American Song

During the 1980s, the Sunset Strip, based in West Hollywood, had become the nucleus for the mighty surge of hard rock that defined the era. Throughout the decade, thousands of hungry musicians, bands, and music industry hopefuls made the pilgrimage in hopes of getting signed to a major label. For a young man in the 1980s, it was the rock and roll version of the American dream. The result was a creative juggernaut. The Strip not only unleashed a tour de force of hard rock, but also became a beacon for fashion, youth culture, and good times. It was, in fact, the longest-running scene in rock history. Likely, you have heard the stories and legends regarding rock royalty such as Mötley Crüe, Poison, and Guns N’ Roses... but those bands were only a small part of the actual story. By the mid-80s, the Strip bustled with a record number of bands, musicians, partygoers – and record companies. With hair metal dominating the charts, a signing frenzy commenced, and many young musicians were able