The Roxy

Image via wikipedia

The Roxy Theatre was opened on September 23, 1973, by Elmer Valentine and Lou Adler, along with original partners David Geffen, Elliot Roberts and Peter Asher. They took over the building previously occupied by a strip club called the Largo.

At one time or another, if you played Los Angeles, you played at the Roxy. Van Morrison played here in 1978 and a memorable bootleg album was made of the performance. Neil Young and Crazy Horse played here the first week it was open. A few months later, Genesis, with Peter Gabriel, played several consecutive shows here.

Bob Marley & The Wailers recorded “Live at the Roxy” here on May 26, 1976. The Ramones played their first California concert at the Roxy on August 11, 1976.

In the early ’80’s the great comedy troop Firesign Theater played a few nights here.

The small On The Rox bar above the club has hosted a wide variety of debauchery in its history as it was a regular hangout for John Lennon, Harry Nilsson, Alice Cooper and Keith Moon during Lennon’s “lost weekend” in 1975.  In the 1980s it hosted parties arranged by “Hollywood Madam” Heidi Fleiss.

Frank Zappa and the Mothers of Invention recorded a part of an album during December 1973 at The Roxy, entitled “Roxy and Elsewhere.”

Other Notable Concerts played at The Roxy Theatre

6/28/2021 – The Allman Betts Band
6/26/2021 – Bad Religion
11/14/2020 – Foo Fighters
1/11/2020 – Chuck Prophet
12/7/2019 – Black Flag
1/14/2019 – Third Eye Blind
3/3/2018 – The Blasters
12/22/2017 – Fishbone
9/20/2017 – Poco
12/31/2016 – X
8/22/2011 – Red Hot Chili Peppers
11/19/2010 – The Bangles
1/1/1982 – Chuck Berry
9/9/1981 – Muddy Waters
1/7/1980 – The Tubes
12/2/1980 – Smokey Robinson

The Roxy Theatre
9009 W. Sunset Blvd.
West Hollywood CA 90069
310 278-9457