The Thirsty Whale, which opened in 1971,[citation needed] was a rock music club in River Grove, Illinois.
It brought in acts like Blue Öyster Cult, Off Broadway, Molly Hatchet, Black Oak Arkansas, Extreme, Keith Reid with Bowser from Sha-Na-Na, Alice In Chains (opened for Extreme), Quiet Riot, Foghat, Johnny Winter, Mother Love Bone (who played their only Chicago show at the Whale),[citation needed] Tuff, Danger Danger, Ratt, Lita Ford, Dream Theater, Kings X, Nuclear Assault, and Peter Criss.
[citation needed] Future Rock and Roll Hall of Fame inductee Cheap Trick played there regularly in the late 1970s, promoting the release of their first two albums, Black & White and In Color, respectively.
Young bands would have the opportunity to open for national acts to grow their fan base and sometimes the attention of major record companies.
[citation needed] The club was honored as part of the inaugural class of the Illinois Rock & Roll Museum on Route 66.