This is the Official Page for the Starwood Nightclub
8151 Santa Monica Blvd
West Hollywood, CA
Twitter: https://www.twitter.com/StarwoodClub
use the hastag
We are now on G+! People helping to make our pages awesome:
* Leo: in charge of watermarking, uploading and sorting images/videos
* Wendy: in charge of most emails
* Reggie aka Raj: in charge of monitoring posts and responding to emails
* Val: in charge of structuring the website for the online museum (UK)
* Marc: in charge of Twitter account
* Gary: in charge of securing and authenticating artifacts from the club
The Starwood Night Club was a nightub in the heart of West Hollywood, CA. Many rock, punk and heavy metal bands started their careers playing at The Starwood. The Starwood was unique in a couple of ways: One is that it had what is called a "Cabaret License". This allowed people entrance who were under the age of 21
The Starwood Night Club was a nightub in the heart of West Hollywood, CA and was the competition for The Whisky during its day. Many rock, glam, punk and heavy metal bands started their careers playing at The Starwood. The Starwood Nightclub and music Venue was located on the northwest corner of Santa Monica Blvd. Originally it was the fashionable Jazz club PJ's in the 1960s, which attracted a large number of film and TV personalities. and some traditional jazz musicians. During its incarnation as PJ's, The Bobby Fuller Four, The Standells, Rufus Thomas and Trini Lopez recorded live albums there. It was managed by Elmer Valentine before Valentine left to found the Whisky A Go-Go. By 1966, PJ's had been bought by organized crime figure Eddie Nash and reputed organized crime figure Dominic Lucci, and was run by Gary Fontenot (not an organized crime figure) for many years. In 1973, after Nash bought out Lucci's ownership interest in the club and became The Starwood. The Starwood was highly instrumental in the careers of Black Flag (band), The Germs, The Dickies, The Go-Go's, FEAR, Circle Jerks, The Blasters, The Knack, The Kats/The Nu Kats, The Mau-Mau's, Sister (band) and Circus Circus (band) (going on to become W.A.S.P.) The Motels, Mötley Crüe, Foxtrot, Windance, The Plimsouls, The Quick, The Plugz, Suburban Lawns, Quiet Riot, The Runaways, Van Halen, and X. Some of the acts from outside of California who played the Starwood included The Damned, Dokken, Devo, The Jam, Cheap Trick, The Ramones, Dead Boys, The Stranglers, AC/DC, Slade, Vince Vance & the Valiants and The Fleshtones. Regis Philbin did a short stint there after he left the Playboy Club on Sunset. Brian Lantin from The Late Show (retail store in WeHo) leased a booth inside the club and sold antique and vintage jewelry in the pool hall room. In 1981caught fire
Staff that worked at the Starwood over the years:
Ed Nash, Co-Owner
Ray Stayer, Club Manager
Kenny St. Manager
Eddie Choran, Booking Agent for Bands
Kathy Aquaviva, Booker Agent Assistant to Eddie Choran
Bobby, The Head Bartender
Damon, Owner Contemporary Security - Head of Security
Security was run by Damon who owned and operated the very same Sercurity company that kept most rock concerts and events safe during that era. Photographers we wish to thank for images:
Bob Gruen
George Rose
Jackie LaMerand (Starwood Customer)
Jens Lens /Jenny Lens
Jett Starsystems
Julian Wasser
Leee Black Childers
Lynn MacAfee
Mark Sullivan
Michael Ochs / Michael Ochs Archives
Mick Rock / The Real Mick Rock
Norman Seeff / Norman Seeff Productions
Rich Schmidt (Starwood Employee)
Richard Alexander (Starwood Customer)
Richard Creamer (deceased)
Ron Galella / Ron Galella, Ltd. Suzan Carson (deceased)
Theresa Kereakes
