What went on there as well as what goes on there is part of the draw at the Viper Room, which was once co-owned by Johnny Depp, who turned the space into one of the hippest and trendiest clubs in town back when. Its indie and hard-rock bands and intimate and well-stocked whisky bar downstairs still draw, but it's hard to forget that here's where Depp's buddy River Phoenix overdosed in the parking lot. After Depp's partner mysteriously disappeared, Depp disengaged, turning over his share to his partner's daughter who sold the place to Harry Morton, son of Hard Rock Cafe founder Peter Morton. The younger Morton has made sounds about franchising the brand.

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