Whisky a Go Go facts for kids
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"The Whisky"
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The Whisky a Go Go on the Sunset Strip in 2006
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| Address | 8901 Sunset Blvd |
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| Location | West Hollywood, California 90069 |
| Coordinates | 34°5′26″N 118°23′8″W / 34.09056°N 118.38556°W |
| Type | Nightclub |
| Capacity | 500 |
| Opened | January 16, 1964 |
The Whisky a Go Go (often called The Whisky) is a famous music club in West Hollywood, California. It's located on the well-known Sunset Strip. This club has been a very important place for the Los Angeles music scene for many years, especially from the 1960s to the 1990s. Many legendary bands and artists got their start or played memorable shows here.
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The Whisky's Story
The idea for the Whisky a Go Go actually started in Paris, France, in 1947. That first club was called "Whisky à Gogo," which means "in abundance" or "galore" in French. It got its name from a movie called Whisky Galore!.
Opening in the United States
The first Whisky a Go Go in the United States opened in Chicago, Illinois, in 1958. It was known as one of America's first real discothèques, a place where people danced to recorded music.
The Whisky a Go Go on the Sunset Strip opened its doors on January 16, 1964. It was founded by Elmer Valentine, Phil Tanzini, Shelly Davis, and Theodore Flier. Elmer Valentine also helped start other famous places on the Sunset Strip, like The Roxy Theatre and the Rainbow Bar & Grill.
Live Music
Even though it was called a discothèque, the Whisky a Go Go quickly became famous for live music. It opened with a live band led by Johnny Rivers. A DJ named Rhonda Lane played records between the band's sets from a special cage above the stage.
Soon, the club started booking live rock bands. The Doors were even the house band for a while, playing seven nights a week!
Johnny Rivers became famous with songs recorded live at the Whisky. The club's importance in music history led to it being honored in the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 2006.
Famous Bands and Moments
The Whisky a Go Go played a huge part in the careers of many bands, especially those from Southern California. Bands like The Byrds, Buffalo Springfield, and Love were regulars. Them, with Van Morrison, had a two-week stay, and the Doors opened for them.
Frank Zappa's band, the Mothers of Invention, got their record deal after performing at the Whisky. The Turtles played there when their hit song "Happy Together" was popular. Even Neil Diamond performed at the club. Later, Metallica found their bassist, Cliff Burton, after seeing him play there with his band Trauma. The Ramones played their first show on this stage in 1977.
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The club is even mentioned in songs! Arthur Lee of Love sang about it in "Maybe the People Would Be the Times or Between Clark and Hilldale." British band Status Quo also mentioned the Whisky in their song "Long Legged Linda."
In the early 1990s, the Whisky hosted many bands from Seattle that were part of the grunge music movement, like Soundgarden and Mudhoney. Oasis played a memorable show there in 1994. In 1997, System of a Down performed at the Whisky before they became widely known.
The Whisky Today
The Whisky a Go Go continues to be an active music venue. On September 12, 2016, the club even launched its own TV channel on the Roku platform. This channel shares live music videos and concerts from the club's long history with a global audience.
On May 9, 2025, a dump truck accidentally crashed into the Whisky a Go Go, causing damage and forcing the cancellation of that night's concert. The club quickly recovered and continues to host live music.
More About the Whisky
- Live at the Whisky a Go Go (disambiguation)
- Otis Redding In Person at the Whisky a Go Go, an album recorded live at the venue in 1966.
- Hugh Masekela Is Alive and Well at the Whisky, a 1967 album by Hugh Masekela recorded live at the venue.
- The Troubadour
- The Viper Room
