Thee Experience was a psychedelic

nightclub A nightclub or dance club is a club that is open at night, usually for drinking, dancing and other entertainment. Nightclubs often have a Bar (establishment), bar and discotheque (usually simply known as disco) with a dance floor, laser lighti ...

Hollywood, California Hollywood, sometimes informally called Tinseltown, is a List of districts and neighborhoods in Los Angeles, neighborhood and district in the Central Los Angeles, central region of Los Angeles County, California, within the city of Los Angeles. ...

United States The United States of America (USA), also known as the United States (U.S.) or America, is a country primarily located in North America. It is a federal republic of 50 U.S. state, states and a federal capital district, Washington, D.C. The 48 ...

. It was located at 7551

Sunset Boulevard Sunset Boulevard is a boulevard in the central and western part of Los Angeles, California, United States, that stretches from the Pacific Coast Highway (California), Pacific Coast Highway in Pacific Palisades, Los Angeles, Pacific Palisad ...

, on the

Sunset Strip The Sunset Strip is the stretch of Sunset Boulevard that passes through the city of West Hollywood, California, United States. It extends from West Hollywood's eastern border with the city of Los Angeles near Marmont Lane to its western bord ...

History

Thee Experience was located on Sunset Boulevard, Hollywood, California, from the grand opening on March 14 through December 1969. It has been erroneously listed as located at 7751 Sunset Boulevard; however, the address is clearly visible on period advertisements as 7551 Sunset Blvd. Thee Experience was the brainstorm of owner and founder Marshall Brevitz, who had earlier opened a night club of the same name in 1967 in Hollywood, Florida. The club, which stayed open until 3 am, was so popular it outgrew its space. Brevitz later opted for a larger location, moving the club in early winter of 1968. Marshall had located a disused 32-lane

bowling alley A bowling alley (also known as a bowling center, bowling lounge, bowling arena, or historically bowling club) is a facility where the sport of bowling is played. It can be a dedicated facility or part of another, such as a clubhouse or dwelling ...

known as the Sunny Isles Bowling Center and, with others, converted it into a psychedelic ballroom. The name of the club was changed to " Thee Image Club" located at 18330 Collins Avenue in

Miami Beach, Florida Miami Beach is a coastal resort city in Miami-Dade County, Florida, United States. It is part of the Miami metropolitan area of South Florida. The municipality is located on natural and human-made barrier islands between the Atlantic Ocean ...

., honoring the house- and very popular local band, the Blues Image. Opening night (and two consecutive nights following) featured

Frank Zappa Frank Vincent Zappa (December 21, 1940 – December 4, 1993) was an American guitarist, composer, and bandleader. In a career spanning more than 30 years, Zappa composed Rock music, rock, Pop music, pop, jazz, jazz fusion, orchestra ...

and

the Mothers of Invention The Mothers of Invention (also known as the Mothers) were an American rock music, rock band from California. Formed in 1964, their work is marked by the use of sonic experimentation, innovative album art, and elaborate live shows. Originally an ...

, in March 1968. By early 1969 Brevitz was persuaded by the likes of

and

Eric Burdon Eric Victor Burdon (born 11 May 1941) is an English singer and songwriter. He was previously the lead vocalist of the rhythm and blues, R&B and Rock music, rock band The Animals and the funk band War (band), War. He is regarded as one of the Br ...

to relocate to Southern California. Once he had found the new location for his club, he changed the name back to the original "Thee Experience" and hired someone to paint the exterior as an enlarged portrait of

Jimi Hendrix James Marshall "Jimi" Hendrix (born Johnny Allen Hendrix; November 27, 1942September 18, 1970) was an American singer-songwriter and musician. He is widely regarded as one of the greatest and most influential guitarists of all time. Inducted ...

with the front door as his mouth.

Performers

Here is a partial list of some of the bands and performers that played and/or recorded at the club during its brief existence:

Alice Cooper Vincent Damon Furnier (born February 4, 1948), known by his stage name Alice Cooper, is an American rock singer and songwriter whose career spans sixty years. With a raspy voice and a stage show that features numerous props and stage illusion ...

