However - back in 1972-1974 - everything was different.
Those were the days of glitter rock - when David Bowie and Robert Plant and Iggy Pop were
regulars at the Rainbow. They attracted a regular group of girls who were into the whole British glam scene. These kids included Belinda and Lorna and others who who be their friends.
Those were the days of glitter rock - when David Bowie and Robert Plant and Iggy Pop were
regulars at the Rainbow. They attracted a regular group of girls who were into the whole British glam scene. These kids included Belinda and Lorna and others who who be their friends.
- The E Club
- Rodney Bingenheimer's English Disco
- The Sugar Shack
Rodney's E Club
In October of 1972 Rodney Bingenheimer and Tom Aryes opened a club in Hollywood called the E Club. It was located at 8171 Sunset Boulevard. David Bowie was one of their first customers. It was located just east of the Chateau Marmont.
Site today of the former E Club
8171 Sunset Blvd.
8171 Sunset Blvd.
2008 photo: tlc
E stood for English. He played new music being played in English clubs at the time - the New British Invasion bands. One came to Rodney's E Club to listen to the latest glam pop sounds from England such as Bowie, Queen, Suzi Quatro and Roxy Music. It was also the place to come mingle with those rock stars. Young Joan Jett would hang out here, along with Marc Bolan of T-Rex, Led Zeppelin. Glam rock was huge with the underground scene.
Rodney with Bowie and dress
Rodney Bingenheimer arrived in Los Angeles in 1965. He formed close friendships with the cream of the LA social scene including many top pop stars of the day. He became so well known in the Hollywood music scene that actor Sal Mineo dubbed him "The Mayor of the Sunset Strip".
Rodney was a huge fan of the English pop music (1st wave British invasion) i.e. -the
Beatles, the Searcher, Billy J Kramer and the Dakotas and Jerry and the Pacemakers -that had come to America in the mid-1960's.
However, in the late 1960's he became so disenchanted with the music scene in LA that he moved to England. There he was introduced to the English underground glam scene happening in all the clubs. He became good friends with David Bowie and Rod Stewart.
When he returned to Los Angeles he was considered a beacon of "English Nowness" in a sea of blandness. Girls loved him, his Brian Jones hairstyle and mod English clothes.
Rodney thought LA needed it's own cool English club scene. So...he opened his own club. It would feature the latest in British pop music including all the glam stuff. He had a collection of British records to spin in his new English "disco".
Rodney was a huge fan of the English pop music (1st wave British invasion) i.e. -the
Beatles, the Searcher, Billy J Kramer and the Dakotas and Jerry and the Pacemakers -that had come to America in the mid-1960's.
However, in the late 1960's he became so disenchanted with the music scene in LA that he moved to England. There he was introduced to the English underground glam scene happening in all the clubs. He became good friends with David Bowie and Rod Stewart.
When he returned to Los Angeles he was considered a beacon of "English Nowness" in a sea of blandness. Girls loved him, his Brian Jones hairstyle and mod English clothes.
Iggy Pop
It became a favorite hangout for many rock stars (and a favoured haunt for young female groupies). Joan Jett and other future Runaways would go there.
Former site of Rodney Bingenheimer's English Disco
7561 Sunset Boulevard (as it looks today)
2008 photo:tlc
Inside the club
wiki:RodneyBingenheimer
Inside today of what was once Rodney's Club
2008 photo: tlc
Rodney was a regular at the Rock 'n' Roll Denny's on Sunset. It which was just down the street from where he lived. Soon scenesters would hang out at Denny's in hopes of seeing Rodney or one of the many band members he knew.
Former site of Rock 'n' Roll Denny's on Sunset
2008 photo: tlc
Rodney’s English Disco closed in early 1975. A new kind of Disco music had taken over and was all the rage. British Glam was dead. However - Rodney refused to play this new disco music at his club. So he packed up and closed up. Disenchanted again.
SUGAR SHACK
With no more British glam clubs- the kids who wanted to hear Bowie and stuff had no where to go - except maybe the Sugar Shack in North Hollywood. This was an underage clubs for kids only. It was open 'til 5 am. No alcohol. And they would play lots of Bowie. In 1975/76 it became the big hang out place. A lot of the same girls who use to go to Rodney's now went here.
SUGAR SHACK
With no more British glam clubs- the kids who wanted to hear Bowie and stuff had no where to go - except maybe the Sugar Shack in North Hollywood. This was an underage clubs for kids only. It was open 'til 5 am. No alcohol. And they would play lots of Bowie. In 1975/76 it became the big hang out place. A lot of the same girls who use to go to Rodney's now went here.
Former Sugar Shack Teen Club
12458 Magnolia, North Hollywood
2008 photo:tlc
Most of the kids who who had gone to Rodney’s old disco now went thehere. These kids included Belinda's pals Hellin Killer and Trudie as well as the Joan Jett crowd. Chuck E Starr was the DJ there. It was open til 5 a.m. Even Kim Fowley and Rodney started hanging around there too, though they were over 21 years olds. hmmmmmm...
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3 comments:
This is Chuck e Starr, Remember when they (every record co in LA) said "Were not signing girl groups now" I guess you showed them, still remember you guys selling tee shirts in front of the DJ booth at the odyssey One. Is Genger still around? Well someone tell Balinda to call me want to invite her to see one of my shows! Thanks Chuck e Starr
Hmmm nice history... the Sugar Shack was a great place and has it place in history. Most of my current friends I met at the Shack or Whiskey. Helen Killer, Trudi, Pleasant. I used to dance the Real Don Steele Show from 1973-1974 that is where I first saw the creature Chuckee Starr... I was horrified at first as I didn't understand why I felt strange but later in life I realize I was only afraid of myself. American Bandstand (which I danced from 1973-1976) was a hoot. But there was NOTHING like the Sugar Shack. It was there I was exposed to more of the music I loved and was able to be amongst others that shared that taste. My life changed on nite when Pleasant told me to go to the Starwood to see a band called the Damned.... the rest is history. Runaways, well they were birthed at the Sugar Shack thanks to Chuckee spinning "Cherry Bomb"... it took me awhile to realize it was a girl singing! : )~ OK enough. Let's get those girls into the Rock N Roll Hall of Fame! Thank you, Mark Martinez
This really sucks, it would be so awesome if this clubs were still around. I'm only 20. And how I wish this kinda locations existed right now, it be so cool.
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