| Whisky a Go Go | |
|---|---|
The Whisky a Go Go on the Sunset Strip |
|
| Nickname(s) | The Whisky |
| Location | 8901 W Sunset Blvd, West Hollywood, California 90069 |
| Coordinates | Coordinates: |
| Type | nightclub |
| Genre(s) | rock and roll |
| Opened | January 11, 1964 |
| Website | http://www.whiskyagogo.com/ |
The Whisky a Go Go is a nightclub in West Hollywood, California. A nightclub (or "night club" or "club" is a drinking, dancing, and entertainment venue which does its primary business after dark West Hollywood, a city in Los Angeles County California, was incorporated on November 29, 1984. It is located at 8901 Sunset Boulevard on the Sunset Strip. Sunset Boulevard is a Street in the western part of Los Angeles County California, that stretches from Figueroa Street in Downtown Los Angeles The Sunset Strip is the name given to the mile and a half stretch of Sunset Boulevard that passes through West Hollywood California.
The correct spelling of the name, often misspelled as "Whiskey", is confirmed by the signage of the nightclub's exterior, as well as on the club's official Web site. A website (alternatively web site or Web site, a back-construction from the Proper noun World Wide Web) is a collection of Web pages
In 1958 the first Whisky a Go-Go in North America opened in Chicago, Illinois on the corner of Rush and Chestnut Streets. Chicago (ʃɪˈkɑːgoʊ is the largest City by population in the state of Illinois and the American Midwest of the United States. The State of Illinois ( roughly ill-i-NOY is a state of the United States of America, the 21st to be admitted to the Union. [1] It has been called the first real American discothèque. The United States of America —commonly referred to as the A discothèque, diskoˈtɛk̚ compare the Spanish "discoteca" is an Entertainment venue or Club with recorded music played by "Discaires" In Paris, the original accented Whisky à Go-Go opened in 1947. Paris (ˈpærɨs in English; in French) is the Capital of France and the country's largest city A relatively new Whisky a Go-Go has been opened at the Old Port of Tel Aviv. Tel Aviv-Yafo (תֵּל ־אָבִיב-יָפוֹ تل أبيب Tal ʾAbīb) (usually Tel Aviv) is the second-largest city in Israel [2]
Though the club was billed as a discothèque, meaning only recordings with no bands, the Whisky a Go Go opened with a live band led by Johnny Rivers and a short-skirted female DJ spinning records between sets from a suspended cage at the right of the stage. A discothèque, diskoˈtɛk̚ compare the Spanish "discoteca" is an Entertainment venue or Club with recorded music played by "Discaires" Johnny Rivers (born John Henry Ramistella, 7 November 1942, in New York) is an American Rock and roll Singer A disc jockey (also known as DJ or deejay) is a person who selects and plays recorded music for an audience When, in July 1965, the DJ danced during Rivers' set, the audience thought it was part of the act and the concept of Go-Go dancers in cages was born. Go-Go dancers are Dancers who are employed to entertain at a Discotheque. Rivers rode the Whisky-born "go-go" craze to national fame with records recorded partly "live at the Whisky. " The Miracles recorded the song "Going to a Go-Go" in 1966 (which was covered in 1982 by The Rolling Stones), and Whisky a Go Go franchises sprang up all over the country. The Miracles (known from 1965 to 1972 as Smokey Robinson & the Miracles) is an American Rhythm and blues group from Detroit Michigan, notable
In 1966, the Whisky was one of the centers of the Sunset Strip police riots. The club was often in conflict with the County of Los Angeles, which once ordered that the name be changed, claiming "whisky" was a bad influence. Los Angeles (lɑˈsændʒələs los ˈaŋxeles in Spanish) is the largest City in the state of California and the American West It was the "Whisk?" for a while.
Arguably, the rock and roll scene in Los Angeles was born when the Whisky started operation. Rock and roll (also known as rock 'n' roll) is a form of Music that evolved in the United States in the late 1940s and early 1950s with roots in mostly African From rock to punk to heavy metal, the club stood at the forefront of many musical trends.
