“Our manager, the late Kim Fowley, told us we needed to sing about our generation that moved out after GNR.” — Blackboard Jungle bassist Britt Pennella

“I can’t even believe that the band is still alive. I’m the youngest, and I’m 68” — Randy Jackson of Zebra

“‘I was just a fresh young thing when I waved goodbye to everything/Sure was great so glad to know ya lost myself in California” – Lyrics from the Blackboard Jungle song “California”

LOS ANGELES –The 20th Blackboard Jungle reunion this past Saturday at the Viper Room was a celebration for the ages, as diehard old Rock fans returned to the Sunset Strip to honor the band that was so almost-famous in 1989 to 1991 that they’re just as popular today.

But do not just take our word for it. The Viper Room was totally sold out at $25 a head, and fans up front were singing along to the lyrics – pretty amazing for a band that never sold records, never bought ads, never were on the radio nor MTV and barely toured in support of bigger acts.

There is a reason why Blackboard Jungle has endured, and it has more to do than simply playing one club show every June.

“Our manager, the late Kim Fowley, told us we needed to sing about our generation that moved out after GNR,”  bassist  Britt Pennella said. “He said to document our lives and the journey from growing up on GNR and Crue in suburbia to following them to Hollywood and creating our own world.  The most important BBJ line is ‘I was just a fresh young thing when I waved goodbye to everything/Sure was great so glad to know ya lost myself in California’ from our song ‘California’.”

Old Man Crawford from Glamour Punks played a key role. He opened with a strong set of rap  with his son backing him on stage, then DJ’d for most of the night before joining the stage again later for a ballsy jam session that put an exclamation point on the proceedings.

Double Cobra, a band with strong hype, also performed, but Metal Sludge missed most of it to catch old MTV favs Zebra at the Whisky, which was sold out, too. The band was just breaking into “Tell Me What You Want” – one of their two biggies in addition to ‘Who’s Behind The Door?” – when we walked in.

The Whisky barely had any breathing room, and the place was going wild.

Randy Jackson, 68, was singing his ass off in the same high key that made Zebra so endearing in the first place – a welcome treat in today’s world of taped backing recordings, click tracks and down-tuning.

We caught up with Jackson later.

“I can’t even believe that the band is still alive. I’m the youngest, and I’m 68,” Jackson said. “The fact that the three of us are still around, that’s pretty amazing.”

It is the 40th anniversary of Zebra’s iconic self-titled album that sold 70,000 in one week back in the day and a total of about a million by now.

“They pretty much know every word of “Tell Me What You Want” and “Who’s Behind The Door” and a few others,” Jackson said.

Jackson and his two bandmates are inspired. A new album is planned.

“We haven’t done a record in 20 years, but I’ve got so much material,” Jackson said. “I’m just putting together the arrangements, and so far I have seven arranged.”

Meanwhile it was back to the Viper Room to catch Fizzy Bangers, who were tight and well-rehearsed like usual.

“Hot Dog on a Stick” was the highlight, but we knew that going in.

Also, it was nice to bassist Chuck Bernal, a top booking agent, showing his compatriots how it’s done instead of just counting up the money afterward!

There was also an impromptu jam session featuring Marq Torien from BulletBoys doing Zeppelin covers, and the singer pulled it off quite well.

A new all-star band called Street Urchins closed, and this band killed. Singer Tony West from Blacklist Union was kicking ass up front, and guitarist Jon E. Love was on fire.

This band is destined for greatness.

In all a great night of good fun. Viper Room might be closed down by next year, but no one is going to stop this Blackboard Jungle train.

Gerry Gittelson can be reached at gerryg123@hotmail.com.