KOHLI ROCKS ENTERTAINMENT
Founded on OCTOBER 27, 1995
and created by Michael Kohli.
October 27, 1995--Once upon a time in Ventura, CA--a Ventura College student wheeled out a sound system to the quad...attached a microphone...and brought 3 hours worth of music to play in front of an entire college campus. At first, a voice was heard (with the background music of OZZY OSBOURNE's PERRY MASON song.) And the kohli laugh was heard and on this day--the show, "KOHLI ROCKS!" was born. The show became a live mock radio station. The first song to be played was an instrumental track from Aerosmith, "The Movie." The soon-to-be weekly show featured a variety of music from: Bob Marley to KISS to THE PHANTOM OF THE OPERA to ALANIS MORISSETTE to PATSY CLINE to GOO GOO DOLLS to MEGADETH to ELVIS PRESLEY to C&C MUSIC FACTORY to METALLICA to BUSH to DAVE MATTHEWS BAND to SHANIA TWAIN to GEORGE MICHAEL to INXS. "KOHLI ROCKS--the 50th edition" took place on May 9, 2001 to pay homage to the death of a close friend.
IN 1996, the Ventura College ASB department appointed KOHLI as their Entertainment Director. Kohli booked entertainment on campus three days a week. Whether it would be Open Mic's at the Fireside Lounge, Poetry Readings, live bands, comedians, karaoke, twister games--3 days a week for the entire year Kohli organized some form of entertainment.
1996--Kohli became an intern for 96.7 THE BUS KXBS. Here, Kohli learned what a real radio station was like. The joys of radio, the technical side of radio, and the darkness of radio. Kohli learned how cutthroat the business was when several of the dj's got let go because the classic rock station wanted to change format to reach a younger audience. Then, the station became labeled as, "Ventura County's Music Alternative." The experience taught Kohli the reality of the business world. It's an experience that opened his eyes, yet Kohli loved every minute of the experience.
JUNE 1998--KOHLI ROCKS invaded Tuesday Nights at Nicholby's for an 8 month weekly run. Articles and ads were featured in the local papers. Word got out--and the rock crowds came to the shows. The only place in Ventura where you can find girls dancing drunk to WARRANT's CHERRY PIE.
JULY 1998--Kohli got a job as a music columnist for the VC REPORTER. This is where Kohli became in touch with the music scene in Ventura, CA. By going to shows, studying the history, and meeting bands--Kohli provided the paper with 8 months of articles. And got paid for them! Interviewed acts such as: ROYAL CROWN REVUE, HOMEGROWN, JOE SATRIANI, BRET MICHAELS of POISON and met artists such as MARILYN MANSON, TAIMIE DOWNE (FASTER PUSSYCAT/THE NEWLYDEADS), TOMMY LEE, CC DEVILLE, JOHN ENTWISTLE of THE WHO, LISA LOEB, DWEEZIL ZAPPA, BETTER THAN EZRA, DUNCAN SHEIK, DISHWALLA, CINDERELLA, RATT, and even hugged MAYNARD of TOOL/A PERFECT CIRCLE outside the Ventura Theater
AUGUST 1999--Kohli booked a live band showcase at Nicholby's titled, "TOAST OF THE TOWN" (named after a Motley Crue b-side.) The show featured 3 live bands; BOOK OF STORMS, PROTOCOL, and KNEED. Later that month Kohli also brought THE AMERICAN CHEESE BAND and PROTOCOL to the Ventura County Fair. In December of 1999, Kohli Rocks Entertainment invaded a soon-to-be closed kids place, SPACEPLAY. Would have been a great venue for bands--however the venue ended up loosing it's lease four days later. However, thanks to KNEED singer DAN FLORES (who introduced Kohli to the owner)--this show would end up opening another door in the summer of 2000.
MAY 2000--Kohli joined two other forces (a street team music promoter and SPANQ FANZINE owner) and they formed TRILOGYNET PROMOTIONS. The former owner of SPACEPLAY got the new team into THE ELK'S LODGE in Ventura to book all ages live music shows. However, after 4 shows together-Members of the new team got into a public uproar on stage (in front of press and in front of the audience--which soon made the headlines in Ventura County) and all but Kohli and his sound guy were banned from the venue. After that Kohli decided to split ways with Trilogynet and Kohli took over the Elk's Lodge for another year before the ELK'S LODGE board of members changed. THE ELK'S LODGE became known as "THE BREAKDOWN ROOM" which Kohli named appropriately after a 1999 Queensryche song which is about somebody having a nervous breakdown and going crazy, "Where Squares Fit The Round." Bands such as, PRESSURE 4-5, ALKALINE, SWAY, THE RETURN, KITTY KAT STEW, FORCE 4-D, LOVE JUNKEEZ, THE PIPER DOWNS and IMPLANT became regular band guests. That August--CHRIS JAY wrote up an article on KRE and THE BREAKDOWN ROOM--and pretty soon all the venues in Ventura had opened it's doors to KRE. For the next couple years--Kohli would book shows all over Ventura, NICHOLBY'S NIGHTCLUB, BOMBAY'S BAR AND GRILL, THE RED COVE, KELLY'S COFFEE, THE MAJESTIC VENTURA THEATER, CAFE VOLTAIRE'S BAN-DAR and more. And soon KRE ventured out into venues in Hollywood (THE MARTINI LOUNGE/RIKKI RACHTMAN'S CATHOUSE, CLUB LINGERIE/SPACE 6507) and Santa Barbara THE COACH HOUSE. He also got a full tour of THE PALLACE in Hollywood by their booking agent. If only Kohli could come up with $1,000 he could have booked a full show. However, this also opened doors up for Kohli with other venues in LA thanks to the fabulous JAXI :)! Love ya!
JANUARY 2002, Kohli began a 2 year writing gig with THE VOICE (OJAI/VENTURA). Kohli interviewed artists such as, SUGARCULT, GEOFF TATE of QUEENSRYCHE (article is featured is featured on KOHLISMUSICPIT.com) and his most highlighted interview with BUTCH VIG of GARBAGE (who has also produced hit albums from NIRVANA "Nervermind" and SMASHING PUMPKINS "Siamese Dream." Butch opened up about working with Kurt Cobain in the article.
FEBRURARY 2002, Kohli and the other Ventura Music Scene promoter Brian Parra (who were rivals at the time) became co-producers of a radio show, called THE ROCK REVOLUTION hosted by FUNK (www.urock.us ) and THE INSANE DARRELL WAYNE. Organizing guests, adding comments on the air. THE ROCK REVOLUTION staff turned the show into a weekly party in the studio.
May 2004--after 6 months of keeping silent--Kohli started a new band business name, "DRIVE U WILD ENTERTAINMENT." Booked the first show at Nicholby's.
AUGUST 2004--Kohli got in touch with a new magazine, "What's Reality." For the magazine--Kohli interviewed SUGARCULT and LISA LOEB. And, also got huge feedback for his article, "IS RADIO DEAD?" which documented the war between AM/FM radio versus Sattelite Radio. http://www.whatsreality.com.
SUMMER 2005--after taking over a year off from booking shows (and 2 years since the last KRE show), KOHLI ROCKS ENTERTAINMENT is planning it's return in August, 2005. The first show slated in August will be a full dj tribute to one of Kohli's favorite artists, ALANIS MORISSETTE. KRE will also return to Nicholby's on August 24th. OCTOBER 27, 2005 will mark 10 years of Kohli Rocks Entertainment.
