When you think of iconic nightclubs in Washington, one comes immediately to mind. The Crocodile music venue and bar has been a fixture in the Seattle music scene since its inception as the Crocodile Cafe in 1991. Legendary grunge bands got their start and gained a following after performing at the Crocodile Nightclub in Seattle - with some going on to see huge national and worldwide success. An unparalleled lineup of musical entertainment and comedy make it easy to see why countless celebrities and fans, alik,e have loved this iconic Washington nightclub for decades.
The Crocodile got its start in 1991 during the peak of Seattle's grunge scene as the Crocodile Café in Seattle's Belltown neighborhood, quickly becoming one of the best clubs in Seattle.
People of all ages flocked to the Crocodile to hear this new, angst-filled music with its fusion of punk rock and heavy metal.
Music lovers related to the introspective and dark themes of grunge music in the early '90s, and the Crocodile provided a perfect outlet for musicians and fans.
The Crocodile has seen a lot of big names over the decades.
Fans of the local band, Mudhoney were shocked when the opening band, "Pen Cap Chew" actually turned out to be hugely popular grunge band, Nirvana in a surprise performance. Tickets for that show were a mere three dollars!
Seattle's own Soundgarden played an early career gig at the Crocodile.
In the early '90s, the Crocodile stage served as a secret venue for headliners of Seattle's Bumbershoot Music Festival to try out their set. It wasn't unusual to see Eddie Vedder of Pearl Jam chatting at the bar with Joey Ramone or Kurt Cobain playing pinball with members of Alice In Chains.
A new decade brought a new sound to the Crocodile.
The Beastie Boys brought their brand of high-energy hip hop to the Crocodile in 2007, shortly before it unexpectedly closed.
In 2007 The Crocodile Café was closed but reopened under new ownership in 2009 as the Crocodile after a much-needed renovation.
New owners of the Crocodile include Alice In Chains manager, Susan Silver, drummer, Sean Kinney, and Portugal. The Man, guitarist, Eric Howk.
In 2020, the venue moved to its current location at the corner of 1st Avenue and Wall Street.
Rolling Stone Magazine named the Crocodile one of the best clubs in America. You can still see amazing, local musicians and comedians at this iconic club.
Who knows? You might even be lucky enough to see the next major star before they hit it big.
The Crocodile continues to be a premier venue for live music and celebrity sightings, beyond the grunge genre hosting the likes of Green Day, Snoop Dogg, Lizzo, Sia, and Billie Eilish, to name a few. There is a good chance you'll also spot a good number of celebrities spotted at Crocodiles Nightclub
Have you ever been to the Crocodiles Nightclub in Seattle? What band did you see? Were any celebrities spotted at Crocodiles Nightclub when you were there? We'd love to hear about it in the comments.
If you're looking for a hip venue with the best in local music and comedy, be sure to check out the Crocodile. Then, take your love of music on the road with this epic record-store road trip.
https://www.onlyinyourstate.com/washington/road-trip-cool-record-stores-wa/
Seattle has so much to offer, if you haven't come for a visit yet, watch this quick video to see what you are missing. Did you know there are underground passageways that you can actually tour?
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