Top 10 Punk Clubs

I am giving a top 10 of clubs I went to. So, CBGB’s isn’t going to be on here, and The On-Broadway isn’t going to be here. This isn’t a definitive club directory, just the top 10 clubs . . . based on my memories of them.

Number 10
The Troubadour

Despite the “legends” that played this place (Eagles, Linda Ronstadt, Bob Dylan), it’s really no more than a garage with a twelve-inch high stage. I’ve been here more times than I care to admit. One time in the mid-80’s I went with some friends to see a guy from work play. And midway through the set Kevin DuBrow, and Frankie Banalli from Quiet Riot walk in. They stand in the back of the place, and after 30 minutes of no one talking to them, they walk out.

Rating: *** ** three out of five stars.

Number 9
Godzilla’s

Although it felt like Godzilla’s was around forever, I don’t think it lasted more than 6 to 9 months. I honestly don’t remember if I made it inside. When the place opened in December of 1981 you could hang out on the train tracks across the street. And I would hang out with people. It was a community thing.

Rating: **** * four out of five stars.

Number 8
The Lhasa Club

No much different from the description of the Troubadour. I don’t remember any hardcore, more alt stuff. I stood and watched about five minutes of Zoogz Rift, then walked out.

Rating: **** * four out of five stars.

Number 7
Valley West

This little club in the heart of the Valley (Tarzana) was a pretty convenient place for me to see shows. And my band, Cold War, got to play there once or twice. For those of you that don’t know my old band, or me that wasn’t our official logo. I did a couple of flyers copying Pink Floyd’s logo to get a couple of kids from school to come. I told them we were a Pink Floyd cover band. They didn’t talk to me for a while afterwards.

Rating: ***** Five out of five stars.

Number 6
Galaxy Rollerink

Similar to the Troubadour in the sense of nothing was there, but a stage. But with the bulk of the punk clubs. What mattered was who was playing, and if your friends could make it. It was the camaraderie. Like most places, it was a shoebox.

Rating: ***** five out of five stars.

Number 5
BeBop Records

Another cool Valley place. Once in a while this record shop would put on a cool show. Minutemen played here, I saw spoken word here from Jeffrey Lee Pierce, and Henry Rollins. Another relic from the past.

Rating: ***** five out of five stars.

Number 4
Whiskey A Go Go

Another shoebox with legendary history. Everybody from The Doors, The Misfits to Black Flag played here. Everyone, but Cold War. I went on a date with a girl in the mid to late ‘80’s. She said let’s to Hollywood, I say Great, she takes me to the Whiskey, and it’s a record release party for Poison’s first album. All these guys in make-up running around drunk and grabbing on women. I stayed 30 minutes then boned out.

Rating: ***** five out of five stars.

Number 3
The Roxy Theatre

I can’t remember who I saw here, but my biggest memory of going to the Roxy was the weather. I went one time in the middle of winter, and it had been pouring for a good week. And we had to stand outside for about 15 minutes before going in and I sat through all the bands, and by the time I left I was still drenched.

Another time, I hung out with Ed from 13th Love in the bar above the Roxy called On The Rox, spent on myself about $200.00 on beer, and starting chatting with Vince Neil’s wife, Ed pulled me away.

Rating: ***** five out of five stars.

Number 2
The Country Club

I have seen everybody here, Human Hands, Romeo Void, Secret Affair, Edgar Winter, TSOL, Flipper, Mau-Maus, Poison, Warrant, WASP, Cherry Bombz, etc.

I loved the place, it was within walking distance of my house, and it was a pretty classy place.

Rating: ***** five out of five stars.

Number 1
Devonshire Downs

This place was never a “real” club, but I loved the environment. So many people could fit in this place, it was unreal. I picked-up more flyers and fanzines in the parking lot than anywhere else I ever went. And inside was so big, you could spend at least 45 minutes talking with each group before you got to the front of the stage. I saw at least four bands here, maybe more, Public Nuisance, Sin 34, DOA, and TSOL. I went to a few shows here, but I don’t remember them all.

Rating: ***** five out of five stars.

Honorable mentions: Masque, The Starwood, Cuckoo’s Nest, Madame Wong’s, Anti Club, Cathay deGrande, Fleetwood, Al’s Bar and many others.