The Roxy: A Legacy of Music and Nightlife

The Roxy Theatre is one of the Sunset Strip’s long-standing and legendary venues. For more than 50 years, The Roxy has continually offered an exciting lineup of both new and established artists. Some truly groundbreaking performances and recordings have happened within the walls of The Roxy, largely thanks to the innovative minds that turned a former burlesque club into the iconic venue it is today. 

Here are some highlights from The Roxy’s illustrious past, present and future.

From Burlesque to Rock ‘n’ Roll: How The Roxy Theatre Got Its Start

The Roxy’s reputation, or at least that of its co-owners, preceded its buzzy 1973 opening. It boasted a dream team of music powerhouses, including Grammy Award-winning producer Lou Adler; media magnate David Geffen and his Asylum Records co-founder, music manager Elliot Roberts; Whisky a Go Go co-founder Elmer Valentine; and musician/producer Peter Asher.

Adler had promised that top-of-the-line sound, lighting and dressing rooms — some $250,000 was spent on remodeling — would attract both new artists and major headliners who had outgrown the club scene but still craved the intimacy that larger venues lacked. 

“We want The Roxy to be to clubs what, say, the Dorothy Chandler Pavilion is to concert halls,” Geffen told the Los Angeles Times. 

The Roxy’s promise was realized when Neil Young headlined its sold-out opening night, and then the two nights after that. 

“With Young as the opening attraction and such other major acts as Cheech & Chong, The Temptations and Jackson Browne already signed, The Roxy is obviously getting off to the impressive start that many had predicted for the 500-seat facility that formerly housed the Largo burlesque club,” the Los Angeles Times reported. 

Atop the club was a private, members-only venue known as On the Rox. Here, the club’s owners and famous friends rubbed elbows. Regulars included members of the so-called Hollywood Vampires, including John Lennon, Alice Cooper and Harry Nilsson, as well as A-list actors like Jack Nicholson and Robert De Niro. Today, it serves as an intimate, 21+ venue for new and up-and-coming artists. 

Landmark Shows Premiered at The Roxy

A number of landmark performances would occur on The Roxy’s stage over the decades. In 1974, Adler brought the British sci-fi musical “The Rocky Horror Show” to The Roxy for its first U.S. run. The now-iconic story follows a stranded couple who stumble upon a mansion filled with peculiar characters. A 27-year-old Tim Curry reprised the role of Dr. Frank-N-Furter, which he originated on the London stage, before going on to star in the 1975 cult film adaptation, “The Rocky Horror Picture Show.”

Read more: The Rocky Horror Show’s U.S. premiere in West Hollywood

“Hedwig and the Angry Inch,” another cult musical, enjoyed a run at The Roxy in 2006 and 2012, starring Donovan Leitch in the title role both times. Leitch served as the honorary mayor of West Hollywood in 2012 during the annual Halloween Carnaval. 

Jane’s Addiction played their first Los Angeles show at The Roxy in October of 1985, opening up for Gene Loves Jezebel. This was 11 days after they played their first-ever show at a club in Huntington Beach, where they were listed incorrectly as James Addiction. 

In 1977, LA punk band The Germs recorded their song “Sexboy” at The Roxy. Their performance was meant to be part of a Battle of the Bands sequence for Cheech & Chong’s film “Up in Smoke,” which Adler directed. However, The Germs started an impromptu food fight during their performance and were not invited to the final filming of the scene. Several other artists have recorded less tumultuous live albums here, including Bruce Springsteen, the Eurythmics, Patti Smith, Social Distortion, the Buzzcocks and Van Morrison.

In 1981, comedian Paul Reubens took the stage as his character Pee-wee Herman. At one point, HBO taped an hour-long special live at The Roxy. Reubens would go on to star as the character in three movies and the children’s TV series, “Pee-wee’s Playhouse.”

The Roxy: 50 Years of Rocking

Now operated by Lou Adler’s son, Nic Adler, The Roxy Theatre remains a cornerstone of the Sunset Strip and an essential stop for music lovers drawn to its legendary history and ever-evolving lineup of talent. In September of 2023 (and throughout the fall), the venue celebrated its 50-year anniversary with a packed schedule of performances, including the highly anticipated return of Neil Young for a two-night stand — a tribute to his historic performances in 1973.

To see what’s coming up, check the venue’s schedule at theroxy.com. 

The Roxy Theatre is located at 9009 Sunset Blvd., West Hollywood, CA 90069

Updated from the original article written by Chris Epting.