1980s - The Height of Hair Metal
Bill Gazzarri with 80s metal band Hurricane; Bill Gazzarri with another 80s band that played his venue [via]
During the heyday of hair metal bands, Gazzarri's was the place to play. Guns N' Roses, Poison, Ratt, Mötley Crüe and others all got their start playing at the venue, situated in the busy live music hub of Sunset Strip. Rowdy Hollywood bars, other nearby rock venues like The Roxy, House of Blues and Whisky A Go-Go, and even record companies littered the area around Gazzarri's. In fact, with its prime location and so many acts making a name for themselves by performing the surrounding clubs, Gazzarri's became one of the first "pay-to-play" venues, where musicians would actually pay the venue instead of the other way around, hoping to score a record deal with the music labels across the street.
[Warrant at Gazzarri's, 1987 via]
.jpg "How Comms Guru & Founder Of The PR Net Lisa Smith Put Her Stylish Stamp On The Industry")
.jpg "Who Are The Assoulines? Meet The Chic First Family Of Luxury Publishing")
