Memories of Sunset Strip (Santa Monica, West Hollywood: how much, house, nightlife)

[XRay]

Just wondering if anyone here spent any time around the 1980's rock and roll scene on Sunset Strip. I'd love to read your stories! To folks like me who grew up during the 'hair metal' years and aren't from LA, the stories from the Strip are the stuff of legend. How much is true and how much is just hype? Was it really that outrageous?

[fastfilm]

Yes it was, and that's why we can't spell it out on a moderated, family-friendly forum!

But that was then, and this is now. I hope you're enjoying the now of L.A. music by checking out the indie103 fm station. This one features Steve Jones of the Sex Pistols, Dave Navarro, Henry Rollins and many other amusing personages as DJs of pretty cool, not necessarily heavy rotationed music from punk to now. It's the only thing besides my hairdresser (long story) that I'll miss about L.A. when we flee: the station is that good.

[puffle]

Hi Xray,
I was a teen of the 70's and spent most of my free time at the Whiskey, the Starwood and The Rainbow Bar and Grill where I had the thrill of meeting ALL of Led Zepplin, Keith Moon, Shaun Cassidy whom I went out with, David Cassidy, Bad Company, sat with Richie Blackmore of Deep Purple, Roger Daltry, Alice Cooper and many fun experiences there and at the Hyatt House which we called the Riot House and yes, most of the stories you might have heard are probably true and greatly exaggerated! It was the time of platford shoes, David Bowie and Ziggy Stardust, Van Halen, etc. A sister of a friend at the time was a well-known groupie and "girlfriend" of many rockers, particularly Jimmy Pages at the ripe old age of 13! Oh, the stories!!!!

[majoun]

Originally Posted by XRay

Just wondering if anyone here spent any time around the 1980's rock and roll scene on Sunset Strip. I'd love to read your stories! To folks like me who grew up during the 'hair metal' years and aren't from LA, the stories from the Strip are the stuff of legend. How much is true and how much is just hype? Was it really that outrageous?

Yes, those stories were true. L.A. became a far more depressing place when it lost its decadent hedonism and the Strip became upscale and corporate (I refer to it as "East Beverly Hills" now - for that matter that's how I'd describe western West Hollywood in general. Friends of mine who grew up in WeHo, however, in the old days,used another term to describe the area west of Crescent Heights, particularly around Santa Monica Blvd., that couldn't be used on this board, and for good reason, although no doubt one of the haters would have no problem with using it. )

[Sorcerer68]

I was a little young...I was a Hollywood velvet rope party boy in the early to mid 90's. The 80's Strip scene looked like so much fun...I shoulda got a fake ID. Let's hear some stories!

[Sorcerer68]

Originally Posted by majoun

the area west of Crescent Heights, particularly around Santa Monica Blvd., that couldn't be used on this board, and for good reason, although no doubt one of the haters would have no problem with using it. )

You can also call it Boys Town ~
I spent tons of time and did many things I can't describe here in WeHo too.

[yolo]

The Strip stories were for real and true. Good times!

[puffle]

What was your part of "the good times"?

[fastfilm]

Nostalgie de la boue is a French term for memories of mud, i.e., the gutter, the decadent old times. This seemed like a perfect title for some of my photos of vintage Sunset Strip, Hollywood CA backstage nightlife from the golden days of Hair Metal in the late 1980's, plus one pic of an actual Sunset Strip protest against pay to play. Recogizable faces here and there would be Billy Idol, Julian Lennon, Bill Gazzari, Jessica Hahn, Mara Fox of Precious Metal, and many others who would not like to be remembered for what they all did in the bathrooms and dressing rooms depicted.
all photos (C) +(P)2007 FastFilm, (yes, me, really)do not duplicate or link.

[yolo]

Originally Posted by puffle

What was your part of "the good times"?

I'll keep it tame and say just the hanging out, partying and camaraderie When will things come full circle and be as they were? The closest thing is probably the Austin music scene now, but it is no Sunset Strip.