The Rise and Fall of the Sunset Strip Metal Scene

Back in the '80s, if you weren’t in Hollywood, were you even in a band?

The Sunset Strip was the epicenter of glam metal’s explosion — a neon-lit warzone of teased hair, spandex, and Marshall stacks. Clubs like The Whisky, Gazzarri’s, and The Roxy hosted legends before they were legends: Mötley Crüe, Poison, W.A.S.P., and Guns N’ Roses.

The rise:
Bands hustled with demo tapes, flyer wars, and stage theatrics. Labels came looking for the next big thing. The glam metal image sold — and so did the records.

The fall:
By the early '90s, the grunge movement swept in like a buzzkill. Big hair and eyeliner gave way to flannel and brooding. The Strip went quiet.

But if you close your eyes and listen to a squealing solo or a sleazy verse about fast cars and faster women… the Strip still lives.