music
shangri-la records
from jay reatard posted in music by corporate_sunshine
In the documentary about Jay Reatard Better Than Something, there is footage of a young Jimmy Lee Lindsey, Jr. (real name) performing at this record store.
Shangri-La Records store owner Shermon Wilmot remarks that "he was almost an Elvis-like figure, but angrier."
Jay Reatard brought in his first demo tapes to this record store. Eric Oblivian (of the Oblivians) was working there, heard the tape, and decided to release it.
view full location details...elektra sound recorders studio
from the doors, the stooges posted in music by pete_nice
This was the former location of Elektra Sound Recorders Studio.
The Doors recorded the albums Morrison Hotel and The Soft Parade here.
From May 11-25, 1970, the Stooges recorded the tracks for Fun House here. The first day consisted of sound checking and run-throughs of the songs prepared. The entire band used headphones with the bass and drums isolated by baffles while Iggy Pop sang his vocals through a condensor microphone on a boom.
The band hated the way it sounded, stripped the studio of its attire, gave Iggy a hand-held microphone, and put the guitar and bass amps by each other to create a sound similar to their live shows.
The studio is still a recording facility and is now named Discovery Studios.
view full location details...themis
from the doors, jim morrison posted in music by pete_nice
In the late 60's, Jim Morrison purchased a boutique for his long-time girlfriend Pam Courson. Named Themis, it featured fashions from around the world and became a hangout for Jim and Pam's circle of friends.
Up the stairs from this location is where the post-production of HWY took place, where Jim Morrison, Frank Lisciandro, Paul Ferrara and Babe Hill assembled an unwatchable film.
view full location details...tropicana motel
from the doors, tom waits posted in music by pete_nice
This was the location of the Tropicana Motel until it was torn down in 1986 and reconstructed as a Ramada Inn. The Tropicana Motel was a favorite place to stay for Jim Morrison, until he moved around the corner to the Alta Cinega Motel.
The Tropicana Motel also housed the original Duke's Coffee Shop, where the Doors would often have breakfast since The Doors Workshop was nearby.
Tom Waits was arrested outside of Duke's in 1977. Waits and a friend were trying to stop some men from bullying other patrons. The men turned out to be plainclothes policemen, and they arrested Waits for disturbing the peace. The jury found Waits not guilty; he took the police department to court and was awarded $7,500.
Duke's has since moved to 8909 Sunset Boulevard.
briar street theater
from tom waits posted in music by nevereatshreddedwheat
Tom Waits collaborated with his wife Kathleen Brennan on the play Franks Wild Years based on the song "Frank's Wild Years" off of his 1983 album Swordfishtrombones. It premiered at the Briar Street Theater in Chicago on June 22, 1986 and played through July, performed by the Steppenwolf Theatre Company.
Waits played the title role of down-on-his-luck Frank O'Brien. Gary Sinise (Steppenwolf co-founder / Lt. Dan) directed and the cast also included Gary Cole (a.k.a. Office Space's Lumbergh) and featured some magic tricks devised by Teller (½ of Penn & Teller). The album Franks Wild Years, containing songs from the play, was released in 1987, completing the trilogy started by Swordfishtrombones and Rain Dogs.
Briar Street Theater was formerly a horse stable for Marshall Field and Company and is presently home to the Blue Man Group.
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