[1] In 1979, Marc Kreisel and his partners purchased the dilapidated American Hotel on Hewitt Street, with a view to creating a cultural hub for the burgeoning art scene forming in downtown Los Angeles.

"[6] Al's Bar eventually acquired works by dozens of artists, including Katy Crowe, Scott Greiger, James Griffith, Steve Hurd, Bruce Nauman, Allen Ruppersberg, Coleen Sterritt, and John Valadez, among others.

[2] Writers like Bret Easton Ellis and actors Pierce Brosnan, Steve Buscemi, Stacy Keach, Pee-Wee Herman, Tommy Lee, Bill Murray, Judd Nelson, Al Pacino, Sean Penn, Chloe Sevigny stopped by.

"[10]" Bands and singers that played there over the years included: L7, Beck, DNA/Arto Lindsay, Ry Cooder, The Fall, Fear, Hole, Hüsker Dü, Imperial Butt Wizards, Los Lobos, Social Distortion, Mighty Joe Young, Nirvana, Dayglo Abortions, NOFX, The Party Boys, The Residents, Sonic Youth, Urge Overkill,Screaming Bloody Marys, Wall of Voodoo, and Dwight Yoakam.

"[7] While serving as a proving ground for out-of-town bands like Sonic Youth, the Residents, the Misfits, and Jesus Lizard, Al's Bar kept it current by booking local acts such as 400 Blows, Tadpole, Blues Experiment and Die Fast.

[11] "Functionists High" (1990) featured works by nine mainstays of the Los Angeles scene, including Hans Burkhardt, Claire Falkenstein, Ynez Johnston, Helen Lundeberg, June Wayne, and Emerson Woelffer, was accompanied by a catalog essay written by Peter Plagens[12] The compilation album "Live at Al's Bar" was released in 1997.