Review of The Viper Room Club in West Hollywood

Gone are the days of the original Viper Room of Johnny Depp fame where a-list rebel actor/rockers cavorted and some pretty good bands got their start. This Strip-centric hole-in-the-wall seems to remain on life support due to its macabre history as the final resting place of young actor River Phoenix. But the majesty of myth--and the old Guns n’ Roses throwbacks that haunt the Viper Room’s claustrophobic halls--don’t seem to be enough to thrust this place above its mediocrity.

Play one for the flannel-wearing beardo in the back who hasn’t taken a shower since Johnny Depp sold his share in the Viper Room back in ’04.

There’s nothing wrong with dive clubs but in LA--and more precisely Hollywood--there is a hierarchy and ranking even in the hole-in-the-wall category. This place has all the sad, desperate energy of the dive but none of the magic, surprises and dirty charm of one. It’s a bit like the Frolic Room with a cover.

Some of us might remember a time when The Viper Room was white-hot in the ‘90s for about a minute. Then River Phoenix overdosed on drugs here, making it more of a fan shrine than a music venue. Don’t get me wrong, Viper still had some decent days in the Millennium decade. I attended more than a couple of good CD release parties that packed in some serious music-heads.

Unfortunately, those evenings seem to increasingly be the exception, rather than the rule. It’s a shame because, even the occasional cool band that plays this venue seems cursed by the mildew stench that hangs heavy in the air, the charmless tight quarters, the scary (sub)human fixtures (unless they bring their own crowd), so-so sound system and general cheesy has-been (non-funky) freakazoid ambience. Save for the somewhat reasonably priced--for the Strip--(circa $9) drinks there’s not much to come back for.

As one wise rocker once said, it’s better to burn out than to fade away.

The Viper Room

8852 West Sunset Blvd.
West Hollywood, CA 90069
310-652-7869