Story by Shawn Perry
Photos by Ron Lyon
Hard to believe the Whisky a Go Go has been around for 50 years. I first ventured into the club in the spring of 1977 and witnessed history in the making as a young and unsigned Van Halen took the stage and upped the hard rock ante a thousand percent. And this was when punk was worming its way onto the Strip. Of course, the punks had their nights at the Whisky back in those days, as the hard rockers would reclaim it in the 80s.
Tonight, however, it was really about the club’s legacy and two very special men: one who, along with co-founder Elmer Valentine, made it happen — owner Mario Maglieri — and another one whose band got signed to a record deal after being unceremoniously ejected from the Whisky — The Doors’ Robby Krieger. When asked on the red carpet how it felt to be back at the club where it all started, Krieger replied with a smile: “It’s great man…just like the old days except it’s not the old days…”
The night kicked off with West Hollywood mayor Abbe Land presenting Maglieri and his family with a plaque, commemorating the Whisky’s 50-year milestone. A customized Whisky PRS SE 245 guitar was raffled before Wild Roses played a short set. Just before 10, Robby Krieger and his Jam Kitchen (Tommy Mars on keyboards, Arthur Barrow on bass, drummers Joel Taylor and Tom Brechtlein, and Larry Klimas and Vince DeHan on horns) played a riveting selection of originals, Doors and even Frank Zappa tunes, infused with a slight jazzy, always grooving jam-band approach.
The celebration of the club’s 50th anniversary will continue for the year as more veteran acts return to its stage. With the Roxy undergoing a major renovation, the Viper Room a hit and miss affair, the House of Blues teetering on the edge of existence, and the Key Club and dozens of other clubs all distant memories, the Whisky a Go Go remains the Sunset Strip’s lone survivor. Let’s hope it holds its place on the corner of Clark and Sunset for another 50 years.
