plane to L.A. something I’ve wanted to do for years. Only 5 hours from here.
Yo Steve! Yeah, these places tend to get a might touchy when you whip out a camera. Weird considering that everybody and their brother are taking pictures with iphones.
It's amazing Tim how often you were tailed during your various stops along your video tutorial. I enjoyed every moment, you are the 007 of music history!! These stories of the past must be told! 🤗☮️💙👍
I was blessed to go to everyone of these clubs. Basically from 80 to current. Thank you so much for this, it's an amazing episode! Keep up the great work and THANK YOU!
In August 2023, my '80s New Wave band, The Bings were asked to reunite for an International Pop Overthrow concert at the Redwood Bar & Grill on 2nd Street. We hadn't performed together in 40 years, and the Redwood crowd was real good to us. Cool pirate vibe, and the food was pretty good, too. We might do it again in another 40 years.
We loved in the first part video when you mentioned that before it was the Viper club it was called The Central , as we performed with many star musicians there !
@@RockessentialTim I think the 60s/70s was a great time to grow up. It was still an analog world. The music was real. So much diversity in the music back then. The early KROQ really embraced that by playing Eddie Rabbit, Van Halen, Talking Heads and Elvis Costello back to back. Thanks for the interesting channel.
Interesting about the Viper Room. I heard they will rebuild it with the new highrise they're putting there but there's no way that the new one won't suck.
Man I've been waiting my whole life to escape to La for a few weeks to hit the comedy store and try to take over the world. I couldn't make it young I'm in my thirties now with wife and kids but if I could ever fly out to chase the dream I will . Very cool video man thanks
Thanks for trip round LA's new and old clubs and bars. Very interesting. Next time am in LA will endeavor to visit some of these places. As a huge music fan, you've opened my eyes to a different LA. Will definitely be back in the coming years. Cheers Tim, greetings from Thailand.
My favorites must be in the next episode. I sort of lucked into a great time and great locations, and my friends always waited for my weekend show recommendations.
Love your videos! I'm a huge EAGLES fan and I always wanted to go to LA to see the famous clubs that have so much iconic history. Keep up the the good work! 👍🏻
Thank you, thank you! It is a pleasure to make them and I'm working on one now. I find myself being a bigger fan of Eagles now than I was then, they wear very well.
Thanks for the memories, I used to deliver phone books for small money when I lived in L.A. and covered a lot of the areas you are again!!! Sometimes I still wish I lived there, but No! I was destined to move overseas and I finally did it in the later '80's, so bye, bye L.A. for me!!! Anyway Thanks again and I look forward to your next release??!! P.S. I schooled in SFO in the late sixties too!!
Great!!! We saw Quiet Riot at the Starwood club in Hollywood and Kevin was incredible. Randy Rhoads was too so it was one of the few shows they played at the Starwood with Randy. They were not quiet by the way!
WOW. Ok, yes I've been to all the old clubs, worked at Wongs Chinatown ('79-82) as the bartender. Friends worked at West later. So many memories and all those clubs were so comfortable. No mention of Blackie's or The Mint? (2 fun westside spots). King King was my favorite in the early 90s. Palomino late 80s such a fun scene. McCabe's wasn't really a club, but perfect when you wanted to really listen to music vs a scene. The Central was icky, better as the Viper Room. (Chuck E managed?) This is just great! Thank you.
There is a second episode coming but I've had a couple people mention Blackie's and I honestly had completely forgotten all about it. I also didn't remember The Scream. I may have to make a part 3---There were so many cool places.
Thanks Tim your videos are so good man. Every time I see that you have another video it makes my day. Cant wait for part 2. Keep them coming your awesome ! !
@@RockessentialTim I love LA’s history of night clubs. Ray Manzarek made a UA-cam video about Venice and how The Doors got started. He talks about some of the Jazz clubs in Venice at that time.
Well Phill, grew up in LA in the 60s, the Cheetah was a cool place. It became the Aquarius where I ialked with the Fool while he painted the famous mural on the outside wall. I was at Pandora's Box the nights of the curfew riots. The band playing was WW3, the whole place was painted with dayglow paint. It had a lawn painted purple. The police wern't let in, to leave the door that was locked was opened and you had to run for it. Many more stories about that, thanks for your vids..
Fascinating. I am a LA transplant and didn't get here until the late 70's so I missed those places. I think the Aquarius on Sunset is where Don Kirshner's Rock Concert was later filmed.
Hi TIm! Another awesome video about LA. Interestingly, I always drive past these places but have never been since I'm not a club person. I just love driving down Sunset. I have to say, I was a little worried, so be careful. That was scary with the guy following you. Please be careful as LA is at its worst more than ever, now. I realy enjoyed this video! Thank you for sharing!
So surprised and happy to see Mr Ts get some of the recognition it deserves! That was my home away from home for many years. Played there many times, as well as a couple of gigs at Als Bar and the Smell, various dive bars etc. But Ts was home. Arlo the sound guy brought the magic. He was all of our bands biggest fan, he was just so cool to everyone. There were so many great and innovative bands, lots of artsy fartsy stuff happening, but somehow felt like there was zero pretense. We were all just having a damn good time and playing our asses off. I still haven't been to Highland Park Bowl, although they do now have a "Mr Ts Room" and have shows again. So I'll check it out one of these days.
That is awesome! I prolly visited T's 3 or 4 times and it was always a good time. Highland bowl is very interesting but they were less than cool when I whipped my camera out to film the vid. They sorely need the "Mr Ts Room" to bring some realness to their establishment. Lets hope its not just another come on to sell 20 dollar mixed drinks.
I enjoyed every minute of this video. Full of places that I played at back in the 80s. I laughed out loud when you said the bathroom *had* something to be desired. I think you meant it left something to be desired, but thank you for the laugh. Honorable mention to the Cathay de Grande in Hollywood.
