WeHo Plans to Honor Rock Legends
By ROSANNA MAH, The Independent Staff Writer
The Sunset Strip is where rock ‘n’
roll legends began, says West Hollywood Councilman John Duran, and we must never
forget that.
Jim Morrison, Janis Joplin, Sonny and Cher,
the Mamas and the Papas, the Birds, the Eagles are a few names of musical cult
figures who first got their start in California, many of them who lived, played
and partied along the Sunset Strip.
“A lot of the women and men who were instrumental in the rock ‘n’ roll scene in
the early days are now in the 70s and 80s,” said Duran, who initiated plans at
the Monday night City Council meeting to celebrate and memorialize the history
of rock and roll stars on the Sunset Strip.
“As the generations begin to pass, I think it’s important for us to capture
their stories and their history on what occurred on the Strip ... before we lose
it,” he said.
West Hollywood’s latest proposal to find ways to honor music industry greats
comes at a time when rock fans are slowly waking up from a deep slumber, albeit
with the help of television shows like “Rock Star INXS” that prove talented
singers need not fit the mold of whitewashed American Idol-esque definition of
what it is to be a rockstar.
In April, Duran privately met with Dana Miller, former manager of the Beach
Boys; Todd Schiffman, who was the booking agent for The
Doors, Janis Joplin and Jefferson Airplane, among others; disc jockey
legend Art Laboe, as well as with a group of representatives from the Viper
Room, Whisky a Go Go, Roxy, Rainbow Bar and Grill and the Key Club to float some
of the city’s recommendations.
Duran said that one idea was to create a museum to house a Hall of Fame and
other memorabilia, similar to one already in place in Cleveland, Ohio which
opened in September 1995. Another suggestion included an annual street festival
to begin next year, featuring a mix of well-established and lesser known rock
bands. Officials said they are also thinking of creating a separate show to pay
tribute to living musicians like Brian Wilson from the Beach Boys, Cher and
Bette Midler.
Those fledging plans were met with much enthusiasm from those who attended the
meeting, according to Duran.
Michael Maglieri, who runs the Whisky, Rainbow and Roxy, said he also fully
supported the proposal and would donate historical artifacts such as guitars,
drums and photographs to the museum. He expressed hopes that West Hollywood
would succeed with this proposal, unlike former attempts to create a Walk of
Fame along Sunset Boulevard around six years ago.
“It’s a very good idea,” said Maglieri, who started working in the family-run
Whisky a Go Go club since 1967. “A Hall of Fame would be terrific, and we are a
much better a place to honor them as it was here where they started.”
While acknowledging the success of the Hollywood Walk of Fame as the No. 1
tourist attraction in Los Angeles, Duran said his goal was not to duplicate such
memorials and suggested interactive media, like information kiosks, to educate
the public about people who’ve been influential in the music industry.
“We don’t just want a name on the sidewalk,” said Duran. “We want people to have
the ability, especially with the technology we have to read all about that
particular rock band or star, to be able to hear the music and see video images
of the band performing.”
But how exciting is it to pose with an informational kiosk?
“Yeah, it’s not sexy to be posing in front of a kiosk,” admits Duran, with a
laugh, “but when I watch tourists take pictures with the stars on Hollywood
Boulevard, I always wondered what that was going to mean when you get home. I
mean it’s not that great a picture.”
September 21, 2005
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