Former Location –
Previous to the Starwood, this location was the home to P.J.’s Night Club, regularly referred to as Los Angeles’ First Discotheque. The Club was at the time owned by Bill Doherty, Paul Raffles, Phil Tanzini and Elmer Valentine. They opened it in 1961 and Tanzini and Valentine also went on to open The Whisky A Go Go, and The Trip a few years later in 1964.
In 1973, the location became know as The Starwood and flourished until the club closed permanently on June 13, 1981, by order of Los Angeles County due to too many citations for underage drinking, noise issues, and by being directly adjacent to a residential area that didn’t like punks peeing in its bushes.
Mötley Crüe played their first concert together as a band at here on April 24, 1981. Mötley Crüe’s bass guitarist, Nikki Sixx worked at the Starwood and convinced his bosses to let them play there. Many other bands got their start here as well including, Van Halen, Devo, X, and the Go-Go’s.
Noteworthy Concerts Held At The Starwood
4/6/1981 – The Blasters
4/24/1981 – Mötley Crüe
11/13/1980 – Savoy Brown
11/29/1980 – X
10/10/1978 – DEVO
3/5/1977 – Iron Butterfly
4/30/1977 – Van Halen
10/29/1977 – Hot Tuna
1/25/1976 – Journey
3/18/1976 – Rush
9/19/1976 – The Runaways
10/17/1976 – Love
The Starwood
8151 Santa Monica Blvd
West Hollywood CA 90046
Booooooo to Hollywood getting rid of all the clubs/restaurants that have history.
I didnt hang at the Starwood a lot because it was to posh for us punks. I favored The Whiskey on nights that X or The Dead Kennedys played. Sometimes Madame Wongs then after hours at Oki Dogs or The underground Zero-Zero club. I did get invited to the Starwood the night Aerosmith had a secret show. That was a great night.
I don’t know about that, I was at the Starwood at punk gigs all the time. Didn’t seem like I was there less than at the Whiskey.
Al’s bar was the scene back in the day!
Anyone know what club moved into the vacated Starwood club space?
They turned into a corner shopping mall LOL…