I looked at a lot of pics our mutual friend gave me and I just had to use this one. (If you look down in the "See More" box below you'll see your credit.) Thank you for such a great pic!
You have a great channel. I got sober in LA in the late 80’s and dated a musician named Spyder (Bruce) Mittleman who played sax with Chuck E Weiss (remember the song “Chuck E’s in Love”?) at the Central in the 90’s. Spyder lived next door to Ben Gazarri on Doheny and Sunset in Doheny towers. Chuck E was instrumental in helping Johnny Depp turn the Central into the Viper room and we often saw him around the club. There were always people there who wanted to try their hand at music like Bruce Willis and others. Another hang out you should do a video on is Canters deli as a lot of people hung out there all night after the clubs closed. It was a fine time the 90’s. Spyder passed some years ago from a heroin overdose and Chuck E passed in 2021. So sad to see the central (viper room) demolished.
I used to hang at the Central sometimes too. It's always been a cool place. This is a video I did recently and judging by your comments I think you'll like it. Thanks much for watching and the cool comment. ua-cam.com/video/NmGJSmwd3KU/v-deo.html
The first three were the only clubs I remember going to, which was during the 1980s. The Whiskey, Roxy (where I saw Average White Band) and Gazzari's (for mud wrestling and similar entertainment).
Sadly, Hollywood will be one hotel/apt/condo/shopping/multi bs building looking at another. You forgot the HOB in Hollywood, my favorite club to play. Very cool video. I have some sticks and a cymbal in the Valley Relics Museum, nice people!
I remember a club called Blackies that started out in the Hollywood area, then moved to Main Street Santa Monica. Great bands played both locations. I saw Fear & The Mentors at the Hollywood location. And some great bands ( Dickies, Wall of Voodoo, Falcons, etc.) at the Santa Monica location.
I remember that club when it was on (i believe) La Brea. Never went to the Santa Monica one but I must admit that The Dickies was one of my favorite shows ever and I still remember them playing Gigantor!
@Hiking4Life The Dickies typically put on great shows. Fun band. Great that UA-cam clip included Wong' West, Club 88 & Music Machine. I played those joints in The Mentones more than I can remember. However, there was a fun club in Marina del Rey ( The Blue Lagoon Saloon) that had great acts play there & so did I.
I used to see Lemmy there all the time in the back bar drinking and playing some video game. I hadn't been there for years but when I filmed the other day its still a fun place to hang out.
i had no idea there were so many rock clubs in LA . From 66 to 69 i frequented only the bay area venues like winterland , Filmore west , The Avalon ballroom and occasionally GG park ,where groups like the loading Zone , Greatful Dead , jefferson Airplane etc use to play for free. The LA scene seemed to be much larger in terms of the amount of clubs and groups .
Great video! 👍👍 But u forgot to mention the Anti Club on Melrose Ave in East Hollywood and The Florentine Gardens on Hollywood Blvd, they had some punk concerts there in early 80s. The Anti Club is torn down and gone but The Florentine Gardens is still standing there. ❤
Right! I remember the Anti Club as sounding rather harsh. But I got to see Fishbone play there and it absolutely rocked! Glad the Florentine is still there though!
@@RockessentialTimFlorentine Gardens is a historical landmark, that club has been around since the 1930s , many famous movie stars appeared there. The city has been trying to knock it down for years.
Great LA Rock Club review. Just throwing out some other ones too if you get chance. From back in the golden Rock era of the 80s was China Town's Hong Kong Cafe and Madam Wongs West where the Police used to play. MW's would not book you if you played at Hong Kong Cafe. There was a rivalry between the two and they were just blocks away from each other. In Hollywood was Blackies punk rock club at 607 N. La Brea. The Alligator Lounge on Pico near the 405 and the 10. Ang the popular Lingerie Club on Sunset and Wilcox area.
I am stunned at everything I've seen on this channel. Stunning. Is a visit to (wipe your feet off, please) San Francisco forthcoming? I'm feeling entirely selfish to say so, but if you do, please do a long, LONG treatment of Fillmore :) I tell you, every single breath of these is stunning. I'm working on watching every single one. So far you have 17 homers in 17 at bats.
Thank you and my favorite part of your comment is that I've made 17 vids. I lost count! Yes, I have plans for a couple things in SF but gotta wait til the weather gets better, prolly in Spring.
@@RockessentialTim I forgot to say, your voice sounds WAY like Rick Beato. Of course Rick too is an encyclopedia of great guitars and great legendary rock music, and production too, so there!
@@RockessentialTim Actually I was on my 17th of a quest to see all 51, which I now have. Since the geniuses that run this force you to auto-watch everything in reverse chronological order (unless the channel creates a playlist in correct order and adds to it every time they upload), I had seen #51 through #35, 17 total, and you were batting 17 for 17! I've now seen the other 34, and wow. Considering that "I hate L.A."(sorry R. Newman!), for me to gush like this, you really must be doing something very right!
Dude, those are some great videos, very entertaining and informative! I'm sitting with my tripadvisor account as I write this and save all the sights to my LA Trip. Thanks a lot. Looking forward for the next video!😎
Otis Redding and Bob Dylan were pals. Otis was always pestering Bob to write him a song. Otis had a week-long residency at The Whisky in 1966. A good live album came out of it you should check out. His band were The Bar-Kays. They had the smash hit 'Soul Finger' in 1967. Most of the band died with Otis. Anyway, Dylan shows up in Otis's dressing room upstairs with a song he wrote for him. He showed him the words and Otis was blown away. It was 'Just Like A Woman'. Otis tells Bob he absolutely loves it but can't record it. Bob asks why. "Too many goddamn words, Bob. How am I going to remember all those words!".
