Las Vegas Weekly

January 19, 2009 · 1:06 PM

Photo Gallery: Vince Neil hosts porn stars and poker pros at annual charity event

By Robin Leach

Vince and Lia Neil.

Photo: Hard Rock Hotel

Porn stars played alongside poker pros when Motley Crue rocker Vince Neil threw his fourth annual no-limit Texas Hold ’Em Poker Tournament over the weekend at The Joint in the Hard Rock Hotel. The fundraiser was to benefit the Skylar Neil Memorial Fund, named after his daughter who died from the disease in 1995. Since then, with other events, golf tournaments and sales of his and Motley Crue memorabilia, Vince has raised millions for innovative cancer and leukemia research.

Our contributing photographers Hew Burney and Erik Kabik were on hand to capture all the fun and action of the cocktail welcome reception and silent auction in advance of the serious play getting underway. Before the night ended, there was a VIP after-party at Carey Hart’s Wasted Space, where Vince sold even more memorabilia for the charity.

Poker players included Adam Schoenfeld, Gavin Smith, Evelyn Nguyen, Todd Brunson, Jennifer Harmon and husband Marco Harmon Traniello, and the adult film stars included Taylor Wayne, Joanna Angel and Randy West. Quiet Riot singer Paul Shortino also was part of the celebrity group.

Vince told my ABC Radio News producer Al Mancini, in my absence up in Canada: “A lot of inspiration comes from this tournament-- it’s the fourth time we’ve done it here. We bring awareness but also raise money for a lot of children’s hospitals and cancer leukemia research for children. This is just one of the events we do all year long.”

“We have a great time. It’s very fulfilling, and the best part of this is that when Skylar passed away in 1995, I wanted to keep her name alive. With her name, she could do a lot of good for a lot of people. It’s a good feeling now. Here locally, we helped put the roof on a Lilly Claire center, and it was nice to see people going in and enjoying it.”

Vince said he’d gathered up some “pretty intimidating players” for the tournament, and yet his wife Leah was still winning. “She is kicking ass,” he laughed. He said that Motley Crue took the holidays off and is now ready to resume the winter tour before starting up Crue Fest 2 this summer.

Photo: Erik Kabik/Retna/www.erikkabikphoto.com

Vince Neil and the ladies.

“We’ve finished up Japan, South America and Mexico, and we’ll continue on until next December. Crue Fest 1 was really successful. We’re looking forward to Crue Fest 2, and we will announce the bands in the lineup in about one month’s time.”

Vince and his Motley Crue band of brothers play The Joint next month, marking the end of the current venue. Then a brand new $50 million Joint premieres April 17 with our local rock heroes The Killers. With 3,000 seats, it will be more than double the present capacity!

Share This