Iconic Las Vegas music club rocks to the end — PHOTOS
The beginning of the end of Count’s Vamp’d Bar & Grill was Danny Koker’s Count 77 rock band taking the stage to “2001: A Space Odyssey” and “See See Rider.”
Straight-up Elvis to rock the night away.
Count’s Vamp’d Bar & Grille, is up for sale and down for the Count. Koker and his wife, Korie Koker, are letting the joint go after a 16-year run.
The 6,000-square foot music fortress is on the market for $4.3 million. The Kokers are working with Chip Madsen of IS Luxury, who holds the listing.
All the best rock acts graced the stage, and an amazing rock ‘n’ roll community was born in Las Vegas,” says Korie Koker, the club’s entertainment director. “We will cherish 16 epic years of crazy rock and roll good times and memories.”
On closing night, Koker and longtime bandmate and famed Vegas rock figure Stoney Curtis welcomed Sebastian Bach (Skid Row), Christian Brady, (Hellyeah), and Phil Soussan (Ozzy Osbourne and Billy Idol), among many other rock luminaries.
Bach was a consistent figure throughout Vamp’d closing month. His unbilled pop-ups in the final month were highlighted by a personal favorite, Rush’s “The Spirit of Radio,” performed with Todd “Dammit” Kerns.
Stephen Pearcy and Warren DeMartini of Ratt played Vamp’d earlier this month. The last spree of shows this month included rare club performances by Night Ranger (Bach on guesting on vocals, Eric Singer of Kiss taking the drums for “Sister Christian”) and Loverboy. Dollar Loan Center founder and rock devotee Chuck Brennan sponsored the series.
Mötley Crüe front man Vince Neil was an original partner in 2009, under the venue’s opening name, Feelgood’s. The Kokers soon took over and renamed the club.
Koker is known as “The Count,” a well-known rock and vintage-vehicle figure through his star turn in “Counting Cars”, a spin-off of “Pawn Stars” on History Channel. The show shines a light on Koker’s Counts Customs auto restoration shop in Las Vegas.
Koker is a recent guest on “Pawn Stars” co-stars Rick Harrison and Austin “Chumlee” Russell’s “Pawn After Dark” podcast. Vamp’d has hosted national artists and several Las Vegas cover bands, including Sin City Stones, Three Lock Box (the Sammy Hagar tribute), Fan Halen, LV/DC and Pyromania.
Koker talks of club fatigue, operating a rock venue for 16 years. But he is not retiring and will remain an entertainment figure. He has plans for a new project to be unveiled after the club shuts down.
Koker said putting the club up for sale has been bittersweet. The owner, rocker and cable-TV star says, “I truly love the place. I’m truly passionate about it. I just know that as a businessman, I have to shift gears, so to speak. But nothing would make me happier than if someone carried it on the tradition.
“The support has been amazing, and we’re proud to be a part of Las Vegas’s history, forever.”
John Katsilometes’ column runs daily in the A section. Contact him at jkatsilometes@reviewjournal.com. Follow @johnnykats on X, @JohnnyKats1 on Instagram.