Hi Tim, loving all your videos. Me and a good friend are coming over next year in February on the 16th/17th to relive some of the moments you’ve found yourself in the past. Avid fans of the rock of yesteryear. It would be cool to get a tour in person if you fancy doing something like that or even just a beer at Rainbow?
go down to the "more" part in the vid description and click on the thingy that says "about". that is my email and email me so we can more easily communicate. I will erase this message soon as ya'll do. @@MichaelBailey-nb3zl
Wondering if you can find , what happened to the club called the Gaslight ? We performed there on off nights of gigs . It was behind the Hollywood library !
Tim I feel like I know you or at least we went to a lot of the same shows. My band, Blow-Up, played at most of these venues. But I was blown away by your comments about Trash. I was in Trash and I loved it! You mentioned Gilby but you didn't mention C.C. Deville who was a participant as was Jonathan Daniel - the booker at Wong's West - who founded Crush Management.
@@christiansuper5057 Cool. I was in Flies On Fire. If I'm not mistaken I think Pooch was from Whittier and was friends with my sister in law who was going out with Gordon from Ashes at the time. Dunno, I could be wrong--memory from that period of my days is really hazy.
@@RockessentialTim Tim, I'm pretty hazy about those days, too, which is why I SO appreciate all the work you've done with these videos. Clearly a labor of love. Pooch is from Whittier and I've laughing that you help me understand the Blow-Up/ Ashes/Flies on Fire connections. I don't think we ever played on the same bill but I did see Ashes a lot. Great guys and great band.
I actually got to hang out with Elliot before the gig. I was friends with his producer and they let me tag along for a couple hours. It was weird and somewhat uncomfortable watching him trying to handle the sudden fame. There were literally people stopping him on the street and he clearly wanted nothing to do with that.
@@RockessentialTim I always got the feeling Elliot was a very private person. Kinda like Nick Drake.... His songs are so sophisticated... I assume he had perfect pitch, or damn near. Friends with Tom Rothrock? Rob Schnapf? Rob is a great rock producer...I liked his productions....
I've known Rob since the day he came to California. He's one of the funniest people on Earth. One of the things that struck me about Eliot was hes a frickin' amazing guitar player.
How was the parking out there? I can't imagine driving to Hollywood on a Friday night an finding a parking spot easily to see Van Halen or Randy Rhoads play in a club...lol Maybe it was a little better in the Jim Morrison era...
Parking was not bad if you were willing to walk a few blocks. Today with resident parking permits its impossible. Better bring your 25 dollars if you expect a spot!
@@RockessentialTim Let me ask you this, are those clubs/bars worth checking out today? Anything to see or would a time machine be necessary? I may be in LA in July, but I hear horror stories about traffic out there...thanks
At my age I don't get out much but The Rainbow Bar & Grille on Sunset is still a great place to have a pizza and a drink and people watch. Traffic is traffic and its bad everywhere, not just LA.
Ah memories of a some would say a misspent youth. I saw that bowling alley on the tv show American Pickers. I guess if you are " friends" with Mike Wolfe you can film anything you want.
I've actually bowled in there before. Its a really cool place but I saw people all over the place with their iphones. I don't really get the difference....oh well!
I've watched both parts and enjoyed seeing the sites of some old haunts, most of which are long gone. What about The Palace? I first saw The Plimsouls there, also Los Lobos early on who were opening for someone and I realized I was probably the only one in the tiny crowd who wasn't related to the band. On the other end of the spectrum, what about The Anti-Club? I was watching a show there one time and a cockroach landed on my head. (Another night the wall behind the couch was covered with roaches - it looked like an aerial view of migrating wildebeests in the Serengeti.) Then there was The Gaslight. It was a pool hall/dive not too far from the Lingerie. I remember one night walking several blocks from there to my car alone about 3 am and watching brawlers fall out the doors of bars along the way. Thankfully, they were too busy fighting to notice me. Good times.😉
I'm actually getting ready to shoot something at the Palace location. The Gas Light on Cosmos used to be The Sewers Of Paris--remember? Most dimly lit club in Hollywood and next to Goldfingers the worst neighborhood. And yeah, the Anti Club. Went to a few show there---fun club but possibly the worst sounding room in LA, no?
@@RockessentialTim I don't remember The Gas Light before it was that. As far as the Anti, I was a regular at the Monday night Grand Ole Anti shows. Roger Prescott (once of The Pop) came up with the idea, since the Anti was normally closed on Mondays. He talked the manager, Ren, into having free shows on Monday (the bar was open, so she made money on that) at which various musicians who normally played electric in bands came to play acoustically. You never knew who'd show up or what they'd play. Since it was mainly acoustic music for a small crowd, the sound wasn't really an issue. As it happens, the few times I went to the Gas Light it was to see the later band Roger founded with Eddie Munoz from The Plimsouls, Trainwreck Ghosts. (Also a baby band called Riding Rails and then The Rails.)
Interesting. I used to run into Eddie Munoz from time to time, he knew people that I knew kind thing. I was in a band called Flies On Fire in the early 90's and we all seemed to play the same clubs. @@OriginalCaliKitty
@@RockessentialTim there is a young man who does a travel vlog, who you might like, he also plays guitar, his vlog is Daze With Jordan The Lion he has made friends with the Nelsons and has some videos of Matthew talking about that time with his brother he has also done some videos in LA as he used to live there for many years check him out he would probably love your channel too he also did a vlog in San Francisco
They shot the Beverly Hillbillies at the Whisky before. Guess who hung out with buddy ebsen when he was just 12 when shooting Barnaby Jones. Yeah that's right. Thanks
As a live sound engineer I worked many of those clubs with up coming bands and doing show cases for record companies. Thanks for the memories and nightmares.
Hilarious. Right on!
Ha ha!
This vid is very near and dear to me as I frequented most of these locations at one time or another---some a lot more than others. Enjoy it and let me know if you've got a story about any of them!
Tim, Love your videos. Do you do any private tours?
@@TheWiserphil73 Hey, Phil. Alas, I do not tour anymore. Like the Beatles its studio work only😀.
