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Died On This Date (December 3, 2008) Elmer Valentine / Co-founded The Whiskey a Go Go, The Roxy, The Rainbow Bar & Grill

themusicsover December 3, 2009 1 Comment

Elmer Valentine
June 16, 1923 – December 3, 2008

Elmer Valentine played a critical role in the growth of popular music in the Los Angeles area by co-founding the legendary Sunset Strip clubs, the Whiskey a Go Go and the Roxy.  Born and raised in Chicago where he worked on the police force, Valentine transplanted to the L.A. area in 1960.  In 1964, Valentine and three partners opened the Whiskey which would help define the west coast rock scene of the ’60s, ’70s and ’80s.  Acts like the Doors, the Byrds and Buffalo Springfield played some of their earliest gigs there during the ’60s, while the likes of Great White, Motley Crue and Guns ‘n Roses did the same during the ’80s.  And of course, there were countless others between and since.  In 1966, he and investers that included Lou Adler, opened the Roxy (and later, the infamous Rainbow Bar & Grill next door).  Like the Whiskey, the Roxy hosted its own share of legendary early shows.  That list includes Bruce Springsteen, David Bowie, Warren Zevon, the Red Hot Chili Peppers and Frank Zappa.  The Roxy’s small upstairs bar, On The Rox was also the site of some of rock music’s most notorious incidents.  In the mid ’70s, it played host to John Lennon’s infamous “lost weekend” gatherings with Keith Moon, Harry Nilsson, and Alice Cooper.  And in March of 1982, it was reportedly the last place John Belushi over-indulged before calling it a night and dying of an overdose in his hotel room.  Elmer Valentine sold his share of the Whiskey during the ’90s, but held on to his share of the Roxy and Rainbow until he passed away at the age of 80.