Sammy Hagar and friends help John Varvatos Stuart House benefit raise $800,000 -- so far

John Varvatos and his invited guests opened their wallets to the tune of $800,000 to benefit Stuart House, a program of the Rape Treatment Center at Santa Monica-UCLA Medical Center, last weekend.

While that’s an impressive amount by any stretch, it represents the lowest initial tally for the annual fundraiser since 2012. The superstitious set might blame an unlucky number (this was the event’s 13th year), though it more likely was an unintended Coachella chill — since the April 17 fundraiser fell during the first weekend of the desert music festival.

There still is a chance that this year’s event can top a cool $1 million in raised funds — as it has for the past two years — thanks to an online auction component that’s accepting bids through early next month.

Among the one-of-a-kind items currently up for bid, we spotted two VIP tickets to a Kiss concert — including a post-concert flight with the band on its private jet (estimated value: $25,000); a guitar, signature top hat and amplifier signed by rock god Slash (estimated at $5,000); and a cut and color by celebrity tress trimmer Jose Eber (estimated value: $2,000).

The onsite live auction, hosted by Bill Bellamy in a tented space outside Varvatos’ West Hollywood boutique, had an estimated crowd of more than 1,500 bidding on experiences like going on a $10,000 New York City shopping spree with Varvatos himself (two lots were snapped up at $17,500 each), having LeVar Burton (of “Reading Rainbow� fame) visit the children’s school of one’s choice (a $3,500 value, it gaveled out at $1,600) and a professional dog-focused photo session with renowned rescue dog photographer Frank Bruynbroek worth $4,500 that went for the bargain price of $1,750.

The lackluster live auction (at least compared with previous seasons) was followed by a considerably more lively musical performance by Sammy Hagar, accompanied by Michael Anthony, Chad Smith and Vic Johnson.

After kicking things off with “I Can’t Drive 55,� Hagar tried to explain the genesis of his odds-and-ends musical super group. “We’re not a band,� he told the crowd. “But we’re in the same bands together — which sort of makes us mongrels. So tonight, we’re the Mongrels!�

The freshly christened Mongrels then finished out a rousing set full of tunes any Hagar fan would recognize, including “Rock Candy,� “Big Foot,� “Mas Tequila,� “Poundcake� and “Finish What Ya Started.�

Notable attendees spotted in the crowd at the Chrysler- and Hasbro-sponsored event included Jeremy Piven, Ginnifer Goodwin, Jesse Metcalfe, Tony Goldwyn, Melina Kanakaredes and Tommy Chong. Notable no-shows? There were just two: Sofia Vergara and Joe Manganiello, the honorary co-chairs of this year’s benefit, who, organizers announced just two days before the shindig, no longer were available to attend.

To bid on lots supporting Stuart House, go to www.charitybuzz.com/support/StuartHouse

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