LA native here ,Shame they're tearing all the old sites down . A year or so ago I was walking in downtown San Antonio, and was really impressed how they put in the tall buildings, but left all the original store fronts/facades.
The country club in Reseda was an epic spot as well it can always be viewed as the disco in boogie nights.
As well as the entire Sherman way /Reseda blvd, in some of P.T. Anderson movie. Licorice pizza was the name of the local record store.
( shout out to the record trader as well)
Lastly I cannot recommend valley relic museum enough, really incredible items from a great Era of that wonderful location to be in. As I'm a bicycle addict( 42 and counting) his bmx stuff is incredible.
Great video as always
@@diviningrod2671 There was a front page article this morning in the Los Angeles Daily News about the Valley Museum. I gotta get out there and take a look!
Such a bummer they’re knocking that whole block down where the Viper Room is. Sad times when those places go away ✌🏼🦎👑
Enjoy them while you can Los Angeles... New York and Boston venues are dropping like flies.
saw the replacements at Als Bar - X at Club 88 - gary Myrick and the figures at the Starwood - friends the Beat rehearsed down stairs at the Masque - great jobs posting these long lost gems. oh yeah the talking heads at the whiskey on their first west coast tour...
That is too cool. BTW, I saw X at club 88 with the Gears. Wonder if it was the same gig!
Been in most of them. Thanks for the memories
Right on, thanks.
This is one of my favorite UA-cam channels!! Your attention to detail and fact is second to none. Very well done!!!
This particular episode was easy to dig into details on as I frequented most of the venues at one time or another. Thanks again for the comment. Makes my day!
Excellent video and incredible history here! Luckily, I was able to spend some time on Sunset on one of my trips. Going to that Guitar Center was so cool as well!
Excellent tour Tim, looking forward to part 2. I loved the Palomino and learned to line dance there. The late 80's were a great time, I saw the Tom Tom Club at some hole in the wall club near 6th St. and Alvarado. Club Lingerie was one of my favorites. I saw Red Hot Chili Peppers there before they were famous, John Doe and Exene were at the next table. Great times.
Too cool, I saw The Chili Peppers there too! They wore, um, tube socks as I recall.
@@RockessentialTim Exactly, I think it was around 1983. They did the 'sock' show when I saw them. I used to read about them in the LA Weekly's La Dee Da column.
This is great!!! I’ve been a bar owner in Antigua Guatemala since 2006. Originally from Wales UK. Subscribed and think I’ll jump on a plane to L.A. something I’ve wanted to do for years. Only 5 hours from here.
Love seeing these historic old places, great job Tim. Thanks for slipping past the "secret service" to document these iconic venues.
Yo Steve! Yeah, these places tend to get a might touchy when you whip out a camera. Weird considering that everybody and their brother are taking pictures with iphones.
It's amazing Tim how often you were tailed during your various stops along your video tutorial. I enjoyed every moment, you are the 007 of music history!! These stories of the past must be told! 🤗☮️💙👍
Ha, that is a great way of putting it. Agent 00soul....
Thank you as always, love all the history.
Thanks. I loved doing this series cuz I frequented pretty much every club on the tour at one time or another!
I was blessed to go to everyone of these clubs. Basically from 80 to current. Thank you so much for this, it's an amazing episode! Keep up the great work and THANK YOU!
Cool, I'm glad you liked it. I too frequented many of them and my ears have never fully stopped ringing!
Great video as always👍🎶
This is true Rock history right here, that was awesome.
Never fails to impress, great blog, great days indeed ATB.
Thanks, my man!
Only in my dreams will I ever get to the USA and too these great places!
Greetings, Mick. Most of them used to be a hell of a lot cooler when they were actually still there!
In August 2023, my '80s New Wave band, The Bings were asked to reunite for an International Pop Overthrow concert at the Redwood Bar & Grill on 2nd Street. We hadn't performed together in 40 years, and the Redwood crowd was real good to us. Cool pirate vibe, and the food was pretty good, too. We might do it again in another 40 years.
Number of VH bootlegs out there of them playing Gazzarri's. Good stuff!
This is great! Don't forget that Spaceland used to be Pan's before it was Spaceland!
Thanks for another great video. Looking forward to part 2.💖💯
Thanks! The next one if pretty much done, prolly next week.
thanks for sharing this Tim 👍 Cheers ✌️
Loved making this one!
Some happy memories of Madame Wong's West. I was a sound man there for ~6 years in the late 80s/90s.
That is too cool. I wonder if we ever crossed paths. I was in a band called Flies on Fire at the time.
Great job Tim, I enjoyed this tour of memory lane. I bet those clubs were packed in the 60s and 70s.
Thanks. Some of em like The Smell and The Whisky are STILL packed every night.
Alas, part 1 doesn't seem to go back that far. I guess one would have to be a living anachronism, (like me) to have any personal memories of that era.
@@SlothsTV Fear not, part 2 is coming....
We loved in the first part video when you mentioned that before it was the Viper club it was called The Central , as we performed with many star musicians there !
We played a bunch of these places. Thanks for the memories.
It was a great time to be in a band, right?
@@RockessentialTim I think the 60s/70s was a great time to grow up. It was still an analog world. The music was real. So much diversity in the music back then. The early KROQ really embraced that by playing Eddie Rabbit, Van Halen, Talking Heads and Elvis Costello back to back.
Thanks for the interesting channel.
Man this brings back memories! I played quite a few been to them all I think.
Fabulous Tim! Thanks for the tour!
This is fucking amazing! Thank you! For your work. Preserving rock music history.
My pleasure, Thanks!
really appreciate your work and in preserving this history
It is my pleasure, thank you.
Interesting about the Viper Room. I heard they will rebuild it with the new highrise they're putting there but there's no way that the new one won't suck.
