I was lucky enough to be part of the Whisky Booking office from the punk late 70's thru 1983. I consider this time to be the last great period of music on the Strip. Sure there have been a few other times when a great band or two came of age there, but the true sense of what the Whisky can be hasn't been seen since. What happened? During the second wave of the British invasion, record companies, which small clubs like the Whisky, Roxy, Starwood, Gazarri's, etc. relied upon to financially support their new touring acts with ticket purchases, signed way too many new acts. As many new bands records failed to sell, tour support dried up. Up to that point the Whisky always paid its bands. A decision was made by Mario, Elmer & Lou to close down for a short time in September of 82 with Tom Petty & the Heartbreakers and the Plimsouls opening being the last bands to take the stage.. The intent was to reopen in a few months as a (makes me sick) Dance Club. Elmer, up to that time was responsible for the booking of both the Roxy and Whisky. Our office upstairs was disbanded a short time after. I went to work at the Roxy office for several more months. When the Whisky started to book bands again, it initiated the pay to play policy. That was it for me. New bands didn't stand a chance unless they coughed up $500 up front, in exchange for 100 ticket they had to sell themselves to family and friends, or just plain eat the cost. Sad. Hope that explains a little of what happened, and why the Whisky will never be the same. Althought, I hate to say it, the Whisky is still there because these decisions were made. I consider myself lucky to have been there, at that time. Miss you Elmer.
Pros: rock & roll history
Cons: Pay to Play Killed the Strip
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