Luxe Life Blog

Strip Scribbles: Red Hot Chili Peppers to headline Cosmo on NYE

Posted September 4, 2012 • 5:31 p.m.

Tickets go on sale Friday for the Red Hot Chili Peppers' New Year's Eve show.

Photo: Ellen Von Unwerth

Even before the last of the Labor Day Weekend party stragglers headed home from 96 hours of raucous revelry, Las Vegas hotel entertainment executives began laying out New Year’s Eve headliner plans.

First to announce is the Cosmopolitan of Las Vegas with news of the Red Hot Chili Peppers for Dec. 31 in their first Las Vegas appearance in more than seven years. The group, who have six Grammy Awards and racked up more than 60 million in sales, is in concert in the Chelsea Ballroom at 11 p.m.

The show includes a midnight countdown all to be screened for Strip revelers on the 65-foot digital marquee. Tickets go on sale Friday.

WICKED WHISPERS & RACY RUMORS

1. UFO SECRETS: There is behind-the-scenes tension over the Las Vegas-headquartered National Atomic Testing Museum’s plans to reveal “Military UFO Secrets” here on Sept. 21.

Speakers are concerned of repercussions from classified information and with officials at the Pentagon possibly stepping in at the last moment to block the revelations. Four retired Air Force officers with top military security clearances will be joined by a British officer for the UFO lecture. My UFO pal Lee Spiegel of Huffington Post told me: “This will be a provocative presentation, as the small number of speakers are high credibility people.”

2. CEELO GREEN PREVIEW: Is superstar singer CeeLo Green about to give Las Vegas a private sneak preview of his musical “Loberace,” pushed back from an Aug. 29 premiere to the now-confirmed Feb. 27 unveiling at Planet Hollywood. I’ve learned that a Las Vegas hotel has been rented for a weekend later this month for CeeLo to give a private concert where he is expected to preview some of the “Loberace” outfits and material.

3. EMPTY SEATS: Lots of disappointment about Labor Day Weekend crowd numbers. Yes, nightclubs were roaring, but entertainers and chefs reported dozens of empty seats in theaters and restaurants. One entertainer told me, “It was the worst Labor Day ever.” I know that at least two dayclubs offered comped cabanas to friends of the house as late as Saturday.

4. MICHAEL JACKSON MESS: Celebrations in hometown Gary, Ind., of what would have been Michael Jackson’s 54th birthday were overshadowed by the shocking and scandalous emails that came to light among the producers of his ill-fated London “This Is It” shows. The King of Pop’s kids Prince, Paris and Blanket were in Gary with his mom, Katherine Jackson, for the festivities organized by Las Vegas movie PR honcho Jerry Olivarez.

Although Michael’s nephew T.J. Jackson has been appointed a co-guardian with matriarch Katherine to resolve the feuding family disputes, it was the revelations of 250 distraught emails that really sent shockwaves. Michael’s concert producers reported their star was “drunk, despondent and doubtful he could ever perform.” The emails confirmed what Vegas Deluxe first reported at the time, “that he wanted to call off the 50-concert run, saying it would kill him.” (June 26, July 22 and Aug. 25 in 2009.)

The emails, part of a huge insurance dispute, also revealed a secret Las Vegas meeting between Michael and billionaire Phillip Anschultz, who owns the production conglomerate AEG and who himself wondered if the shows would happen.

5. HALL OF FAME: The Pro Football Hall of Fame is opening its first exhibit in Las Vegas to celebrate its 50th anniversary. Hall of Famers Marcus Allen and Warren Moon will make the official announcement this Thursday morning at the Luxor with Heisman Trophies, busts, jerseys and six championship rings going on display alongside the Titanic and Bodies exhibits.

6. SHOW DATES: There will be an eight-week run of NBC’s “America’s Got Talent” starting Sept. 26 at the Palazzo. This season’s winner about to be determined will perform along with other stars from the show and fan favorites.

Expect a major contract extension any moment for a long-running Strip adult cabaret.

Has the new “The Act” nightclub opening with its “InExcusable” acts soon above the Palazzo found a way to work around the Clark County casino nudity rules so that its performance artists can go topless?

Congratulations to celebrity magician Murray Sawchuck at the Tropicana, who has renewed his contract there until Oct. 31 ahead of an Australian tour. He also celebrated his 100th show at the Tropicana on Monday night along with news that his reality TV series “Delusional” will broadcast on Discovery Channel this year.

The Palms is reopening Ghostbar DayClub for Season 2 starting Oct. 20.

NEIL DIAMOND SALUTE: Superstar singer Neil Diamond wrapped his 55-city world tour here Saturday night and as usual paid tribute to his percussionist King Errison, who has been a Las Vegas resident for more than 30 years. King has performed with the band for 37 years, and Neil always introduces him as the world’s greatest percussionist. King, who starred in the James Bond film “Thunderball,” has recorded 18 albums during his illustrious career. Legendary producer Quincy Jones also hails King as one of the best musicians of all time.

LANCE ARMSTRONG IN WAX: In celebration of Lance Armstrong’s 40th birthday on Sept. 18, Madame Tussauds at the Venetian has added a figure of the cycling legend to the attraction through Oct. 14. The wax figure features Lance riding a bike in a racing uniform. The first 100 visitors on Oct. 2 -- Livestrong Day -- receive a free Livestrong wristband.

MAKING HISTORY: Stunning Kristie Jelinsky, Mrs. Nevada America 2012, competed at the Mrs. America Pageant in Tucson last week and placed in the Top 12 out of 51 contestants. The title was won by Mrs. Alaska Vicki Sarber. Kristie had 25 of her family and friends present at the pageant to cheer her on, including husband Michael and children Morgan and Brooklyn.

Kristie is the first Mrs. Nevada to place at Mrs. America in at least 10 years. She will continue to serve as Mrs. Nevada America as spokeswoman for Communities in Schools, the nation’s leading dropout prevention program.

TONIGHT’S TIPS

Quiet Riot rocker Paul Shortino, who will film a “Love Vegas” video with other hometown celebs on Friday, hosts the fifth round of “Are You Smarter Than a Rock Star” at KISS by Monster Mini Golf, and Japanese female punk band Akabane Vulgars is at Beauty Bar.

TOMORROW’S TEASE

The amazing and incredible logistics for Cirque du Soleil transporting “Zarkana” from Manhattan to Aria at CityCenter to open Nov. 1 -- the cross-country trek involves 84 trucks -- is underway. Plus, all the news of our restaurant scene, with changes gearing up for the fall, and just how many girls from Las Vegas are involved in the “Toddlers and Tiaras” controversy?

Robin Leach has been a journalist for more than 50 years and has spent the past decade giving readers the inside scoop on Las Vegas, the world’s premier platinum playground.

Follow Robin Leach on Twitter at Twitter.com/Robin_Leach.

Follow Vegas DeLuxe on Twitter at Twitter.com/vegasdeluxe.

Follow VDLX Editor Don Chareunsy on Twitter at Twitter.com/VDLXEditorDon.

Link Share This