‘Save Tower Records’ Breaks Records With Over 1200 Signatures in Two Weeks

Do you love music? Do you think history should be saved? There used to be Tower Records stores everywhere. But the most famous Tower Records store recognized throughout the world is right here in fabulous West Hollywood. The iconic Tower Records store on the Sunset Strip is special and thousands of fans and I want to historically preserve this building and location. Amazingly when the online petition was launched two weeks ago we averaged over 100 signatures a day not only from local residents from West Hollywood but from Los Angeles, Southern California, and the USA and around the world. While most music fans remember and know this store as the most famous record store in the world. Many remember it as the place to be seen and experience live music events during the nearly four decades on Sunset Boulevard.

Tower Records fame is legendary as it is within the three most famous blocks on the Sunset Strip in West Hollywood. There is The Roxy, which opened in 1973; Tower Records, which opened in 1970; The Rainbow Room in 1972 and the Whisky A Go-Go, which opened in 1964. Still today local bus tours, the Internet, newspapers, blogs, websites and magazines all feature Tower Records as an iconic part of the Sunset Strip's history.

Last spring the Historic Preservation Commission had two meetings where they agreed there was a significant social, cultural and music history there. But then the commissioners got hung up on mere aesthetics of red and yellow paint and additional advertising-marketing signage. The commissioners did recommend a plaque or perhaps a music square as recognition.  Unfortunately they disagreed about full preservation of the location and structure. The majority of music fans and experts want full preservation of the location and structure. The original Tower Records store opened in November 1970 and began with no additional advertising-marketing signage at all. The original applicant for preservation is historian and author, Domenic Priore. Priore is author of the book: “Riot On Sunset: Rock n’ Roll’s Last Stand In Hollywood.” Many residents and music fans still feel that commissioners last spring missed an important opportunity to preserve the location and site. But now there is a second chance as the Tower Records Store is up for reconsideration with an appeal to the city council on Monday, November 4th, 2013.

While a recent pressing deadline kept author and applicant, Domenic Priore overwhelmingly busy with a pressing deadline on a new book he was writing, I stepped up to help Priore and I wrote a 13 page appeal, launched the petition online and started a fundraising event on the crowd funding website: www.GoFundMe.com to raise funds to hire experts for the appeal: http://www.gofundme.com/2qxaeo

On Monday November 4th my appeal will be before the city council members for the final chapter in the plight to save the most famous record store in the world from the wrecking ball and preserve the most significant location and history of music on the Sunset Strip.

A Brief History:

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." It has always retained its legendary status. You would never know who might show up 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 Tower Records store on the day Jackson's "HIStory" CD was released. Soon after, comic Rodney Dangerfield was in store at this Tower Records for the debut of his new album.

In October 1997,Duran Duran staged a reunion concert in this Tower Record's 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 this Tower Records store's 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 at this Tower Records, 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 at this Tower Records to autograph his new CD. Randy Newman gave a free concert there in June of 1999.

This Tower Records store was the only place and the only record store that was still one of the first places media reporters would go when they wanted to do a story about how well a particular new CD release was selling.

And this Tower Records store on the Sunset Strip always continued to get celebrity customers as well. Ben Affleck was seen shopping there as was Star Trek's Mr. Spock, Leonard Nimoy and Molly Ringwald. Nancy Sinatra once said 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.

There are still numerous ways to get involved and participate in having your voice heard to support preserving Tower Records: sign the Petition on Change.org at: http://chn.ge/1e5yF92, or come speak for two minutes at 6:30pm the night of the appeal. Or you can email: Stephanie Reich at: SReich@weho.org and to city council at: ccouncil@weho.org

You can also used snail mail and mail a letter to: Stephanie Reich, 8300 Santa Monica Blvd. West Hollywood, California 90069. The appeal will be heard at the new West Hollywood Library’s first floor city council chambers located at 625 North San Vicente Boulevard, West Hollywood, California 90069, between Melrose Avenue and Santa Monica Boulevard.