Tommy Black

The man who is keeping West Hollywood’s rock ‘n’ roll flame burning.

A man with gray hair, wearing a gray hat, sunglasses, a bandana, and denim jacket, sits in the driver's seat of a classic convertible car.

Musician & General Manager, The Viper Room

Tommy Black found his way to West Hollywood during the rock ’n’ roll “gold rush” of the Guns ’N Roses era — and never looked back. As a musician, he regularly played gigs at the Viper Room and other iconic Sunset Strip bars, even touring with musicians like Scott Weiland. Now the general manager of The Viper Room, Tommy has had a front-row seat to the shifts and changes of The Strip over the last three decades. And while the posters have gotten smaller and the acts have grown much more eclectic, the beat goes on.

Tommy was filmed on the Sunset Strip at the Viper Room and Nightbird Studios at the Sunset Marquis Hotel.

“West Hollywood is basically the heart of LA, and the Sunset Strip is the heart of West Hollywood.”

Two musicians perform on stage under colorful lights; one plays a keyboard while the other sings and plays guitar. The Viper Room sign is visible in the background.

Urban street scene at night featuring the Viper Room sign, liquor store, neon lights, and blurred car headlights creating light trails.

“The Viper Room has a smell, a feeling and an air about it. It’s in this whole area. There’s soul in all these venues and all these alleys and streets.”

Two musicians play acoustic guitars on a dimly lit stage at The Viper Room, surrounded by orange and red stage lights and some fog.

Person in a denim jacket sitting and playing an electric bass guitar in a room with several other guitars in the background.

“You can get whatever you want, nightlife wise. It’s amazing. You can go to an EDM show if that’s your deal, or rock ‘n’ roll or hip-hop, whatever you’re into, it’s here. And it’s amazing.”

A man (Tommy Black) smiles while sitting in a room with moody lighting.

“On the Sunset Strip, there’s a soul, there’s a vibe here that’s palpable and it’s in everything. The Whisky, The Roxy, the Rainbow … there’s history here. It’s a special place.”

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