WEST HOLLYWOOD, California — Very sad news as we report the passing of Eddie Karayan.
Karayan owned the famous Troubadour night club in West Hollywood with Doug Weston who passed away back in 1999.
Karayan was a huge part of the Hollywood music scene and helped set in motion the careers of countless musicians and entertainers.
The Troubadour night-club located in West Hollywood on Santa Monica Boulevard has been a staple in the music industry since it opened in 1957.
Karayan is being remembered fondly today by friends and associates on social media.
Vicky Hamilton who was a integral part of the music scene in Hollywood shared a blog on her social media talking about Karayan writing; “So sad to hear of the passing of Eddie Karayan who was the owner of The Troubadour after Doug Weston’s passing.”
Hamilton continued; “The Troubadour has always been a club staple in my life, I met Jennifer Perry when she was the booker there. We became fast friends and pretty much dominated on the Sunset Strip and Santa Monica Blvd where the Troubadour still stands in the mid 80’s. Jennifer gave shows to Stryper, Gun N Roses, Poison, Faster Pussycat and Darling Cruel when I was working with these acts. Eddie oversaw all these bookings…Eddie was a big fan of Poison and made a deal with me to pay Poisons rent and phone bill if they played the Troubadour once a month…those were lean times for the band and Eddie kept them from being homeless. Eddie was a behind the scenes force to be reckoned with, and he probably influenced your life without you even knowing.”
Howie Hubberman also a huge part of the scene for decades commented on Karayan‘s passing writing on his Facebook: “Eddie Karayan: Long Time Successor To Doug Weston “The Troubadour” On Santa Monica … Long Time Friend: Eddie RIP. From Bang Bang To Poison And Beyond … You Always Supported Live Music In LA. You Will Be Remembered By All….”
Douglas Randall Starr, pka Dr. Starr added a lengthy tribute on his Facebook that reads in-part; “RIP EDDIE KARAYAN • Shocked and saddened 
My deepest, heartfelt condolences sending lots of love and 
prayers to Eddie’s daughters, to all his family, loved ones and dear friends!“
Starr added: “I met EDDIE when I was 23 years old 42 years ago when he was the manager at the Troubadour… and let me hang my gravity boots bar, and have a real shotgun on stage! Those were my college years, where we started out playing on a Tuesday with Gus (Taime Downe) ran lights for us and we worked our way up to headlining two nights in a row 12-30-1983 and New Year’s Eve 1983-1984 w LA GUNS played 2 nites with POISON.”
Troubadour has hosted countless legendary artists and entertainers on stage and off, including; Jim Morrison, The Eagles, Bob Dylan, Linda Ronstadt, Neil Young, Billy Joel, Elton John, James Taylor, Neil Diamond and John Lennon of The Beatles who was kicked out of the club in 1974 for heckling performers.
Rolling Stone magazine has called The Troubadour “one of most storied venues in popular music” and lists it second, after The Bowery Ballroom in New York City, on its list of “Best Clubs.”
Karayan‘s daughter’s including Christine have been running the club for some years now.
Metal Sludge would like to send our condolences to Eddie Karayan‘s family, friends and related associates.
Eddie Karayan was 89.
Troubadour has a storied history that covers many genres of music and styles for more than 6 decades.
The 500 person capacity club was a major hot bed for heavy metal, hard rock and the hairband craze throughout the 1980’s and helped to set the tone for many of the bands including; Mötley Crüe, Ratt, W.A.S.P., Metallica, Poison, Guns N’ Roses, L.A. Guns and Warrant among others.
We have shared some key dates and events below from the club’s history found on their official website.
1957 > Troubadour opened for business.
September 1968 > Comedian Richard Pryor records his live debut album.
March 12th 1974 > John Lennon and Harry Nilsson are escorted out of the club for heckling the Smothers Brothers.
November 1978 > The Knack, who were then unsigned, headline with special guests Bruce Springsteen, Tom Petty, Stephen Stills, and Ray Manzarek.
August 18th 1982 > Metallica make their Los Angeles headline debut.
1984 > Hair-metal band Warrant plays their debut show.
June 6th 1985 > Guns N Roses debut of the classic “Appetite for Destruction” line-up
March 10th 1991 > Pearl Jam, formerly Mookie Blaylock, performs for the first time under their new name.
November 9th 1994 > Korn played their first Los Angeles show as the opening act for Corrosion of Conformity.
February 14th 1999 > Troubadour owner and founder, Doug Weston, passes away.
May 22nd 1999 > Johnny Cash does one of his last performances with his wife June Carter Cash.
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