[imagesource: Facebook / History Daily]

Mention the name ‘The Viper Room’ and the death of River Phoenix immediately comes to mind.

He overdosed on cocaine and heroin and died outside the nightclub on the night before Halloween in 1993, the year it opened.

Located in West Hollywood, California, along the (in)famous Sunset Strip, the nightclub was co-owned by Johnny Depp and Sal Jenco, who appeared alongside Depp on 21 Jump Street, a series that ran for five seasons in the late 1980s and early 1990s.

The Viper Room quickly became a hangout spot for Hollywood’s biggest names, who would mingle and get up to no good while some of the era’s biggest bands performed.

On the opening night, the line-up included Tom Petty & The Heartbreakers, Evan Dando of the Lemonheads, and Pogues frontman Shane MacGowan.

More via The Independent:

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.

The deliberately dark and dingy venue attracted A-listers almost every night before Phoenix’s tragic death and continued to do so after his passing, following a week-long closure out of respect.

Every year until 2004, when Depp sold his interest in the club, the venue closed on the anniversary of Phoenix’s death.

The original building where the club is currently located is slated to be demolished by 2023, to make way for a replacement club, retail space, and a five-star hotel tower.

This has led to a great deal of reminiscing and reliving of stories from days of old. This week, VICE joined in with a trip down memory lane:

Other stories from the venue which have become legendary include:

At Kate Moss’s 21st birthday party at the club in January 1995, former Neighbours star Jason Donovan had to be stretchered out after suffering his own cocaine-induced seizure. At the time, Depp and Michael Hutchence of INXS were onstage playing Van Morrison’s “Gloria”….

After discharging himself from hospital, Donovan apologised to Depp and Moss for spoiling their party. “We’re just pleased that you are OK,” Donovan remembers Depp telling him. “Now take some advice from me, go to your room, get some sleep and for God’s sake take it easy in future.”

During Depp’s time being involved, the likes of Iggy Pop (above), Slash, The Strokes, and Johnny Cash all performed. Even Oasis, at the peak of their powers following the release of their second album, (What’s the Story) Morning Glory?, played an impromptu session.

The Pussycat Dolls owe the nightclub a debt of gratitude. Between 1995 and 2001, what was then a burlesque troupe performed each Thursday:

Over the years the provocative dancers performed with mainstream stars like Christina Aguilera, Gwen Stefani and Scarlett Johansson and became so popular that Interscope label boss Jimmy Iovine suggested turning them into a pop group.

Silver Creek Development, which bought the property four years ago, is responsible for the rebuild following next year’s demolition.

The company says that will feature a modern, revamped Viper Room.

Whatever happens next, there’s no way it will ever rival those former glory days.

[sources:independent&vice]