Buzz Clubs

Chips off the block

So Slim Jim Phantom and Billy Idol are keeping it in the family. Phantom, whose Sunset Strip rock joint, the Cat Club, celebrates its fifth anniversary May 27, tells me his 16-year-old son T.J. McDonnell is rockin’ out with Idol’s 16-year-old lad, Willem Broad. Their band’s called Lucas. (with a period), and T.J.’s hitting the skins while Willem sings and plays guitar.... And we hear Cat Club partner Steve Scarduzio is gearing up to open a tony Euro-style disco in Studio City called Aura.... Bumped into Madcap bassist Lee LeBaigue and singer Johnny Madcap at the Roost in Atwater Village, and Johnny told me he’d been sent to the pokey for being “punk in drublic.” Turns out he’d knocked back a few too many and decided to howl at the moon in the middle of Los Feliz Boulevard (oops!). The L.A. band opens for Sugarcult at the Fonda Theatre next Thursday.

‘War’ by Religion

Bad Religion guitarist/Epitaph Records owner Brett Gurewitz wrote the ultimate antiwar anthem: “Let Them Eat War.” It’s on the upcoming Bad Religion record “The Empire Strikes First” (ouch).... Rico Adair’s new band Longpig debuts tonight at Zen Sushi in Silver Lake. Adair, who owns the Venice punk couture boutique Defile, says it’s “stoner sludge metal.” ... The Anarchy Library in Downey is where it’s at. Not only does the bar have an excellent menu of punk -- Dr. Know performs tomorrow, and Channel 3 is dialing in on Saturday -- but you can get your grub on at Big Al’s Tasty Franks, a hot rod wienermobile that cools its jets out front.... Now we know why the Malibu Inn’s been making waves. Former Key Club talent buyer Damian Brawner is booking the oceanside venue.

Farewell to a legend

Moment of silence for rockabilly legend Ray Condo, who died April 15 at age 53 of an apparent heart attack. I met Condo at the Culver Saloon a few years back when he blew through town with his band, the Ricochets. The Canadian troubadour was the closest thing we had to a modern Hank Williams. Pour a little out for Ray, won’tcha?