Mention the name ‘The Viper Room’ and the death of River Phoenix immediately comes to mind.
On the opening night, the line-up included Tom Petty & The Heartbreakers, Evan Dando of the Lemonheads, and Pogues frontman Shane MacGowan.A who’s who of Hollywood watched from the crowd, with directors Quentin Tarantino [below], Jim Jarmusch and Tim Burton rubbing shoulders with stars like Dennis Hopper, Christina Applegate and Patricia Arquette.The building had been converted from a grocery shop into a music venue in 1947 by mobster Mickey Cohen, a fact proudly noted by a zoot-suited Depp.
Every year until 2004, when Depp sold his interest in the club, the venue closed on the anniversary of Phoenix’s death. During Depp’s time being involved, the likes of Iggy Pop , Slash, The Strokes, and Johnny Cash all performed. Even Oasis, at the peak of their powers following the release of their second album,The Pussycat Dolls owe the nightclub a debt of gratitude. Between 1995 and 2001, what was then a burlesque troupe performed each Thursday: