India, May 23 -- There are endless stories from the debaucherous eras in Pigalle, the Paris neighborhood south of Montmartre known for its historic red-light district, sex shops, and cabarets a la Moulin Rouge. I spent much of my early 20s bopping between its dive bars, but somehow missed out on the legend that was Le Bus Palladium.

Among all the clubs and hot spots in Pigalle, none attracted quite the same mixed crew as "Le Bus." known for being the go-to hangout for the world's most famous faces at the intersection of music, art, and club life, from Patti Smith and The Beatles to Gloria Gaynor. Salvador Dali was among the earliest legends to discover it in 1965 after its opening. The name was a nod to Palladium, the legendary New York...