California certainly has a unique and fascinating musical history. The Golden State has been the starting point for hundreds of famous musicians throughout time. Famous and influential bands such as the Byrds, the Doors, Guns N’ Roses, and Metallica have all cut their teeth in Los Angeles music studios and played for the first time at an LA public venue. And Los Angeles has plenty of historic musical venues where some of the greatest musicians played their hearts out. From The Beatles to Michael Jackson, and everyone in between, LA’s top venues have seen their fair share of musical talent and history. Here is a look at some killer music venues in Los Angeles that have collectively hosted the biggest stars of the time. These places have held some of the most epic music performances ever!

The Whisky A Go-Go on the Sunset Strip

Arguably, the Whisky A Go-Go is one of the most important venues of music history. In particular, the Whisky A Go-Go was the ‘go to’ place for many rock stars. In its walls, legends like The Doors, Buffalo Springfield, and War started as regular acts and house bands. It may have been located in a rough part of Los Angeles in the 60s, when the counterculture movement was in full swing, however, as the house bands began to make it big, The Whisky became a place where big bands ‘made it’ to big-time status. That feeling continues to this day, with bands big and small come to strut their stuff on the Whisky’s stage.

The Troubadour on Santa Monica Blvd.

Within its small wooden walls lies the heart of generations of bands and music lovers. Many careers big and small started at this iconic West Hollywood venue. For example, the great Sir Elton John made his debut in the United States at the Troubador. It has a rich history of both musicians and audiences since it opened in 1957. Musicians have been famously kicked out of the Troubador for heckling the band! Music fans especially love how close the stage and band members feel when they’re playing. Even today, the Troubador is the spot for Los Angeles locals looking to hear the hottest up-and-coming bands and singer-songwriters.

The Shrine Auditorium in the Heart of Los Angeles

The Shrine has been the host of more than just music events. It is a major backdrop and iconic Los Angeles location in movies and films; in addition, The Shrine is the location used for the Academy Awards ceremony. Of course, it also serves as the hall for The Al Malaikah Shriners, which is where it gets its name from. As a music venue, The Shrine has been the host of some of the most legendary, and notorious, performances in history. Remember the story of Michael Jackson catching his hair on fire during a Pepsi commercial? That happened right here at The Shrine.

The Hollywood Bowl

When a big A-list band comes to play, they play at The Hollywood Bowl. Even Google itself lists the Hollywood Bowl as a ‘Legendary Outdoor Venue for Live Music’. Opened in 1922, the Hollywood Bowl is not only an awesome music venue but is an awe-inspiring structure in Los Angeles in and of itself, complete with its storied history and epic backdrop. In 1964, the Beatles graced the Hollywood Bowl with their presence. Tickets to the over 17,000 seat show sold out in just 3 ½ hours. That was a record for the time, considering there were no online ticket sales!

The Roxy in West Hollywood (WeHo)

You can see The Roxy in numerous movies and shows based in Los Angeles as a major iconic music venue. And it certainly has earned its reputation as a place for big-name stars to play. In fact, one week after the Roxy opened in the fall of 1973, the great Neil Young gave the venue one heck of a christening. Since then, The Roxy remains a popular stop for not only big name musicians, but comedy greats as well. In fact, comedian Pee Wee Herman got his start at The Roxy. Today, most musicians consider it a cozier alternative to the bigger venues like The Hollywood Bowl. Big name musicians regularly hold private shows and even live album recordings at the Roxy.

Epic Music Venues in the City of Angels

As you can see, Los Angeles certainly doesn’t have a lack of prominent live music venues. You can easily catch a wide variety of superstars, cult favorites, or up-and-coming artists every night of the week. If you have a favorite big name musician or band, you can bet that they will be playing at one of the above classic venues sometime. Grab yourself a ticket to one of these Los Angeles Music Venues, and you’ll be sure to get inspired to create some memories that will go down in your own rock-and-roll hall of fame.