CLUB REVIEW : Notorious Viper Room Just a Regular Kind of Place

When the dive-like Central was transformed into the Viper Room a year and a half ago, the spiffy changes were of little interest to the lay clubgoer. All that mattered was that Johnny Depp, a handsome young actor, now owned the West Hollywood club. Nifty sconces and a Miami Vice-ish decorating flair weren’t as impressive as the chance to lay eyes on celebrities, and when River Phoenix OD’d there, the public’s morbid fascination with attractive, famous people who die young propelled the Viper to landmark status.

The only folks concerned about the place itself were the Central regulars, who preferred the dingy joint’s original interior because it was dingy.

But no one who frequents the slicker version of the Sunset Strip venue is complaining. The Viper offers a lot of good music in an atmosphere that can vary from comfortable to sedate to pretentious.

Folks lucky enough to make it in on a hot night--such as the evening Johnny Cash played--will go home having shared in the quintessential Hollywood club experience: a great performance witnessed by people more famous than the performer (Sean Penn, Dwight Yoakam, Juliette Lewis, Tom Petty and Depp were among the blessed that evening).

Most nights, however, the Viper is simply a typical club. Patrons can dance at the Viper on Saturdays and hear acts ranging from punk to big band throughout the week. Because of the notoriety of the place, however, it could probably book Weird Al through the year 2000 and still attract a crowd.

* The Viper Room, 8852 Sunset Blvd., West Hollywood . 21 and over, cover varies . (310) 358-1880.