Truth matters. Community matters. Your support makes both possible. LAist is one of the few places where news remains independent and free from political and corporate influence. Stand up for truth and for LAist. Make your tax-deductible donation now.
This is an archival story that predates current editorial management.
This archival content was written, edited, and published prior to LAist's acquisition by its current owner, Southern California Public Radio ("SCPR"). Content, such as language choice and subject matter, in archival articles therefore may not align with SCPR's current editorial standards. To learn more about those standards and why we make this distinction, please click here.
Silenced On the Sunset Strip: The Key Club Is Closing
Concert-goers, soon it will be the day the music died at the Key Club on the Sunset Strip.
The venue will close for good on March 15.
Here's our official closing statement in case you we're able to download it. Come party with us this week! pic.twitter.com/oNeHfDj5iw
— The Sunset Kid (@Key_Club) March 4, 2013
The Key Club put out the following letter to their patrons today:
In the 1960s, the space was home to Gazzarri's, founded by Bill Gazzarri, and was where you could catch acts like The Doors, Van Halen, Alice Cooper, Tom Petty, Tina Turner, Mötley Crüe, and Guns N’ Roses during its storied tenure. The building was damaged in the 1994, and was reborn for a couple of years as Billboard Live. The Key Club has been there since 1998.
Over the years, several bands made live concert albums and videos at the Key Club, including acts like Pennywise, W.A.S.P., and Kingspade.
The Key Club closed for a spell in 2009, and in 2010 began operating as a pay-to-play venue. In 2011 they had to apologize for a lil' riot on the Sunset Strip that began during a punk show at the club.