West Hollywood Rock and Roll History Tour

The Walk of Fame typically comes to mind when people think about Hollywood. But this metropolis has more to offer than just the sparkling lights on the sidewalk. The Sunset Strip is full of rock & roll energy and history. This region was unincorporated prior to 1984, making it quite lawless. Through the years, the gambling and nightlife of the strip have drawn celebrities from the movie business, criminals, musicians, and visitors. Numerous television programs and films have also featured the strip or taken inspiration from it. This tour will take you to some of Sunset Boulevard's most well-known rock and roll hotspots, where you'll learn some of their history, who hung out here, as well as insider tips and recommendations for your own exploration.

Meeting Point

The Comedy Store

8433 Sunset Blvd, West Hollywood, CA 90069, USA

Meet your tour guide outside The Comedy Store on Sunset Boulevard. Your guide will be wearing a Junket T-shirt.

What's included:

• Professional and courteous tour guide
• Thoroughly researched and accurate history

Not included:

• Transportation

What to expect:

Duration: 1 hour, 30 minutes

The Comedy Store

8433 Sunset Blvd, West Hollywood, CA 90069, USA

This building was a nightclub before it was a comedy store. The nightclub had a pesky problem of mobsters and closed when the owner ran into financial difficulties. It reopened as the world's first all-standup comedy nightclub in 1972.

12 minutes

Pendry West Hollywood

8430 Sunset Blvd, West Hollywood, CA 90069, USA

Before the Pendry was here, this location was The House of Blues, the first one built west of the Mississippi. Before closing its doors in 2015, The House of Blues was the place where famous rapper Tupac Shakur gave his last recorded performance.

12 minutes

Mels Drive-In

8585 Sunset Blvd, West Hollywood, CA 90069, USA

This location opened in 1997. Before then, this spot was Ben Franks, where rock and roll legends like Frank Zappa and members of the Rolling Stones would hang out.

12 minutes

Mutato Muzika

8760 Sunset Blvd, Los Angeles, CA 90069, USA

This building was originally constructed as a plastic surgery practice. In the late 1980s, musician Mark Mothersbaugh purchased the building and turned it into a full-service production company, which it still is today.

12 minutes

The Viper Room

8852 Sunset Blvd, West Hollywood, CA 90069, USA

This iconic nightclub is no stranger to scandal and tragedy and is perhaps most well-known for being the site of the death of the talented River Phoenix.

12 minutes

Whisky a Go Go

8901 Sunset Blvd, West Hollywood, CA 90069, USA

This nightclub is truly iconic. This is where go-go dancing was born, and The Doors were the house band before making it big.

12 minutes

The Roxy Theatre

9009 Sunset Blvd, West Hollywood, CA 90069, USA

This theater prides itself on hosting up-and-coming and established bands, and has witnessed the birth of many popular acts, one of the most prominent being Paul Reuben's character "Pee Wee Herman".

12 minutes

Rainbow Bar & Grill

9015 Sunset Blvd, West Hollywood, CA 90069, USA

The Villa Nova in the 1940s, 50s, and 60s, this location was where Vincent Minelli proposed to Judy Garland, and where Marilyn Monroe met her second husband, Joe DiMaggio.

6 minutes