BITE ME! Hollywood Rocks! Live

Hollywood Rocks @ The Key Club

June 23, 2005

On a warm summer night in June I entered the Key Club and felt as if I had stepped back in time – a time when Gazzari’s sat where the Key Club is now located. Of course, that was the hey-day of rock ‘n’ roll – a time when long hair and spandex ruled the strip.

If you did not grow up in Los Angeles during that period it’s hard to describe the decadence. Back then sitting on the wall next to Gazzari’s was just as amusing as being inside one of the clubs and on any given weekend you were bound to run into your favorite “rock” star as you strolled up and down the Sunset strip. Weekends in Hollywood in the 80’s was like Vegas on New Years Eve.

On June 23, 2005 those glory days were revisited as The Key Club hosted Cleopatra’s record release party in honor of the release of the Hollywood Rocks box set (Deadline Records), which spans the L.A. Metal scene from 1978 to 1993. Tonight’s bill featured performances by old time 80’s hair bands such as Odin, JetBoy, Spiders & Snakes, Blackboard Jungle, and The Zeros. Okay, I admit that I didn’t see any of these bands back in the day even though I could be found partying on the strip every weekend (thank god for all ages clubs). To be honest, I wasn’t really into the lipstick wearing bands and preferred to attend shows featuring Abattior, Savage Grace, and Armored Saint. I think even saw W.A.S.P. at one point. I was a young teenager at the time, so I don’t remember too well.

What I do remember is one song by Odin that used to get played late at night on KMET’s or KLOS’ local band hour. Tonight, Odin played that song, and to my surprise their singer could still hit those high notes. That’s impressive. It was funny to see the bands on stage with short hair wearing jeans and t-shirts. Back in the 80’s most of them had bleached, wild long hair and none of them would leave the house without lipstick, liner, spandex, and ripped tees. A few of the guys in some of the bands, and in the audience, dressed the part, but I’m not sure if it was cool or just very sad.

Downstairs the VIP room was kickin’. Rikki Rachtman was holding court at the table right next to me. Kim Fowley was a safe distance on the other side of the room most likely recounting his tales of the wild days [Or trying to debauch new chicas, knowing him. Ewwwwww. -J]. My buddy Dish informed me that he just got back from Italy and found out about the bash just a few hours earlier. It was also great to see Ali-O and Dave Tedder – two people whom I spent some great nights of partying with. There were also lots of peroxide blondes in the room, in addition to some has-been groupies (shudder). Girls, sometimes you have to clean out your closet, especially when the clothes don’t fit.

Even though I wasn’t too familiar with any of the bands’ songs it was still a fun time. Cleopatra managed to whip up a wild night of debauchery just like the good ole days. If you miss those times be sure to pick up both the Hollywood Rocks book, which is the ultimate guide to the California rock music scene and, of course, the Box Set. -NIN