Tower Records History and 17 Great Photos

During it's almost four decades Tower Records had become something of a Hollywood landmark in its own right. Open until 1 AM on weekends, Tower Records was the most popular Tinsel town hangout, and a scene all its own. This flagship store of the Tower Records chain could once claim to be "the largest record store in the nation."

While Tower Records has always retained its legendary status, while it was open one would never know whom they might see there. Rock groups and individual performers showed up regularly in person at the store for impromptu concerts or autograph sessions, and special promotional events were common.

In 1995, over 1,000 fans lined up to get autographs from Elton John who said this Tower Records was always his first stop when he came to the Sunset Strip and on June 21st of that same year it was both.

David Hasselhoff ("Baywatch") and singer Engelbert Humperdinck made personal appearances at this Tower Records. Later that same year, a giant statue of Michael Jackson was erected in front of this store on the day Jackson's "HIStory" CD was released. Soon after, comic Rodney Dangerfield was at the store for the debut of his new album.

In October 1997, Duran Duran staged a reunion concert in the parking lot, while Aerosmith signed autographs there a few days later. Boys II Men showed up for an autograph session that year, and the surviving members of The Doors signed copies of the new Doors anthology

In June of 1998, rocker Rod Stewart performed a free concert in the parking lot, as did Natalie Imbruglia two months later. That same year, former teen heartthrob David Cassidy ("The Partridge Family") showed up to perform songs from his new album and Grace Slick ("The Jefferson Airplane") signed copies of her autobiography there too.

In November of 1999, Mariah Carey caused a near-riot at this Tower Records when she showed up to autograph her new CD. Beach Boys' founder Brian Wilson turned up to autograph his new CD. Randy Newman gave a free concert there in June of 1999.

This was the Tower Records store, which became the place where media reporters would go when they wanted to do a story about how well a particular new CD release was selling. Music fans continued to rub shoulders with TV and film stars who shopped there as well. Ben Affleck was spotted shopping there. So was Star Trek's Mr. Spock, Leonard Nimoy. Molly Ringwald was seen shopping there (during a David Lee Roth autograph session.) Nancy Sinatra says she would drop by after dinner to see if they would have all of her stuff, and to police the bins for bootlegs of her dad's CD's. Axl Rose, lead singer for Guns N' Roses, worked there as a night manager in the early 80's. Ten years later, in 1990, he challenged Vince Neil (the Mötley Crüe singer) to a fight in the parking lot.

This famous Tower Records store is located on the north side of the Sunset Strip at the northwest corner of Horn Avenue, right across the street from the site of the original Spago's restaurant and about half a block east of the Viper Room.