The Whisky played an important role in many musical careers, especially for bands based in Southern California. The Byrds, Alice Cooper, Buffalo Springfield and Love were regulars, and The Doors were the house band for a while-- until the debut of the "Oedipal Section" of "The End" got them fired. The Byrds were a popular American rock band formed in Los Angeles, California in 1964 Alice Cooper (born Vincent Damon Furnier; February 4, 1948) is an American rock singer songwriter and musician whose career spans five Buffalo Springfield was a short-lived but influential Folk rock group that served as a springboard for the careers of Neil Young, Stephen Stills, Love was an American Rock group of the late 1960s and early 1970s This article is about the band For their self-titled debut album see The Doors (album; for the Oliver Stone film see The Doors (film; for Doors in computing The Oedipus complex, in Freudian Psychoanalysis, is named after the Greek mythical character Oedipus, who unknowingly kills his father " The End " is a song by The Doors. Originally a song Jim Morrison wrote about breaking up with a long time girlfriend it evolved through months of performances at Van Morrison's band Them had a two-week residency in June, 1966, with The Doors as the opening act. George Ivan Morrison OBE (generally known as Van Morrison) (born 31 August 1945 is a Grammy Award -winning Northern Irish Singer, Them was a Northern Irish group formed in Belfast in April 1964, most prominently known for the Garage rock standard " This article is about the band For their self-titled debut album see The Doors (album; for the Oliver Stone film see The Doors (film; for Doors in computing On the last night they all jammed together on Gloria . " Gloria " is a rock song classic written by Northern Irish Singer-songwriter Van Morrison and originally recorded by Morrison's Frank Zappa's Mothers of Invention got their record contract based on a performance at the Whisky. Frank Vincent Zappa (December 21 1940 – December 4 1993 was an American Composer, Electric guitarist Record producer and Film director The Mothers of Invention was an American Rock and roll band active from 1964 to 1975 Jimi Hendrix came by to jam when Sam & Dave headlined. James Marshall Hendrix (born Johnny Allen Hendrix) (November 27 1942 – September 18 1970 was an American Guitarist, Singer and Songwriter Sam & Dave were an American Soul and Rhythm & Blues (R&B vocal duo who performed together from 1961 through 1981 Otis Redding recorded his album In Person at the Whiskey a Go Go there in 1966. Otis Ray Redding Jr ( September 9, 1941 December 10, 1967) was an American soul singer In Person at the Whisky a Go Go is a live album by Otis Redding, recorded at the Whisky a Go Go on Sunset Strip in Los Angeles California The Turtles performed there when their newest (and biggest-selling) single "Happy Together" was becoming a hit, only to lose their new bassist, Chip Douglas (who had arranged the song), to the Monkees; guitarist Michael Nesmith invited him to become their producer. The Turtles are an American pop and Folk rock band which produced at least a dozen memorable radio-friendly chart singles but remain best known for " Happy Together " is a 1967 song from The Turtles ' album of the same name. This article is about an actual person For the television character see My Three Sons and for the film character see The Cable Guy. For the group's self-titled album see The Monkees (album. For the TV series see The Monkees (TV series. Robert Michael Nesmith (b December 30, 1942) in Harris County Texas, is an American musician songwriter Actor, producer In the Music industry, a record producer or music producer has many roles among them controlling the recording sessions coaching and guiding the musicians organizing (He returned to the Turtles a year later, to produce them. ). Neil Diamond also played at the Whisky on occasion. Neil Leslie Diamond (born January 24, 1941) is an American Singer-songwriter and occasional Actor. Chicago Transit Authority (later Chicago) was also a house band until discovered by Jimi Hendrix and brought on tour in 1968. Chicago is a Rock band formed in 1967 in Chicago Illinois. The band began as a politically charged sometimes experimental rock band and later moved to a predominately James Marshall Hendrix (born Johnny Allen Hendrix) (November 27 1942 – September 18 1970 was an American Guitarist, Singer and Songwriter Many British performers made their first headlining performances in the area at the Whisky, including The Kinks, The Who, Cream, Led Zeppelin, Roxy Music and Oasis. The Kinks were an English pop and rock group formed in 1963 and categorised in the US as a British Invasion band The Who are an English rock band formed in 1964. The primary lineup consisted of guitarist Pete Townshend Cream were a 1960s British rock band Led Zeppelin were Roxy Music is an English Art rock group founded in the early 1970s by art school graduate Bryan Ferry ( vocals and keyboards) Oasis are an English rock band that formed in Manchester in 1991
Dustin Hoffman's character 'Benjamin' can be seen running out of The Whisky in the 1967 film The Graduate. Dustin Lee Hoffman (born August 8 1937 His brother Ronald is a lawyer and economist The Graduate is a American comedy / drama / Romance film directed by Mike Nichols, based on the novel of the same name by
Arthur Lee of Love immortalized the Whisky in the song Maybe the people would be the times or Between Clark and Hilldale. Arthur Lee has been the name of several notable men Arthur Lee (diplomat (1740-1792 U Love is any of a number of Emotions and experiences related to a sense of strong Affection. "Here they always play my songs," he would sing on the side two opener of Forever Changes. Forever Changes is the third album released by the Los Angeles -based band Love. The Whisky was located on the strip between the streets Clark and Hilldale
In the mid-1970s, The Whisky was the home of The Cycle Sluts, a cabaret show. However, Kim Fowley was able to persuade the management to return the club to rock music. Kim Fowley (born July 21, 1939) is an American Record producer, Impresario, Songwriter and occasional Recording artist On Thanksgiving Day, 1976, two Fowley-managed bands, Venus & The Razorblades and The Quick, began a four-night stand. Thanks to the club being filled, the Whisky continued on as a rock 'n' roll club.
