Report: Sunset Strip Music Fest in LA

Held last weekend, Aug. 26-28, as a nod to the city's decadent glory days, the festival included Smashing Pumpkins, Lemmy, The Head Cat, Semi-Precious Weapons, Fergie (!?!), a tribute to Slash - and the return of the mighty Kix!

Text & photos by Jose Martinez

For the third year in a row, the Sunset Strip Music Festival has celebrated the vibrant local music scene with an oversized nod to the city's decadent glory days. Last year the powers-that-be chose to honor rock icon Ozzy Osbourne but this time around they really got things right by honoring former Guns N' Roses guitarist Slash.

Synonymous with the Sunset Strip scene, who better reflects the attitude and energy the L.A. club life represents than Slash? During an invitation-only tribute ceremony Thursday at the House of Blues, friends and peers honored the guitarist. Hosted by local DJ icon Jim Ladd, attendees relished the hour-long open bar before the likes of Nikki Sixx, Lemmy, and Jerry Cantrell praised Slash.

Declaring Slash to be the "most celebrated guitar slinger of all time," Ladd, in his laid back style, kept the evening moving along while Motley Crue bassist Nikki Sixx recalled the two musicians "killing a Jack Daniels" together.

(Nikki Sixx)

Meanwhile, Motorhead's Lemmy Kilmister pointed out that Slash indeed "is British" (born in Hampstead and raised in the city of Stoke-on-Trent), adding, "I think he died once."

While everyone praised the former GNR and Velvet Revolver guitarist, Alice In Chains' Jerry Cantrell shared a story about how he made his way backstage at an early Guns show in Seattle and handed singer W. Axl Rose an Alice In Chains demo. As he was walking away he admitted he saw Axl throw the tape in the trash. Maybe that's just one more reason to love Slash.

As the City of West Hollywood declared August 26, 2010 as Slash Day, the guitarist confessed, "I'm speechless. I didn't prepare a speech." But in typical Slash fashion he entertained before Lemmy and friends, including Slim Jim Phantom of the Stray Cats, took the stage with his band The Head Cat. With Slash adding guitar on "There's Good Rockin,'" the band tore through some Buddy Holly, Johnny Cash, and Ricky Nelson favorites.

(Hillbilly Herald)

Over the course of the weekend a slew of artists (from buzz bands like Semi Precious Weapons, to a band from back in the day like Rattlesnake Shake, to newcomers like Hillbilly Herald, to Adler's Appetite featuring former GNR drummer Steven Adler) and thousands of fans made their way to several venues to see all kinds of rock bands, including a sold out show at the House of Blues Friday night with late ‘80s favorites Kix.

According to guitarist Brian "Damage" Forsythe, now also with Rhino Bucket, this marked the band's first local show in nearly 20 years.

"Our very first show [in Los Angeles] was at the Troubadour opening for Guns N' Roses before they even had their debut record out," Forsythe recalled. "We were first on the bill and it was crazy because there were a lot of people to see us because we've never played here, and Guns N' Roses were big too, so the line went all the way out the door and around the block."

With Kix frontman Steve Whiteman still scary fit all these years later, while pointing out that everyone in Los Angeles wants guest list and VIP privileges, it was entertaining watching a band still in peak condition making sure their audience left satiated.

(Steel Panther)

(Slash w/Fergie)

Saturday afternoon saw, for the second year in a row, the famous Sunset Strip shut down to host a street festival where thousands besieged landmarks like The Roxy Theatre, Whisky A Go-Go, and the Rainbow Bar & Grill while makeshift outdoor stages featured sets by local favorites Steel Panther, Travie McCoy, Slash with special guest Fergie, and headliners The Smashing Pumpkins.

While you can question the Pumpkins spot on the bill, maybe it was the organizers way of making sure this isn't looked at as just a local event, especially as last year saw a headlining set by Ozzy Osbourne, but the Pumpkins aren't a band with locals ties to the Strip so it did seem out of place. But either way, it was a blast and welcome treat to listen to Billy Corgan's feedback wail through Sunset Blvd.