Why I Love WeHo #4: Music Legends on the Sunset Strip

At House of Blues Sunset Strip, eagerly awaiting The Doors to come on stage!

 Through working at the West Hollywood Marketing & Visitors Bureau, I’ve gotten to learn all the fascinating history of The Sunset Strip (read more HERE) and see many of the (still-standing) venues for myself. But nothing can compare to actually experiencing a traditional Sunset Strip moment firsthand.

Everything came full circle for me at the kickoff celebration for the 5^th annual Sunset Strip Music Festival. Each year, the festival honors a special legend in music. This year, one of my favorite bands, and one that got its start at the Whisky A Go-Go in West Hollywood, The Doors was the honoree!

The celebration dinner kicked off at the House of Blues Sunset Strip with catered finger food and complimentary drinks from the sponsor, Jack Daniel’s. Celebrities, West Hollywood business and club owners and regular Doors fans mingled before the show began with speeches by West Hollywood Mayor Jeffrey Prang and WeHo councilmembers. Whisky A Go-Go owner Mikael Maglieri and Roxy Theatre owner Nic Adler had the opportunity to speak about the impact The Doors had on The Sunset Strip, and Marilyn Manson, the headliner for the Sunset Strip Music Festival street concert gave a moving speech about his foray into music, which was inspired by listening to Jim Morrison and The Doors. Manson told the crowd that the first song he learned to play was “5 – 1” and that consequently the number 15 became his lucky number (tattooed behind his ear).

Then it was time for the main event – Doors members Ray Manzarek and Robby Krieger put on a once-in-a-lifetime show – in fact, their first show together in 40 years. Billy Morrison and Matt Sorum (former Guns n’ Roses) formed the band, and guest vocalists Mark McGrath, Linda Perry, Emily Armstrong of Dead Sara and Franky Perez each took a stab at replacing Jim Morrison on an iconic Doors song.

Huge smiles were seen on the entire crowd’s faces, as older guests revisited growing up listening to The Doors, and younger revelers were amazed that they got to see the band reunite one last time, something many thought would never happen in their lifetimes. Only fitting that such an epic night of classic rock, music legends, rags-to-riches tales and incredible opportunities would happen on The Sunset Strip!