Vince Neil Opens New Business
Wednesday, November 6, 2013 at 12:01AM Vince Neil is quickly becoming a big time entrepreneur just like Sammy Hagar. Vince's next venture is a restaurant inside the Circus Circus Resort in Las Vegas. Here's some info from the press release. I've been to Vegas many times but I don't think I've ever actually gone inside Circus Circus. I'm sure next time I'll go in and check out Vince's new business.
"In an effort to bring the rock ‘n’ roll vibe of the Sunset Strip to Las Vegas, longtime restaurant aficionados and owners of Kahunaville at Treasure Island, David Tuttleman and Mark Green, have partnered with Mötley Crüe front man Vince Neil to rebrand their 14,000 square foot Circus Circus venue, Rock ‘n Rita’s.
The new venues, VINCE NEIL’s TATUADO EAT-DRINK-PARTY! and VINCE NEIL’s PARTY BUS BAR, which open to the public Saturday, Nov. 9, showcase the combination of Neil’s affinity for tattoos and tequila with Tuttleman and Green’s emphasis on a fun and exciting party-like environment. The mouth-watering menu offers up Neil’s signature Tatuado burgers, burritos and more to tantalize guests’ taste buds. The dining room bar allows guests to pair their meal with a cold beer, lavish cocktail or one of the rocker’s very own premium brands. “I have wanted to expand the Tatuado brand and bring it to The Strip for a while,” said Vince Neil. “Teaming with David and Mark to recreate Rock & Rita’s into my own spot will create a true home for the brand. People can come have a great time and enjoy my signature line of spirits while they party.”
Owner of Rock ‘n Rita’s David Tuttleman said, “When we launched Rock & Rita’s, I wanted to create a rock ‘n’ roll party vibe where our guests could experience a true Vegas party. Teaming up with Vince is going to take that concept to the next level, creating an authentic atmosphere with an edgy tattooed feel, different from others you find here in town. I really want to submerge guests into the true lifestyle and party atmosphere of a rock star. I have been friends with rock ‘n roll photographer Mark Weiss for many years, so when it came time to design the new space, it was a no-brainer to utilize his creativity."
Photographer Mark Weiss, who was an integral part of the creative vision for the restaurant and bar areas, added, “In 1982, after shooting Mötley Crüe for their first national magazine spread, Vince took me to the infamous Rainbow on the Sunset Strip. We ate, we drank and we definitely partied. When I walked into Rock & Rita’s to be a part of the creative design team on this project, I was immediately taken back to those days at the Rainbow and was inspired to help create the feel and passion of the Sunset Strip."
The main space, branded as VINCE NEIL’S TATUADO EAT-DRINK-PARTY!, is the ultimate definition of Neil’s Tatuado brand and outrageous lifestyle. Throughout the dining room, the ambiance of the venue embraces Tatuado, meaning tattoo, artwork and imagery, along with the iconic rocker’s most prized possessions, including gold and platinum records from his enormous success with Mötley Crüe. Guests will be immersed in an ambiance reminiscent of the legendary Sunset Strip rock clubs where Neil and his pals launched their paths to stardom. Two large video walls, projection screens and 22 HD flat screens, located throughout the restaurant and satellite bars, will entertain guests with rock-infused music videos and candid behind-the-scenes video of the rocker enjoying Las Vegas. True Vince Neil fans can feel at home as they party to Mötley Crüe hits and more, streamed through the premium sound system.
Reader Comments (33)
Actually, I'm sure it will be a lot of Rock & Roll fun.
Let's just pray Neil himself doesn't get overserved there and then lack the situational awareness to avoid driving home, as he has habitually done in the past.
We know all to well where that road leads.
Vince Neil Racing Team: Branding anything to do with cars & this automotive murderer is as sure a suicide as Razzle getting in the passenger seat of fat ol' Vinnie's Pantera in 1985.
Vince Neil AirLimo - Almost never even got off the ground. Literally.
Vince Neil's Tattoo Parlour - Maybe the Forum shops at Caesar's Palace was the wrong location? At any rate, it folded within 6 months.
Dr. Feelgood's Nightclub - Las Vegas. Started OK, but Vince did nothing but try to extract a licensing fee. So the co-owner told him to piss off. It now does good "Vince-free" business as "Vamp'd".
Vince Neil's Strip club. Basically added his name to a skanky Bare Elegance location in a not so great area. a year & a half in, it's as forgotten as the Liberace Museum.
"Feelgood's" in South Beach FLA - I believe this was boarded up pretty quickly. (I could be wrong.) All I know is the other 3/4ths of Motley wanted a sizable share of what he was collecting in licensing $$$$ so I'm pretty sure it's history.
SCRUE - the store, on Melrose. Lasted 2 MONTHS!
The only thing that could be a bigger bomb? Vince's recording career as a solo artist.
Also he wasn't fat when Razzle died.
Still, the rest of the info you provide is VERY informative and sounds accurate. He seems like one of these guys who get's partnered in just for the use of his name.
Regardless of all his iniquities, I assume that you, at one time admired him in terms of his musical contributions to Crüe like when ya saw him perform as part of their first real gig at The Starwood back in '81.