👍
Man I've been waiting my whole life to escape to La for a few weeks to hit the comedy store and try to take over the world. I couldn't make it young I'm in my thirties now with wife and kids but if I could ever fly out to chase the dream I will . Very cool video man thanks
Thanks for trip round LA's new and old clubs and bars. Very interesting. Next time am in LA will endeavor to visit some of these places. As a huge music fan, you've opened my eyes to a different LA. Will definitely be back in the coming years. Cheers Tim, greetings from Thailand.
Thanks, Andrew. Thailand def on my bucket list!
My favorites must be in the next episode. I sort of lucked into a great time and great locations, and my friends always waited for my weekend show recommendations.
Give us a hint to what your favorite was!
@@RockessentialTim Forget it Jake, it's Chinatown. I loved the Hong Kong Cafe.
@@ralphiewigs2208 Well then Mr. Gitts, I think you'll be very satisfied with episode 2!
PS: I was always more of a Wong's East kinda guy...
Great job Tim!!!! Thank u!!
Love your videos! I'm a huge EAGLES fan and I always wanted to go to LA to see the famous clubs that have so much iconic history. Keep up the the good work! 👍🏻
Thank you, thank you! It is a pleasure to make them and I'm working on one now. I find myself being a bigger fan of Eagles now than I was then, they wear very well.
Good One Tim !! Jimmy ..
Thanks, Jimmy. Good to hear from you!
Thanks for the memories, I used to deliver phone books for small money when I lived in L.A. and covered a lot of the areas you are again!!! Sometimes I still wish I lived there, but No! I was destined to move overseas and I finally did it in the later '80's, so bye, bye L.A. for me!!! Anyway Thanks again and I look forward to your next release??!! P.S. I schooled in SFO in the late sixties too!!
Very cool!
Greetings from W. Africa, a long ways from L.A. & SFO!!!
Great!!! We saw Quiet Riot at the Starwood club in Hollywood and Kevin was incredible. Randy Rhoads was too so it was one of the few shows they played at the Starwood with Randy. They were not quiet by the way!
I might have been at the same show cuz I saw Randy play the Starwood!
@@RockessentialTim Yes heard only played a bit over a dozen shows there so it's great that you caught one!
WOW. Ok, yes I've been to all the old clubs, worked at Wongs Chinatown ('79-82) as the bartender. Friends worked at West later. So many memories and all those clubs were so comfortable. No mention of Blackie's or The Mint? (2 fun westside spots). King King was my favorite in the early 90s. Palomino late 80s such a fun scene. McCabe's wasn't really a club, but perfect when you wanted to really listen to music vs a scene. The Central was icky, better as the Viper Room. (Chuck E managed?) This is just great! Thank you.
There is a second episode coming but I've had a couple people mention Blackie's and I honestly had completely forgotten all about it. I also didn't remember The Scream. I may have to make a part 3---There were so many cool places.
fantastic video that deserves way more views! ive played most of these bars and its amazing hearing more about them.
Thank you. What era did you play in?
Thanks Tim your videos are so good man. Every time I see that you have another video it makes my day. Cant wait for part 2. Keep them coming your awesome ! !
Thanks man. I should have part 2 done this week. Some older clubs in it.
@@RockessentialTim I love LA’s history of night clubs. Ray Manzarek made a UA-cam video about Venice and how The Doors got started. He talks about some of the Jazz clubs in Venice at that time.
Love that video.
Well I enjoyed it
man I love this dam cool video
You are so good at this, thanks for so many cool rock history videos, you are a master at it, please keep them coming and THANKS so much again!
Thanks, Mark! Actually, I'm releasing another vid later today. Have a great day. Later!
Thanks for the tour of the Petco.
No R&R tour would be complete without one. Thanks!
Well Phill, grew up in LA in the 60s, the Cheetah was a cool place. It became the Aquarius where I ialked with the Fool while he painted the famous mural on the outside wall. I was at Pandora's Box the nights of the curfew riots. The band playing was WW3, the whole place was painted with dayglow paint. It had a lawn painted purple. The police wern't let in, to leave the door that was locked was opened and you had to run for it. Many more stories about that, thanks for your vids..
Fascinating. I am a LA transplant and didn't get here until the late 70's so I missed those places. I think the Aquarius on Sunset is where Don Kirshner's Rock Concert was later filmed.
Love it! Thanks!!
Right on, thanks!
Hi TIm! Another awesome video about LA. Interestingly, I always drive past these places but have never been since I'm not a club person. I just love driving down Sunset. I have to say, I was a little worried, so be careful. That was scary with the guy following you. Please be careful as LA is at its worst more than ever, now. I realy enjoyed this video! Thank you for sharing!
So surprised and happy to see Mr Ts get some of the recognition it deserves! That was my home away from home for many years. Played there many times, as well as a couple of gigs at Als Bar and the Smell, various dive bars etc. But Ts was home. Arlo the sound guy brought the magic. He was all of our bands biggest fan, he was just so cool to everyone. There were so many great and innovative bands, lots of artsy fartsy stuff happening, but somehow felt like there was zero pretense. We were all just having a damn good time and playing our asses off.
I still haven't been to Highland Park Bowl, although they do now have a "Mr Ts Room" and have shows again. So I'll check it out one of these days.
That is awesome! I prolly visited T's 3 or 4 times and it was always a good time. Highland bowl is very interesting but they were less than cool when I whipped my camera out to film the vid. They sorely need the "Mr Ts Room" to bring some realness to their establishment. Lets hope its not just another come on to sell 20 dollar mixed drinks.
I enjoyed every minute of this video. Full of places that I played at back in the 80s. I laughed out loud when you said the bathroom *had* something to be desired. I think you meant it left something to be desired, but thank you for the laugh. Honorable mention to the Cathay de Grande in Hollywood.
Thanks much. BTW, Cathay gets a mention in episode 2. I used to love that place. Cool...
That's my Great Buildings pic. :)
I looked at a lot of pics our mutual friend gave me and I just had to use this one. (If you look down in the "See More" box below you'll see your credit.) Thank you for such a great pic!
