OPEN BARS (7)
Rocka Rolla
🇺🇸New York, United States
Williamsburg dive with giant beer chalices, frozen coffee drinks and a hard-rock jukebox.
Jet Bar
🇯🇵Tokyo, Japan
A visual anomaly among metal bars. While most are painted black or red, Jet Bar is Hot Orange with a black-and-white checkered floor, evoking 1970s psychedelic/hard rock aesthetic (think A Clockwork Orange meets Led Zeppelin).
Rainbow Bar & Grill
🇺🇸Los Angeles, United States
While primarily a restaurant and bar, the Rainbow is the social hub of the Sunset Strip. Opened in 1972, it served as the "after-party" destination for the Whisky and Roxy. In the 1970s, it was the lair of the "Hollywood Vampires" drinking club, whose members included Alice Cooper, Keith Moon, and Harry Nilsson.
Ballbreaker
🇪🇸Barcelona, Spain
Gràcia craft-beer pub playing heavy-metal, hard-rock and thrash playlists.
Duff's Brooklyn
🇺🇸New York, United States
Iconic Williamsburg heavy-metal dive packed with memorabilia and a legendary metal jukebox.
Lucky 13 Saloon
🇺🇸New York, United States
Brooklyn's first dedicated metal bar featuring go-go dancers, live shows and a famed jukebox.
Pub Anchor
🇸🇪Stockholm, Sweden
Near-mythical status as the "living room" for the Swedish metal community. Sanctuary for the sleaze/glam revival of the mid-2000s. Chaotic blend of nautical kitsch and heavy metal iconography mirrors the "blue-collar" ethos of Swedish metal.
CLOSED BARS (12)
Grande Ballroom
🇺🇸Detroit, United States
The Grande Ballroom is a legendary rock 'n' roll mecca and birthplace of Detroit's hard rock and punk scenes. It became a hub for counterculture in the 1960s and was home to seminal bands like MC5 and The Stooges.
The Granary
🇬🇧Bristol, United Kingdom
Golden Eagle
🇬🇧Birmingham, United Kingdom
The Cooperage
🇬🇧Newcastle upon Tyne, United Kingdom
FM Station
🇺🇸Los Angeles, United States
A large hard rock and metal club in North Hollywood. FM Station – originally opened by nightclub impresario "Filthy" McNasty (real name Ed Danky) – was the premier rock venue in the San Fernando Valley during the 1980s and early '90s. It featured a stylish roadhouse vibe, stage with pro lights, and was a key venue for the hair metal era as well as other rock genres.
The Starwood
🇺🇸Los Angeles, United States
A notorious nightclub and live rock venue on Santa Monica Blvd in West Hollywood. The Starwood was active in the mid-to-late 1970s and was a key venue bridging the glam, hard rock, and early punk scenes in L.A. It was known for wild nights and for the criminal exploits of its owner, Eddie Nash, as much as for the music.
The Cat Club
🇺🇸New York, United States
Two-level hard-rock bar with cage dancers in Greenwich Village.
Club Typhoon
🇯🇵Osaka, Japan
Sala Canciller
🇪🇸Madrid, Spain
Heavy-metal bar where Barón Rojo, Obús & Saxon shook the Vallecas night.
The Wapentake
🇬🇧Sheffield, United Kingdom
The quintessential NWOBHM dive bar in the Steel City. Small, dark, with infamously low ceilings and a sticky floor that could literally anchor patrons to the spot.
The Stone
🇺🇸San Francisco, United States
Located on Broadway in San Francisco's red-light district. Larger stage and more professional than Ruthie's while retaining grit. Capacity 700. Part of Keystone venue family.
Mayfair Ballroom
🇬🇧Newcastle upon Tyne, United Kingdom