Since opening in 1964, the world famous Whisky a Go Go on the Sunset Strip in Los Angeles has hosted some of the biggest rock stars in history. The Doors, The Byrds, Janis Joplin, Neil Young, Smokey Robinson, The Temptations, Led Zeppelin, Alice Cooper, Van Halen, Guns N’ Roses, Mötley Crüe and Metallica have played on the stage that continues to launch today’s up-and-coming artists. In 1972, Mario Maglieri, along with Whisky co-founder Elmer Valentine, Lou Adler and others, started the Rainbow Bar and Grill down the street from the Whisky. Originally the Villa Nova restaurant where Marilyn Monroe first met Joe DiMaggio on a blind date, the Rainbow opened with a party for Elton John. It went on to become a stomping ground for celebrities such as John Lennon, Keith Moon, Neil Diamond, Robert Plant and even Elvis Presley. John Belushi ate his last meal at the Rainbow, while W. C. Fields punched a hole in a wall, Charles Manson got thrown out and Janis Joplin had her last drink at the Whisky. Mario, who over time became the sole owner of the Whisky, passed on the running of these two legendary Hollywood hangouts to his son Mikeal, and now his grandson Mike. Tokyo Journal ’s Executive Editor Anthony Al-Jamie met with all three generations of the Maglieri family at the Rainbow Bar and Grill.

TJ: Mr. Maglieri, how old were you when you first started and how did you become the owner?
MARIO: [I] started at the Whisky when I was in my early forties… as a manager… and slowly [I] bought out the other managers ‘till I was the sole owner.

TJ: Mikeal, you must have also seen a lot over the years. How long have you been in the business?
MIKEAL: Since I was 16 years old. I was here when Jimi Hendrix [played]. When the Doors started, I was here. They were a house band. Three Dog Night was a house band... Canned Heat. John Lennon was here just before he died. He loved coming here. He was part of the “in” crowd that hung out upstairs in the Vampire’s Lair — him, Ringo, Alice Cooper and Micky Dolenz. There was a whole crew that hung out the first two years. John Belushi was here the night before he died. Rick James was here two nights before he died. There were a lot. If your name started with a J, you were in trouble. Janis Joplin, John Belushi. Jim Croce, Jim Morrison.

The complete article is available in Issue #277. Click here to order from Amazon.