PS: Interestingly, The Rembrandts and my band Flies On Fire were label mates on Atco in the 90's.
@@RockessentialTim my pleasure.
Awesome video ‼️🔥😎🎸
Right on, thanks!
Great buildings and The Mutts at Club 88. Those were the days, man.
Indeed. But I think it might have been The Music Machine :)
Love your videos!
Thank you much!
You have a great channel. I got sober in LA in the late 80’s and dated a musician named Spyder (Bruce) Mittleman who played sax with Chuck E Weiss (remember the song “Chuck E’s in Love”?) at the Central in the 90’s. Spyder lived next door to Ben Gazarri on Doheny and Sunset in Doheny towers. Chuck E was instrumental in helping Johnny Depp turn the Central into the Viper room and we often saw him around the club. There were always people there who wanted to try their hand at music like Bruce Willis and others. Another hang out you should do a video on is Canters deli as a lot of people hung out there all night after the clubs closed. It was a fine time the 90’s. Spyder passed some years ago from a heroin overdose and Chuck E passed in 2021. So sad to see the central (viper room) demolished.
I used to hang at the Central sometimes too. It's always been a cool place. This is a video I did recently and judging by your comments I think you'll like it. Thanks much for watching and the cool comment. ua-cam.com/video/NmGJSmwd3KU/v-deo.html
The first three were the only clubs I remember going to, which was during the 1980s. The Whiskey, Roxy (where I saw Average White Band) and Gazzari's (for mud wrestling and similar entertainment).
Really cool video!
Sadly, Hollywood will be one hotel/apt/condo/shopping/multi bs building looking at another. You forgot the HOB in Hollywood, my favorite club to play. Very cool video. I have some sticks and a cymbal in the Valley Relics Museum, nice people!
Right on, thanks. You're right, HOB was great!
I remember a club called Blackies that started out in the Hollywood area, then moved to Main Street Santa Monica. Great bands played both locations. I saw Fear & The Mentors at the Hollywood location. And some great bands ( Dickies, Wall of Voodoo, Falcons, etc.) at the Santa Monica location.
I remember that club when it was on (i believe) La Brea. Never went to the Santa Monica one but I must admit that The Dickies was one of my favorite shows ever and I still remember them playing Gigantor!
@Hiking4Life The Dickies typically put on great shows. Fun band. Great that UA-cam clip included Wong' West, Club 88 & Music Machine. I played those joints in The Mentones more than I can remember. However, there was a fun club in Marina del Rey ( The Blue Lagoon Saloon) that had great acts play there & so did I.
Can't wait to watch this one man. Thank you for making these. I always look forward to the next installment. Hope you are well man. X
Thanks, Dave. These next 2 are pretty cool if I do say so myself. Cheers!
Maybe the Anti-Club in the next one? Cathay de Grande? Raji's?
2 out of the 3. You'll have to watch to find out which 2 though!😄
Great video! No one talks about the more obscure places. I hung around the Rainbow when I visited my brother in LA waiting to see Lemmy or Ozzy….
I used to see Lemmy there all the time in the back bar drinking and playing some video game. I hadn't been there for years but when I filmed the other day its still a fun place to hang out.
Lemme was there all the the time. Blackie from WASP tried to rival his hang time but was unsuccessful.
Wow...! What a great video once again...! I learn so much from you every time...! Well filmed too...! Well done Sir...!
Thanks, Chris. It was fun doing this one but a little bittersweet cuz so many of them are no longer there.
GREAT.
i had no idea there were so many rock clubs in LA . From 66 to 69 i frequented only the bay area venues like winterland , Filmore west , The Avalon ballroom and occasionally GG park ,where groups like the loading Zone , Greatful Dead , jefferson Airplane etc use to play for free. The LA scene seemed to be much larger in terms of the amount of clubs and groups .
Oh the memories 👍. I worked at Licorice Pizza 1976 - 79 when McNasty’s was still around. WeHo was a different city back then.
I remember the Filthy's signe in the background of the album cover for Sweet's Desolation Blvd.
@@RockessentialTim I have a large collection of photos and memorabilia from that era. Do you use the same name / handle on Facebook?
@@lossangeles No but if you search for Hiking4life you'll be able to put it together with my real name me thinks. Shoot me a friend request.
Love your handle man..wry humour at it's finest👌
Hanz Krypt our doom band has been together since 1984 we played a bunch of these places
Great episode. I don't understand why they stop you from filming. It would only serve for free advertising for them.
Great video! 👍👍
But u forgot to mention the Anti Club on Melrose Ave in East Hollywood and The Florentine Gardens on Hollywood Blvd, they had some punk concerts there in early 80s.
The Anti Club is torn down and gone but The Florentine Gardens is still standing there. ❤
Right! I remember the Anti Club as sounding rather harsh. But I got to see Fishbone play there and it absolutely rocked! Glad the Florentine is still there though!
@@RockessentialTimFlorentine Gardens is a historical landmark, that club has been around since the 1930s , many famous movie stars appeared there. The city has been trying to knock it down for years.
Great LA Rock Club review. Just throwing out some other ones too if you get chance. From back in the golden Rock era of the 80s was China Town's Hong Kong Cafe and Madam Wongs West where the Police used to play. MW's would not book you if you played at Hong Kong Cafe. There was a rivalry between the two and they were just blocks away from each other. In Hollywood was Blackies punk rock club at 607 N. La Brea. The Alligator Lounge on Pico near the 405 and the 10. Ang the popular Lingerie Club on Sunset and Wilcox area.
Thanks, Mark. Part 2 is coming out next week and some of your suggestions are featured. I must say, I forgot all about Blackies. Cool!
@@RockessentialTim Thanks. Looking forward to the next video.
Interesting video. Never been to LA or anywhere in the USA. I reckon everywhere was better in the past.
