Blackboard Jungle @ Viper Room 2025 – Here’s What You Need to Know
Legendary Sunset Strip rockers Blackboard Jungle returned to The Viper Room on June 7 for their annual reunion show. This time the bill included another legendary Sunset Strip band Glamour Punks plus Fizzy Bangers, Circuling Saturn and Ringo’s Carr. But that was not all!
Here is the short report and everything you need to know that happened at this night of high octane riffs and raw Hollywood vibe.
Blackboard Jungle held their annual reunion show at The Viper Room on June 7, continuing a tradition that has lasted more than 20 years.
The band performed with their original classic lineup: Kenny Price on vocals, Dave Zink on guitar, Britt Pennella on bass, and Joel Patterson on drums.
The set opened with high-energy fan favorites including Chicago, Caroline, and The Prettiest Ones.
Midway through the show, Steve Rachelle from TUFF, joined the band onstage for a rocking performance of the TUFF anthem Good Guys Wear Black.
Before the song, Steve told a story about meeting Britt in 1988, five minutes after he arrived in L.A. — this is a real story that can be pulled from any Sunset Strip history book.
In a surprising twist, Steve revealed that he had kept the original flyer Britt gave him for his old band Filthy Ritz — and he actually showed it to the crowd after they finished the rendition of Good Guys Wear Black.
The set continued with a rare duet between Steve and Kenny on a cover of Michael Monroe’s “Dad, Jail Rock N Roll”, showing real chemistry and a shared love for underground sleaze rock.
Later in the night, Eddie Robison from Alleycat Scratch / Jet 68 joined Blackboard Jungle for a one-off Jet 68 mini-reunion with Kenny Price. Backed by Jamie Phillips on bass and Mike Penketh on drums, the group delivered a raw and nostalgic version of Jet 68’s underground hit Superqueen. Eddie stayed and played Hope and Water with Blackboard Jungle after that one.
Blackboard Jungle closed the night with more of their signature tracks, including songs like Generation , An Old Friend, and probably their biggest hit Paint You A Picture, once again proving that the heart of Hollywood rock is still beating on the Strip. Glamour Punks’ frontman Screamin’ Boy Mandie also jumped on the stage and sang a song with the band.
At the end of their performance the whole place sang a Happy Birthday song to Tommy Black the general manager of The Viper Room.
The verdict: Everything you know about the Sunset Strip, everything you’ve heard, read, or seen somewhere — you could feel it on your own skin that evening of June 7th, in a small corner at the intersection of Sunset Boulevard and Larrabee Street. There’s something magical about The Viper Room, and that magic was amplified by the bands on stage, especially Blackboard Jungle, connecting the past and present of the Hollywood rock ’n’ roll scene.
Hey, if you don’t believe us watch the video below!
Sign Up For Regular Updates From Junkyard World
