Sunset Strip Picks of the Week: Gene Simmons Benefit for Vets, Rainbow Bar & Grill's 40th Anniversary and Queen Caveat

Rock and roll all night at the , when the demon himself, Gene Simmons, hosts “Rock For Vets” on Tuesday, April 10. The founding member of Kiss and reality star will headline this feel good special event benefiting The Rock Club’s Music Rehab Program at the Long Beach VA (a clinically referred program that provides self esteem building music therapy for veterans suffering from PTSD). Doors open at 7 p.m. and tickets are $35. For those unable to attend, there is also an option to “Send a Veteran in Your Place.” Details at www.therockclub.net.

On Wednesday, April 11, hostess with the mostest Ms. Kelly McGarry presents badass L.A. rockers Badwater along with the flawlessly photogenic Jennifer Akerman and her electro outfit Bella Tech at the . Other notables on this bold bill of fare include Drug The Kids, Awaken The Empire and Gunslinger. Doors open at 7:30 p.m. Tickets for this 18 and older show are $12.50 in advance and $15 day of show. www.hob.com

Return to the Roxy Theatre on Thursday, April 12 for Sunset Strip royalty Queen Caveat and special guests Cherri Bomb. Catch this heat-seeking, band on the brink as they prep for the release of their new EP, Slap on the Wrist, and a highly anticipated feature appearance on the upcoming ABC “20/20” special, Sunset Boulevard: What’s Your Dream (airing Saturday, April 21 at 9 p.m.). Doors open at 7:30 p.m. and tickets are $12. www.theroxyonsunset.com

Get your girlie-man self to the for Friday The 13th Part II. Thwart the unluckiest day of the year as you party down with Arnold Schwarzenegger metal tribute band Schwarzenator, Beelzebubba, Art of Shock and the sexy strip tease vixens known as The Sugar Club. Doors for this smorgasbord celebration of superstition open at 7:30 p.m. Tickets are only $10. Ages 21 and older. www.viperroom.com

Kick off the ’s weekend long 40th anniversary celebration on Saturday, April 14 with notorious Sunset Strip glam/sleaze rockers Faster Pussycat, performing all your favorite heyday hits at their old stomping grounds, the . Doors open 6 p.m.  Tickets to this all-ages show are $20. www.whiskyagogo.com

Celebrate a true Sunset Strip icon on Sunday, April 15, as the Rainbow throws a raging 40th birthday party. A favorite hangout for musicians including Lemmy, John Lennon, Keith Moon, Grace Slick, Janis Joplin, Led Zeppelin, Alice Cooper, Guns N’ Roses, Motley Crue (and on and on…), the Rainbow has served up cocktails, pizzas and rock n’ roll memorabilia for decades.

Kicking off at 5 p.m., the party will feature performances by Pretty Boy Floyd, Don Dokken,Hurricane, Phil Soussan, DC4, Cold Blue Rebels, Hardley Dangerous and more on an outdoor stage next to the Rainbow’s patio. The party continues through the night, until 2 a.m., with a full lineup of bands also performing upstairs at Over The Rainbow. Stop by for a pizza and a cold one, say hello to Lemmy and Mikeal and enjoy a great night of music celebrating a true rock n’ roll landmark. www.rainbowbarandgrill.com

-- Brent X Mendoza, @brentXmendoza

Courtesy of http://thesunsetstrip.com