The Whisky was a focus of the emerging New Wave and punk rock movements in the late 1970s, and frequently presented local acts as diverse as The Germs (which recorded its first album there), The Runaways, Quiet Riot, X, Mötley Crüe and Van Halen while playing host to early performances by the Ramones, The Dictators, The Misfits, Blondie, Talking Heads, Elvis Costello, XTC and The Jam. New Wave is a Rock music genre that existed during the late 1970s and the 1980s The Germs is an influential Punk rock band from Los Angeles formed in the late 1970s The Runaways was a teenage American all-girl Rock band that performed in the 1970s Quiet Riot was an American heavy metal band whose 1983 & 1984 success contributed to launching the 1980s Glam Mötley Crüe ( IPA pronunciation: /'mɒtliː Van Halen is a Hard rock band formed in in 1972 They enjoyed success from the release of their self titled debut album in 1978 The Ramones were an American rock band often regarded as the first Punk rock group The Dictators are a Rock and roll band formed in New York City in 1973 The Misfits are an American Blondie is an American rock band that first gained fame in the late 1970s and has so far sold over 60 million records Talking head Talking Heads was an American New Wave band formed in 1974 in New York City and active until 1991 Elvis Costello (born Declan Patrick MacManus 25 August 1954 is an English Musician and Singer-songwriter, with Irish ancestry XTC was a New Wave band from Swindon, England, active between 1976 and 2005 The Jam were an English Mod revival band active during the late 1970s and early 1980s
The Whisky fell on hard times once the first flush of punk rock lost steam, and closed its doors in 1982. It reopened in 1986 as a "four-wall", a venue that could be rented by promoters and bands. Although a few booths remain on the perimeter, the interior has mostly been transformed into a bare, seatless space where the audience is forced to stand throughout the performances. A few sets of tables and chairs remain in the upstairs area, but these are often roped off as a "VIP" section, reserved for special guests of the bands, record executives, etc. Against this new economic backdrop, a number of hard rock and metal bands, including Guns N' Roses and Metallica, rose to prominence in the 1980s. Guns N' Roses is an American rock band formed in Los Angeles, California in 1985 Metallica is an American heavy metal band that formed in 1981 in.
During the early 1990s, the Whisky hosted a number of Seattle-based musicians who would later be dubbed "the godfathers of grunge", including Soundgarden, Nirvana, Mudhoney, The Melvins, and 7 Year Bitch. Nirvana was an American rock band that was formed by singer/guitarist Kurt Cobain and bassist Krist Novoselic in Aberdeen Washington. Mudhoney is an American Grunge band Formed in Seattle Washington in 1988 following the demise of Green River, Mudhoney has for the most of its recording The Melvins is an American Sludge metal band that usually perform as a Power trio. 7 Year Bitch was a Punk rock band from Seattle Washington that was active between 1990 and 1997
After re-uniting in early 2007, The Police held a live webcast of a rehearsal at the Whisky on February 12, 2007, and Avril Lavigne on November 6. Year 2007 ( MMVII) was a Common year starting on Monday of the Gregorian calendar in the 21st century. The Police were a three-piece rock band consisting of Sting ( vocals, Bass guitar) Andy Summers ( Guitar, A webcast is a media file distributed over the Internet using Streaming media technology Events 1429 - English Forces under Sir John Fastolf defend a supply convoy carrying rations to the army besieging Orleans from attack by the Avril Lavigne Whibley (born September 27 1984 better known by her birth name of Avril Lavigne (ˈævrɨl ləˈviːn is a Canadian Grammy Award Events 355 - Roman Emperor Constantius II promotes his cousin Julian to the rank of Caesar, entrusting him with
Many bands, music insiders, promoters and others have criticized the Whisky as being a "pay to play" venue; that is, the venue charges an up-front fee to performing artists for the use of their facilities. Pay to Play can refer to several different concepts In politics See also Quid pro quo In politics pay to play refers to a system