If you like overpriced drinks and computer generated dance music its actually better right now than it used to be...
@@RockessentialTim Haha!
I am stunned at everything I've seen on this channel. Stunning.
Is a visit to (wipe your feet off, please) San Francisco forthcoming? I'm feeling entirely selfish to say so, but if you do, please do a long, LONG treatment of Fillmore :)
I tell you, every single breath of these is stunning. I'm working on watching every single one. So far you have 17 homers in 17 at bats.
Thank you and my favorite part of your comment is that I've made 17 vids. I lost count! Yes, I have plans for a couple things in SF but gotta wait til the weather gets better, prolly in Spring.
@@RockessentialTim I forgot to say, your voice sounds WAY like Rick Beato. Of course Rick too is an encyclopedia of great guitars and great legendary rock music, and production too, so there!
@@RockessentialTim Actually I was on my 17th of a quest to see all 51, which I now have. Since the geniuses that run this force you to auto-watch everything in reverse chronological order (unless the channel creates a playlist in correct order and adds to it every time they upload), I had seen #51 through #35, 17 total, and you were batting 17 for 17! I've now seen the other 34, and wow. Considering that "I hate L.A."(sorry R. Newman!), for me to gush like this, you really must be doing something very right!
And lets not forget that Rick has great hair.@@Bill_Woo
Dude, those are some great videos, very entertaining and informative! I'm sitting with my tripadvisor account as I write this and save all the sights to my LA Trip. Thanks a lot. Looking forward for the next video!😎
Right on. Le me know when you make it over. Are you in Europe?
@@RockessentialTim Sure, will do! 👍 yeah, living in Austria. But have studied in Pasadena, a couple of years ago…
@@drumfiles Cool. Austria be on my bucket list.
@@RockessentialTim Awesome. Let me know once you are here, for a little walking tour through Vienna. 😉
@@drumfiles 🙂
Otis Redding and Bob Dylan were pals. Otis was always pestering Bob to write him a song. Otis had a week-long residency at The Whisky in 1966. A good live album came out of it you should check out. His band were The Bar-Kays. They had the smash hit 'Soul Finger' in 1967. Most of the band died with Otis.
Anyway, Dylan shows up in Otis's dressing room upstairs with a song he wrote for him. He showed him the words and Otis was blown away. It was 'Just Like A Woman'. Otis tells Bob he absolutely loves it but can't record it. Bob asks why.
"Too many goddamn words, Bob. How am I going to remember all those words!".
Love that story. I am a huge Stax fan as well as Otis and I had never heard it. Cool!
Hi Tim, loving all your videos. Me and a good friend are coming over next year in February on the 16th/17th to relive some of the moments you’ve found yourself in the past. Avid fans of the rock of yesteryear. It would be cool to get a tour in person if you fancy doing something like that or even just a beer at Rainbow?
The beer part could maybe work. Let me know when it gets closer. Cool!
Here Next week Friday and Saturday if your about on the sunset strip!
go down to the "more" part in the vid description and click on the thingy that says "about". that is my email and email me so we can more easily communicate. I will erase this message soon as ya'll do. @@MichaelBailey-nb3zl
Did you get my message?
@@MichaelBailey-nb3zl
Couldn’t find your email. Messaged on Facebook
Both videos are a fun walk down memory lane! How about Cathey De Grande, The Zero Club, Anti-Club, and in the Valley - FM Station, The Country Club...
I cover a few of them in part 2. I remember the zero one.
Country Club was a blast...have some good stories including introducing Terri Nunn to Joe Perry backstage.
Great clip!
@@bigredmachine1 Too cool! I was going to include it but I just never got around to getting out there. Was it on Sherman Way?
🤠"Another one bites the dust...!" 😆😆😆03:50 Gets the up-vote! Would love to see the out-takes 👮👮♂😎
Wondering if you can find , what happened to the club called the Gaslight ? We performed there on off nights of gigs . It was behind the Hollywood library !
OMG. I remember that place. It was on Shaeffer I think or maybe Wilcox. I'm sure its now an uber trendy dance club!
Cool image of the Palomino with Commander Cody on the marquee. Did you ever happen to catch a Link Wray show by chance?
Love Link but never saw him live.
Where did they film the Velvet Revolver fall to pieces music video?
Never create the same atmosphere as the 60.s and 70.s
Tim I feel like I know you or at least we went to a lot of the same shows. My band, Blow-Up, played at most of these venues.
But I was blown away by your comments about Trash. I was in Trash and I loved it! You mentioned Gilby but you didn't mention C.C. Deville who was a participant as was Jonathan Daniel - the booker at Wong's West - who founded Crush Management.
Hey man! Wasn't Pooch in your band?
@@RockessentialTim YES! I still talk to Pooch regularly. He saw your video as well.
@@christiansuper5057 Cool. I was in Flies On Fire. If I'm not mistaken I think Pooch was from Whittier and was friends with my sister in law who was going out with Gordon from Ashes at the time. Dunno, I could be wrong--memory from that period of my days is really hazy.
@@RockessentialTim Tim, I'm pretty hazy about those days, too, which is why I SO appreciate all the work you've done with these videos. Clearly a labor of love.
Pooch is from Whittier and I've laughing that you help me understand the Blow-Up/ Ashes/Flies on Fire connections. I don't think we ever played on the same bill but I did see Ashes a lot. Great guys and great band.
@@christiansuper5057 We never played togethere but I knew your band. I was good friends with Jim Becker who now lives in Whittier.
Sad what going to happen for the Viper Room. I'm all for gentrification but historic spots should be preserved.
They'll rebuild a hotel or something there and put in a flacid nightclub and name it The Viper Room. You can bet on it!
I think the band Rainbow was named after the bar in Hollywood...Ritchie Blackmore and Dio were there drinking after Ritchie left Deep Purple....
