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I LOVE THE NIGHTLIFE by Carla Ridge
Mayor Of The Sunset Strip, Rodney On The ROQ, Davy Jones' stand-in - all these appellations and more have applied to diminutive, mod-bouffanted, Carnaby Street-clad Rodney Bingenheimer, THE LA rock 'n' roll scenester. No mere hanger-on, though, Der Bingle is credited as an instrumental force in the introduction of glam and punk rock on these fair shores. He opened Rodney Bingenheimer's English Disco in 1972, during the second British invasion, and it soon became stateside frolic headquarters for the likes of David Bowie, Queen, Sweet, Marc Bolan and Led Zeppelin, as well as Joan Jett, Suzi Quatro and other assorted Runaways. Shaun Cassidy made his singing debut there, opening for Iggy Pop, no less.
In its current incarnation, Rodney's plays host to such personages as Blondie drummer Clem Burke, Dee Dee Ramone and singer-songwriter Roland Bolan [Marc's son]. Then there are the unfortunate hordes of youngsters who flock to the place from all over greater Los Angeles as Rodney's is now an all-ages club. Having neglected their glam studies, they didn't quite understand Carla's silver spandex. Rodney took notice, however, looking this reporter up and down and peppering her with questions like, " What do YOU do," and " Do you have more outfits like that at home?" (his cleavage-level vantage point affording him special insight into my feathered finery).
The room itself is only surpassed by the fabulous taste of local hero Jason Lavitt, a sweetheart of a guy who also mans the wheels of steel at Makeup (see Carla's May '00 column). Among my favorite sets: Roxy Music's " Virginia Plain," Shaun Cassidy's " Da Doo Ron Ron," Abba's " Dancing Queen," Supergrass'" Pumping On Your Stereo," Edwyn Collins'" Never Met A Girl Like You Before," The Monkees' " I'm A Believer," Bay City Rollers'" Saturday Night," Joy Division's " Love Will Tear Us Apart," Rod Stewart's " Maggie May" and David Bowie's " Rebel Rebel." The obligatory video screen, meanwhile, presented rare vintage footage of everyone from T-Rex to Gary Glitter to Wizzard.
But by song three, I could not dismiss their songwriting chops and spirited playing. Standouts included " The Teen Wizards," "Calling All Destroyers," "I Don't Wanna Break Up" and MONoSTEReo," all of which can be heard on Tsar's eponymous Hollywood Records debut album. I was thrilled when the drummer lit his cymbals ablaze but longed to call the fire department when the club was engulfed in the ever-noxious effluence emanating from an oversupply of Rosco Fog Fluid.
Burnishing my boogie shoes, XO, Carla |
Yes,
Virginia Plain, There Is A Rodney Bingenheimer. 
The
Disco's current home is a southside nightclub called Fais Do Do. The
structure itself is perfect: vaulted ceilings painted a deep blue with
lovely plaster moldings and gilt details; a roomy dance floor with exemplary
sight lines; an ample stage; a large bar with a fabulous little blonde
bartendress named Jess (who is nonetheless forced to allow only one
drink at a time to leave her station, lest someone of age delivers an
alcoholic beverage to a callow pal); a comfortable upstairs dining area/bar
that overlooks the action; and a roomy smoking patio (within shouting
distance of Adams and La Brea, recently named LA's most dangerous intersection
for its large and varied selection of homicides). However, I must carp
about the venue's lone seat for girls in need of divesting themselves
of cocktails, a problem at almost every club in America. 
Rodney
continues to present up-and-coming rock bands at his club and this night
saw a performance by the power-popping Tsar (think La's singer Lee Mavers
fronting a Supergrass/Buzzcocks/Stone Roses hybrid). The vocalist in
question was SO comestible in his buckles-adorned white leather trousers,
yellow moptop, perfect pout and nancy nasality that despite Rodney's
impeccable imprimatur, I was certain they would not meet Carla's impossibly
high standards. 
Its
location in the hood and preponderance of little children prevents Rodney's
from being one of LA's top clubs, but the music can't be beat and a
Rodney spotting alone is worth the price of admission. Most importantly,
Miss Ridge shook her moneymaker at length and thus a good time was had
by all. Buffet your own booty about Friday, Oct. 27, when Rodney Bingenheimer's
English Disco emerges once again, Brigadoon-like, on the fourth Friday
of the month.