(who played the opening night),

, Jean Luc Ponty Experience,

Albert Collins Albert Gene Collins (October 1, 1932 – November 24, 1993)Skeely, Richard. "Albert Collins: Biography" Allmusic.com. was an American electric blues guitarist and singer with a distinctive guitar style. He was noted for his powerful playing ...

The Flying Burrito Brothers The Flying Burrito Brothers are an American country rock band formed in Los Angeles, California, in 1968, best known for their influential 1969 debut album, ''The Gilded Palace of Sin''. Although the group is known for its connection to band f ...

John Lee Hooker John Lee Hooker (August 22, 1912 or 1917 – June 21, 2001) was an American blues singer, songwriter, and guitarist. The son of a sharecropper, he rose to prominence performing an electric guitar-style adaptation of Delta blues that he develo ...

, Big Mama Thornton,

Joe Cocker John Robert "Joe" Cocker (20 May 1944 – 22 December 2014) was an English singer known for his gritty, bluesy voice and dynamic stage performances featuring expressive body movements. Most of his best-known singles, such as "Feelin' Alright ...

Buddy Miles Express The Buddy Miles Express was a musical group fronted by American drummer and vocalist Buddy Miles. It was formed after the 1968 breakup of Miles's earlier group, Electric Flag. They released a total of four albums. Background 1968 The Buddy ...

Elvin Bishop Elvin Richard Bishop (born October 21, 1942) is an American blues and rock music singer, guitarist, bandleader, and songwriter. He was inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame as a member of the Paul Butterfield Blues Band in 2015, and in ...

, George Duke Trio,

Captain Beefheart Don Van Vliet (; born 'Don Glen Vliet'; January 15, 1941 – December 17, 2010) was an American singer, songwriter, multi-instrumentalist, and visual artist known by the stage name Captain Beefheart. Conducting a rotating ensemble known as the M ...

, The New Yardbirds (

Led Zeppelin Led Zeppelin were an English rock music, rock band formed in London in 1968. The band comprised vocalist Robert Plant, guitarist Jimmy Page, bassist-keyboardist John Paul Jones (musician), John Paul Jones and drummer John Bonham. With a he ...

), T.I.M.E. (Trust In Men Everywhere), Steve Young, Magical Berri Lee, A.B. Skhy, Fair Be Fall, Rockin' Foo. Pogo (before they changed their name to Poco), Blues Magoos, Southwind, Black Pearl, Junior Markham & the Tulsa Rhythm Revue, Bobby Doyle. Colwell-Winfield Blues Band, SRC,

Blues Image Blues Image was an American rock band. They had a hit in 1970 with " Ride Captain Ride", which reached No. 4 on both the ''Billboard'' Hot 100 and the Canadian RPM magazine charts. Career Blues Image was formed in Miami, Florida in 1966 ...

, Screaming Lord Sutch & the Mighty Fat, Fields, Illinois Speed Press, Linn County, C.K. Strong, Sons of Champlin, T.S. Song, Joe Cocker & the Grease Band, Bluesberry Jam, Bangor Flying Circus,

Roxy Music Roxy Music are an English rock music, rock band formed in 1970 by Bryan Ferry (lead vocals/keyboards/principal songwriter) and Graham Simpson (musician), Graham Simpson (bass). By the time the band recorded their Roxy Music (album), first albu ...

, War (with Eric Burdon), Lonnie Mack, Baby, Stoneface,

Grand Funk Railroad Grand Funk Railroad (often shortened to Grand Funk) is an American rock band formed in Flint, Michigan, in 1969 by Mark Farner (vocals, guitar, keyboards, harmonica), Don Brewer (drums, vocals) and Mel Schacher (bass). The band achieved pea ...

, Tyrannosaurus Rex, Tarantula,

Albert Lee Albert William Lee (born 21 December 1943) is an English guitarist known for his fingerstyle and hybrid picking technique. Lee has worked, both in the studio and on tour, with many famous musicians from a wide range of genres. He has also m ...

, Spencer Davis Group, Jimi Hendrix, The Young Bloods and many others.Thee Experience , Los Angeles , Gigography of concerts at Thee Experience , Songkick
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References

{{DEFAULTSORT:Experience Nightclubs in Los Angeles County, California

History

Performers

See also

References