NORTH HOLLYWOOD, Calif. – Gene Micofsky is playing a song on a piano in the very rehearsal studio, where the Eagles were inspired to make their hit song “Hotel California” in 1977.

Until recently, Micofsky would not have been allowed to rehearse at the Alley Music Studios when it first opened in 1973. For the next 45 years, the alley was an invite-only rehearsal and recording studio with a roster of musicians who are amongst the world's biggest hit makers.

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“I actually grew up on my dad's records so all the guys that used to play here and hang here are all my like childhood idols,” said Micofsky.

Back in the day, no one was allowed to talk about the alley or tell anyone outside of the music industry what happened at the alley. So for more than four decades later, no one outside the music industry knew about it or was allowed inside until now.

“There's a lot of magic in the room. I don't know, you feel it. You know when you walk in here and you play here,” said Micofsky.

John Strand took over the alley in 2017.

“The Eagles wrote the song ‘Hotel California’ about this place and it's about the hallways and the mission bell and just all the incredible stuff that happened through the years of creativity. Linda Ronstadt was just a huge part of the place. The Red Hot Chili Peppers started on the stage here in ‘84. They were here for 30 years. Nirvana, Smashing Pumpkins, Michael Jackson was here for four albums, Prince was here for two albums. There were 1,800 hits out of this place that's astronomical. That's never even heard of before,” said Strand.

While Strand is maintaining its incredible history, he has also made some changes, like opening the doors for the first time ever to new artists and the public.

“We are looking to develop new talent. We're looking to develop people that are up and coming,” said Strand.

Every room and hallway is still filled with relics of the thousands of artists who have passed through the doors over the years. Album covers have been turned into floor tiles, and vinyl records from floor to ceiling look like wallpaper.

“You have the most eclectic group of people here from country to folk to rock to metal,” said Strand.

In the room called The Basement, hundreds of famous signatures adorn the brick walls. Micofsky and Strand are combing the walls for some of their favorites.

“Thomas Petty, Linda Ronstadt, Bonnie Raitt, Bob Marley, Minnie Ripperton, Jackson Brown, Santana, Etta James, Tony Orlando. Here's Paul McCartney right here. All the Beatles actually. And this is cool, Stevie Wonder could actually sign his name,” said Micofsky.

The alley is also now a live music venue. So while you might want to sit at the same piano Linda Ronstadt played on, you will also be able to listen to some new tunes by the next generation of legends.