Gazzarri’s: The defunct Sunset Strip club where glam and heavy metal legends were born

If you walk around 9039 Sunset Boulevard in West Hollywood today, you probably wouldn’t imagine that there, amidst neon lights and modern clubs, once stood one of Los Angeles’ most legendary rock temples: Gazzarri’s.

At the western end, between the three main clubs on the Sunset Strip. Heading down Sunset Boulevard from downtown Los Angeles, Whisky a Go Go is the first, followed by The Roxy, and finally, Gazzarri’s.

Now gone, it was the setting for the beginnings of bands that would later conquer the world, such as The Doors, Van Halen, Mötley Crüe, and Guns N’ Roses . In this post, we review the history of this legendary club and why it should be remembered by every glam and heavy metal fan.

Gazzarri’s opened in 1965 , and in its early years became one of the epicenters of the Los Angeles music scene. Its stage featured acts such as Ike & Tina Turner, The Turtles, Buffalo Springfield, Sonny & Cher , and a young, as-yet-unknown group called The Doors , fronted by one Jim Morrison .

But it was in the 70s and 80s that Gazzarri’s would experience its golden age, transforming into a true breeding ground for glam and heavy metal stars.

One of Gazzarri’s most iconic episodes was the rise of Van Halen . In their early days, still called Mammoth , they were rejected by Bill Gazzarri for being “too loud.” Years later, already a local sensation, they became the club’s resident band and regular in the summer of 1976.

It was there that Rodney Bingenheimer , an influential figure in the Los Angeles scene, spotted them and convinced Gene Simmons (KISS) to sign them. Simmons was so impressed that he took them to record a 15-song demo at Electric Lady Studios in New York. Some of these recordings remain unreleased due to disagreements with David Lee Roth.

During the 1980s, Gazzarri’s established itself as a cornerstone of the glam metal movement, competing with the Whisky a Go Go and the Roxy Theatre, both just a few steps away.

Names such as:

● Quiet Riot
● Motley Crue
● Cinderella
● Stryper
● Ratt
● Poison
● Guns N’ Roses
● Warrant
● Faster Pussycat

The sidewalk between Gazzarri’s and the Rainbow Bar & Grill became the epicenter of global glam metal , where musicians, groupies, and talent scouts shared endless nights.

The club also pioneered the controversial “pay-to-play” system, requiring emerging bands to pay to play and sell their own tickets. Many criticize it, but it was the school where future idols learned to operate as true rock entrepreneurs.

Beyond the music, Gazzarri’s was a cultural symbol. Its founder, Bill Gazzarri , was easily recognizable by his Chicago gangster style, always present on the most famous nights.

The venue was also the scene of:

● Shows like Hollywood a Go Go
● Video clips such as The Heart of Rock and Roll by Huey Lewis & the News
● Movies like Number One With A Bullet (1987)
● The Rockford Files pilot (1974)

Even the legendary “Gazzarri’s dancers” included future celebrities such as Barbi Benton or Catherine Bach .

The death of Bill Gazzarri in 1991 and the gradual decline of glam marked the end of the club. It closed in 1993 and was demolished after the 1994 Northridge earthquake . In its place were venues such as Billboard Live , then The Key Club , and finally 1 Oak , which closed in 2022.

Today, nothing remains of Gazzarri’s, but its memory and echo continue to resonate. It was more than just a venue: it was the starting point for many bands’ dreams and the setting for nights that changed everything. If rock is in your blood, knowing its history is almost inevitable.