Oh, how I wish I coulda been there, especially to SEE and HEAR them cover The Raspberries "Tonight". That clip was up for awhile on YouTube but was mysteriously taken down some time ago.
Too bad he's such a d*ck cuz I still like see in' Crüe live. Also, I really wish they would go the Sabbath route and put out an album on the level of "13" as though it was their last hurrah, putting everything into it.
And Ace is right about the business failures, most of which relate to licensing himself as a "brand" without the requisite follow-through on the part of the people who seem captivated enough to pay money for "Vince Neil" (the brand, not the person). It is likely quick and easy cash for Neil. But Ace already explained how much a brand will get you when it isn't a brand consumers want (contrary case in point: fans still flock to see Crue or Leppard at the Joint because the re-branding includes the band, is of limited duration--supply and demand--and juices the Hard Rock's other non-musical features). Taking a poor product in a down-market location and renaming it "Kick Start My Hot Wings" isn't going to do much after the initial launch.
Like those hideous trench coats of the _Exposed_ era, you can't hide the fact that this is a winded fella' who, absent a creative force beside (behind or in front) of him, can't string together enough interest . . . save amongst businesspersons who will stick anything on anything in an attempt to catch a bit of the latest business cycle.
What next? Stevie Stevens hair salons (Rebel Gel?)?
Funny comment about his "Woody Woodpecker" impressions, Ace, hahaha!!!
And thanks for the great reporting!
You just come across as jealous.
Nikki,Tommy and Mick have all said how the crowd loved Vince back in the club days.
Of course Motley Crue got booed their first few gigs just like every other new band in history.
He never sounded like Woody Woodpecker that is the dumbest thing I ever heard.
At least Vince went on to become a famous rock star and not some bitter person sitting by a computer dreaming about what could have been.
Vince isn't perfect but at least he had the drive to make it, unlike you.
Nigel Benjamin and Dean O Dean have always had atrocious voices.I've heard bootleg recordings of those two and Vince from the club days. Vince was a million times better.Nigel and Dean couldn't sing there way out of a wet paper bag. Obviously Vince was the right choice for Motley Crue cause a year later in 1982 they got a major label deal and by 1983 they started to blow up with the release of "Shout At The Devil". Had Nigel or Dean been the singer Motley would have ended up just like London never making it big and have 87 former band members. Thank God Nikki didn't listen to you(if what you say is true)
But they got good names. I give them that. Right out of the ole Metal Sludge playbook.
Nigel was already a name when he joined London, having come from the Mott The Hoople offshoot, Mott... 2 major lable CBS releases, the new children with goofy pseudonyms should put their foot back in their mouth & open their ears.
Motley wasn't a successful band because of Vince, Motley was a successful band even in spite of Vince.
And before anyone gets their trench-coats in a twist, I will again state that I am a fan . . . but not to the extent that others are. Solo Neil always suffered next to Crue (for me). Going solo isn't an issue. There was just something missing (even with Stevens guitar playing, which seems to suffer without Idol as a foil as well).
I don't begrudge Neil his weight, or his loss of a rather limited to begin with range, or any of that. I make fun of it, sure. I do question why people pander to a person who has made choices that ended up poorly . . . not merely for himself, but for others, without a real sense of remorse. At the same time, I don't discount his losses either. But all of that is outside the realm of business (which I made mention of in my first post) and idol-worship (which I am guilty of, though not with Neil or Crue).
In summation: (a) Neil is a poor choice when it comes to business licensing, (b) he is a shell of his former self when it comes to singing, and (c) the Crue continue to draw fans who are willing to overlook both (a) and (b). None of which, by the way, matters one rip so long as no one gets hurt.
If that was true Ace then the Motley Corabi CD would have sold millions. Motley released 'Decade Of Decadence'(just a odds and sods CD) in 1991 and "Primal Scream" was a big radio hit all through 1992(I Still hear it on modern rock radio everyday). Back when Nirvana was all over MTV and radio. Motley could have easily kept being successful had they kept Vince. What truly hurt Motley Crue was getting rid of Vince. If Def Leppard was able to crank out hits with silly love songs like "Two Steps Behind" and "Miss You In A Heartbeat" in 1993/94. Motley could have easily came out with another hit CD if Vince was still in the band.
I am not a fanboi. Vince has been a joke for a long time, I'll give you that. The Motley Crue of the past 15 years or so does nothing for me but for you to pretend like Vince had nothing to do with the success of Motley is just you rewriting history.
Your right,Nigel has made a name for himself as the guy who had some early connection to Nikki Sixx that could never make it. Nigel has just never been a good singer. I have never heard anybody say he was a good singer until I read your post. As for London that was my point the same thing would have happened to Motley had they screwed up and had those no talent hacks Nigel or Dean be there lead "singer"
Here's part of a funny article I found about O'Dean. There are more similar articles that mention how Nikki Sixx was not a fan of O'Dean and only kept him around til he found someone better.
_____________________________________________________
An overweight guy called O’Dean joins the band as the vocalist after an audition. Although he is a decent singer, in time Nikki takes a extreme dislike to his vocal pitch and the band finds his white gloves to be a very un-cool image but they stick with him for the time being.
_____________________________________________________
I just thought it was funny how they describe the situation.