The Whisky a Go Go, also known as The Whisky, is a popular rock nightclub located at Sunset Boulevard in West Hollywood, California. Even though the club was originally billed as a discotheque, The Whisky still went out with the bang and live band music on their opening night in 1964. The live band was led by rock n’ roll singer/songwriter Johhny Rivers, with a female DJ spinning hits on the turntable in the suspended cages that hung over the crowd.
During one performance in 1965, the female DJ in the suspended cage started dancing to the music being played by Johnny Rivers. The crowd thought the caged dancer was part of the whole musical act, so this “caged dancing” was later on replicated in other franchises of Whisky a Go Go, as well as in other bars. This is how the concept of “Go Go dancers,” or women dancing in cages, was created.
Like other rock nightclubs on Sunset Strip (The Roxy Theatre, Pandora’s Box, etc.), The Whisky a Go Go was also home to legendary musical acts like Janis Joplin, The Doors, Led Zeppelin, Buffalo Springfield, and tons more. The Whisky a Go Go also played a vital role in the musical careers of Southern California-based bands like The Byrds, Alice Cooper, and Love. British rock acts who had headlined performances at the Whisky include Oasis, The Kinks, Cream, and The Who.
In the late 70’s, Whisky a Go Go was a hot spot for the emerging punk rock and new wave music trends. It was during this time that the Whisky had acts like Van Halen, The Ramones, Talking Heads, Elvis Costello and Blondie gracing their stage and thus, drawing in more and more clients. While the Whisky had gained undeniable popularity in the rock n’ roll scene and the music industry in general, the club is often criticized by those in the industry for their “pay to play” policy. This means that they charge the performing bands and acts for using their facilities and equipment.