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LOS ANGELES----It's
mid-week through my two week stay in Los Angeles, and I've already done
the Universal Studios Tour,ÊDisneyland and the Hollywood Walk of Fame.ÊMann's
Chinese Theater, the corner of Hollywood and Vine and the "Hollywood"
sign are all snapshot memories.ÊNormally, the "been there, done that,
what's next" syndrome would be setting in, but today is special. Today,
I'm taking a customized, self-designed tour.ÊThe cover of the battered
note pad in my hand reads, "Rock Tour: L.A.¥ÊThe notes, the result of
more than a week's research, include the addresses and background information
on a series of rock 'n' roll points of interest---a potentially excellent
adventure. But one just doesn't uncover history on a whim.ÊPreparations
are in order.ÊFirst consideration:Êtunes.ÊNo problem there, as I pull
out a homemade tape of eclectic West Coast hits:Ê" California Girls,"
by the Beach Boys;Ê"I Love L.A.," by Randy Newman;Ê"Los Angeles," by
X;Êthe Eagles' classic "Hotel California";Ê"L.A. Woman," by the Doors;Êthe
Byrds' "So You Want To Be A Rock 'n' Roll Star," and the "Beverly Hillbillies"
theme song. Next consideration is a mode of movement:ÊMy friend's candy-apple-red
convertible is perfect for this musical mission.ÊAwesome. All that's
left is to slip on my L.A. Gear gym shoes, adjust my T-shirt, shorts
and "Risky Business" shades, and slide behind the wheel.ÊDefinitely
hip. The first stop on this venture down L.A.'s rock heritage trail
is the Whisky-A-Go-Go, 8901 Sunset Blvd. on the Strip.ÊThis West Coast
shrine, like the Marquee Club in London, was home to a who's who of
'60s rock.ÊCalifornia groups such as the Doors, Buffalo Springfield,
the Byrds and the Iron Butterfly all worked as the Whisky's house band
at one time or another. Elmer Valentine and Mario Maglieri opened the
club in January of 1964;Êrecord producer Lou Adler became a partner
in the mid-'70s. During the club's first decade, the likes of Janis
Joplin, Led Zeppelin, Cream and Traffic all performed as headliners.ÊJimi
Hendrix, who never officially played the club, occasionally showed up
to jam. Many sordid tales about the decadent "life-in-the-fast-lane"
L.A. rock scene have been associated with the Whisky's early days.ÊAuthor
Pamela (I'm With The Band;ÊConfessions of a Groupie) DesBarres, a regular
patron back then, related this memory in a recent interview: "One performance
that really stands out in my mind is when a very wasted Jim Morrison
climbed up on stage to jam with the 1910 Fruitgum Company.ÊThe band
tried to ignore him, but he wouldn't leave the stage.ÊHe took off his
shirt, started unzipping his fly, and then tried to shove the microphone
down his pants.ÊIt was one of the few times Mario had to turn off the
lights and sound system, to get Jim off the stage." In the late '70s
and early '80s, bands like Van Halen, Guns 'n' Roses, X and Ratt all
launched their careers at the Whisky.ÊThis year, the club celebrates
its 25th anniversary.Ê Next to the Whisky is Duke's Coffee Shop, where
the Doors played their first official club gig in the early '60s when
it was a nightclub named London Fog. Just down the street is the Roxy,
9009 Sunset Blvd., the 450-seat showcase club that features today's
hottest new talent.ÊNext door, at 9015 Sunset Blvd., is a legendary
rock eatery, the Rainbow Bar and Grill. Led Zeppelin once held court
here and Rod Stewart organized a soccer team called the Rainbow Hollywood
Vampires---with teammates Alice Cooper, Keith Moon, John Lennon, Ringo
Starr, Harry Nilsson and Micky Dolenz.ÊTheir names are inscribed in
a wooden sign post in the upstairs bar. Today, the Rainbow draws such
talents as Julian Lennon, Poison, Motley Crue and Guns 'n' Roses. The
next stop is L.A.'s rock-'n'-roll high school, at 7850 Melrose.ÊFairfax
High is the alma mater of such recording giants as producer-composer
Phil Spector;ÊTijuana Brass man Herb Alpert;ÊLou Adler, who launched
the careers of Carol King, Cheech and Chong, the Mamas and Papas and
Jan Berry and Dean Torrence (better known as Jan and Dean). Now, on
a more somber note, this rock fan will pay homage to Janis Joplin, Jim
Morrison and John Belushi. Joplin died in 1970, at 27, of a heroin-morphine
overdose at the Landmark Hotel, which is now the Highland Garden Apartments,
at 7047 Franklin Ave. Then it's a cruise up Laurel Canyon Boulevard
to the Canyon Country Store.ÊParking the car, I walk to 8021 Rothdell,
a white house, now in the midst of renovation, where Morrison thrived.Ê(He
died in Paris.) Belushi, 33, died of a narcotics overdose in 1982 in
Bungalow 2 at the Chateau Marmont, at 8221 Sunset Blvd. Next scheduled
stop is a burger run to the Hard Rock Cafe, at the corner of San Vicente
and Beverly.ÊThe Hard Rock is a great place to munch while enjoying
mini-rock-museum surroundings. Items not to miss include an autographed
U2 "Unforgettable Fire" World Peace Tour flag, Madonna's silver sequin
dress, and a Bob Dylan display featuring an autographed acoustic guitar.
Then it's back to the Sunset Strip and a drive east to a rock monument.ÊOn
a sidewalk in front of the Guitar Center---an instrument-store-to-the-stars
at 7425 Sunset---is the "Rock Walk," collection of handprints and autographs
of rock's greatest talents, in the same tradition as the Hollywood "Walk
of Fame" and Mann's Chinese Theater. Some of the artists who have stamped
their handprints and signed their names in cement since Rock Walk was
created in 1985 include Chuck Berry, Jerry Lee Lewis, Little Richard,
Bo Diddley, Les Paul, drummer Bill Ludwig and Robert Moog (inventor
of the synthesized keyboard). It's always fun to bring home a souvenir,
so the next stop is the Rock Store, 6817 Melrose, run by Paul Scharfman.ÊThere
are thousands of items, including Fillmore West concert posters, stage
clothing worn by various stars, buttons, promotional gimmicks, and 532
Elvis items. I can't decide between the Elvis Costello "My Aim is True"
dart board (no price posted), Elvis Presley's "Love Me Tender" moisturizing
milk bath ($6), a Peter Gabriel miniature plastic "Sledgehammer" ($85),
or a Corgi cast metal "Yellow Submarine" toy from the Beatles' movie
($450).ÊOh well, I've always been a sucker for "Love Me Tender". Back
in the convertible, musical mission accomplished, I slide in the cassette
tape and listen to the Beach Boys sing of blondes, beaches and bikinis
as I drive into the hazy, smoggy L.A. sunset.
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