Glam metal veteran fostering local scene

It's an overcast day, but a pair of dark black sunglasses rests upon Brent Muscat's head nevertheless.

He still looks the part of the rock star, from his jet black hair down to his leopard-print shoes with thick, 2-inch soles, even if he's more about being a stay-at-home dad these days than living the life of a glam metal vagabond with a libido the size of Cleveland.

"I had my time where I was signed and had a No. 1 video on MTV, sold a million records and made some money back in the '80s," the former Faster Pussycat bassist says amiably, sitting in an empty Divebar on a recent Tuesday afternoon, the scent of stale brew so thick in the air, it's as if he's speaking from the depths of a giant beer bong. "For me, there was all that time where we were treated like rock stars and making money, and we were just taking, taking, taking. But we weren't giving that much back."

Nowadays, Muscat's out to fix that. His latest project, the Sin City Sinners, is an ever-rotating collective of rock notables who throw free shows at the Divebar, near Tropicana Avenue and Pecos Road, every Tuesday night with the intent on fostering a more communal vibe in the local scene.

"I'm not doing this to get signed. I'm not doing it for the money -- I come here and play for free," Muscat says. "I want to do it to create a community."

Las Vegas has a surplus of transplanted rockers who were once fixtures in the pages of "Hit Parader," guys like former Keel frontman Ron Keel, ex-Love/Hate and Ratt singer Jizzy Pearl, vocalist Louie Merlino and guitarist Ron Mancuso from Beggars and Thieves, singer Paul Shortino from Rough Cutt and Quiet Riot and scads more.

Each week, guys like that as well as other guest rockers from around the country (from L.A. Guns singer Phil Lewis to Dead Boys guitarist Cheetah Chrome) join the band to play their signature tunes.

"For me, the whole idea originally was to have a rock 'n' roll Rat Pack, like when Frank Sinatra and a group of guys would come out and they'd have guests and it'd be a scene," Muscat explains.

Joining Muscat in the Sinners full time is Rob Coumeyer (Raging Slab), Todd Kearns (Age of Electric) and D. (Marky Ramone Band, Underground Rebels).

Together, the band's shows are part concert, part hard rock tutorial, with Muscat and company breaking down each guest's career from the stage.

"It's like 'VH1 Storytellers,'" Muscat says. "We get on the mic, and half of it is like a classroom lesson on why this guy's a legend."

Mostly though, the night's about celebrating the past with an eye toward the future.

"I want to see that tight-knit community of musicians," Muscat says.

"I want people to go, 'I'm a part of this group.' I think that eventually it's going to turn into something that really has a life of its own."

Contact reporter Jason Bracelin at jbracelin@reviewjournal.com or (702) 383-0476.