I think you are absolutely right. I don't know it for a fact but I used to frequent The Rainbow and saw Blackmore there many times.
ORIENTED!
Accurate.
Tex and Horseheads... great band!! Elliot Smith... wow. Would have loved to have hung out at Spaceland!!!
I actually got to hang out with Elliot before the gig. I was friends with his producer and they let me tag along for a couple hours. It was weird and somewhat uncomfortable watching him trying to handle the sudden fame. There were literally people stopping him on the street and he clearly wanted nothing to do with that.
@@RockessentialTim I always got the feeling Elliot was a very private person. Kinda like Nick Drake.... His songs are so sophisticated... I assume he had perfect pitch, or damn near.
Friends with Tom Rothrock? Rob Schnapf? Rob is a great rock producer...I liked his productions....
I've known Rob since the day he came to California. He's one of the funniest people on Earth. One of the things that struck me about Eliot was hes a frickin' amazing guitar player.
@@RockessentialTim I thought Elliot played guitar with the mind of a piano player....
@@dvanmartin9842 Interesting. I always thought he played acoustic like Paul Simon.
Where was Hullabaloo filmed? Think it was Sunset @ Vine.
Great video not my scene but it was cool to imagine all the cool bands that performed there.
Exactly!
How was the parking out there? I can't imagine driving to Hollywood on a Friday night an finding a parking spot easily to see Van Halen or Randy Rhoads play in a club...lol Maybe it was a little better in the Jim Morrison era...
Parking was not bad if you were willing to walk a few blocks. Today with resident parking permits its impossible. Better bring your 25 dollars if you expect a spot!
@@RockessentialTim Let me ask you this, are those clubs/bars worth checking out today? Anything to see or would a time machine be necessary? I may be in LA in July, but I hear horror stories about traffic out there...thanks
At my age I don't get out much but The Rainbow Bar & Grille on Sunset is still a great place to have a pizza and a drink and people watch. Traffic is traffic and its bad everywhere, not just LA.
Ah memories of a some would say a misspent youth. I saw that bowling alley on the tv show American Pickers. I guess if you are " friends" with Mike Wolfe you can film anything you want.
I've actually bowled in there before. Its a really cool place but I saw people all over the place with their iphones. I don't really get the difference....oh well!
@@RockessentialTim Yeah I stopped trying to figure people out. I just do my thing and try to fly Way under the radar.
You saw Van Halen at the Whiskey, what year?
Well I saw them in 1974 at a house party in La Crescenta.
They were loud then too.
You got me beat. Saw them prolly 5 times at the Whisky & then Starwood, 76 and 77.
I've watched both parts and enjoyed seeing the sites of some old haunts, most of which are long gone. What about The Palace? I first saw The Plimsouls there, also Los Lobos early on who were opening for someone and I realized I was probably the only one in the tiny crowd who wasn't related to the band. On the other end of the spectrum, what about The Anti-Club? I was watching a show there one time and a cockroach landed on my head. (Another night the wall behind the couch was covered with roaches - it looked like an aerial view of migrating wildebeests in the Serengeti.) Then there was The Gaslight. It was a pool hall/dive not too far from the Lingerie. I remember one night walking several blocks from there to my car alone about 3 am and watching brawlers fall out the doors of bars along the way. Thankfully, they were too busy fighting to notice me. Good times.😉
I'm actually getting ready to shoot something at the Palace location. The Gas Light on Cosmos used to be The Sewers Of Paris--remember? Most dimly lit club in Hollywood and next to Goldfingers the worst neighborhood. And yeah, the Anti Club. Went to a few show there---fun club but possibly the worst sounding room in LA, no?
@@RockessentialTim I don't remember The Gas Light before it was that. As far as the Anti, I was a regular at the Monday night Grand Ole Anti shows. Roger Prescott (once of The Pop) came up with the idea, since the Anti was normally closed on Mondays. He talked the manager, Ren, into having free shows on Monday (the bar was open, so she made money on that) at which various musicians who normally played electric in bands came to play acoustically. You never knew who'd show up or what they'd play. Since it was mainly acoustic music for a small crowd, the sound wasn't really an issue. As it happens, the few times I went to the Gas Light it was to see the later band Roger founded with Eddie Munoz from The Plimsouls, Trainwreck Ghosts. (Also a baby band called Riding Rails and then The Rails.)
Interesting. I used to run into Eddie Munoz from time to time, he knew people that I knew kind thing. I was in a band called Flies On Fire in the early 90's and we all seemed to play the same clubs. @@OriginalCaliKitty
INXS- Suicide Blonde!
Perkins Palace ... Maybe in part 2 ??
Perkins was more of a venue than a club. But you're giving me some great ideas for Part 3!
Saw Deftones at Space land
the Nelsons said they played at Madame Wongs
I'm sure they did. Everybody coming up in the 80s played there.
@@RockessentialTim there is a young man who does a travel vlog, who you might like, he also plays guitar, his vlog is Daze With Jordan The Lion he has made friends with the Nelsons and has some videos of Matthew talking about that time with his brother he has also done some videos in LA as he used to live there for many years check him out he would probably love your channel too he also did a vlog in San Francisco
Where and when would we have seen Flies on Fire in the LA Music Clubs? Give it up Tim....
Well among other bands Flies prolly played 500 shows. We were the house band at Coconut Teazser and got our record deal playing there one night.
@@RockessentialTim
You was in Flies on Fire ?
My brother had your 1st CD .
Had Enough, ( about pissing in a cup for a job ).
Fly me over Memphis .
@@bak-mariterry5180 Guilty as charged!
@@RockessentialTim EXCELLENT !
Now, have you done any shows with
Spinal Tap ?
🤣🤣🤣
@@bak-mariterry5180 Still working on that one!
They shot the Beverly Hillbillies at the Whisky before. Guess who hung out with buddy ebsen when he was just 12 when shooting Barnaby Jones. Yeah that's right. Thanks