 In 1962 , while playing a gig at the <unk> Club in Seaside , Oregon , the band noticed Rockin ' Robin Roberts 's version of " Louie Louie " being played on the jukebox for hours on end . The entire club would get up and dance . Ely convinced the Kingsmen to learn the song , which they played at dances to a great crowd response . Unknown to him , he changed the beat from 1 @-@ 2 @-@ 3 @-@ 4 , 1 – 2 , 1 @-@ 2 @-@ 3 @-@ 4 , 1 – 2 to 1 @-@ 2 @-@ 3 , 1 – 2 , 1 @-@ 2 @-@ 3 , 1 – 2 because he based it on the intro only . Ken Chase , host of radio station <unk> , formed his own club to capitalize on these dance crazes . Dubbed " The Chase " , the Kingsmen became the club 's house band and Ken Chase became the band 's manager . Ely was begging Chase to let the band record their own version of " Louie Louie " , and on April 5 , 1963 , Chase booked the band an hour @-@ long session at the local Northwestern Inc. studio for the following day . The band had just played a 90 @-@ minute " Louie Louie " marathon . 
