Las Vegas Weekly

November 26, 2008 · 3:13 PM

Strip Scribbles: 007 stars from the past to appear at Planet Hollywood this weekend

By Robin Leach

Wolfgang Puck with Robin Leach.

Photo: TVT

*Of all the villains in the high-octane-energy James Bond movies, nobody ever forgets Jaws. Actor Richard Keil appeared in both The Spy Who Loved Me and Moonraker. He will be joined by one of my oldest longtime friends, the stunning Swedish-born actress Maud Adams, who was one of the most popular 007 girls of all time seen in The Man With the Golden Gun and Octopussy. Both are set to be at the “Gallery of Legends” in Planet Hollywood’s Miracle Mile all weekend long. They will meet with fans on Friday, Saturday and Sunday afternoon! They will sign autographs, pose for photos and doubtless twist your arm to buy some amazing Bond memorabilia. I’ve promised Maud to stop by!

*Rock fans have been waiting all their lives apparently for the long-delayed Axl Rose and Guns ’n’ Roses album Chinese Democracy and its title track. Finally the two-year-plus-long wait is over when Carey Hart’s Wasted Space at the Hard Rock unveils it this weekend. See Strip Scribbles below for details. The title track and others, including “Madagascar” and “Catcher in the Rye,” were recorded over a three-week period in late 2006 at the studio in George Maloof’s Palms -- and kept totally secret until now!

*Celebrity chef Wolfgang Puck has come up with two price-conscious meal offers at two of his Las Vegas restaurants during these toughening economic times. At his newly redesigned Postrio in The Venetian, he’s priced a three-course meal with two choices each at $49 per person, while over at Chinois in the Caesars Palace Forum shops, the four-course Asian-themed sweet and spicy-flavored menu is $39 per person and includes a complimentary glass of wine! … Incidentally, it’s not often that we make a restaurant recommendation, but make the drive out to the new Aliante in North Las Vegas to check out my friend Rino Armeni’s new Pips Cucina & Wine Bar. It’s an authentic Italian menu taste treat that ranks equal to anything on the Strip, and the restaurant itself is a visual stunner! … The Beaujolais Nouveau wine we tasted at Paris with Lance Bass from the first bottles in the first crates were flown in, but more than 75 percent of this year’s harvest was sent to the United States by ship rather than by plane in order to reduce the environmentally conscious carbon footprint. It also helped keep prices down to about $10 a bottle.

*Congratulations to Defending the Caveman star Kevin Burke on the upcoming move from the Golden Nugget downtown to the Strip. As of Dec. 15, he’ll start a limited engagement at the Thunder Showroom in the Excalibur. It’ll make his life a little crazier than it already is because each night when it’s over, he has to race down to another downtown hotel to do his standup comedy routines, as Vegas Deluxe first reported. Click HERE for that story. … After 25 years of calling the Imperial Palace home, Legends in Concert will move next door to Harrah’s main showroom, home of Rita Rudner, as of Dec. 15 as part of a new multi-year partnership deal. Look-alikes to icons Elvis Presley, Tom Jones and Jay Leno are joined by today’s contemporary stars such as Britney Spears, Gwen Stefani, Madonna and Justin Timberlake in the longest-running celebrity tribute show in the world.

*The cast members of Stomp Out Loud at Planet Hollywood will spend this afternoon with the young patients at Sunrise Children’s Hospital. They will take such everyday objects as keys, matches and even their hands and feet to make music with the kids -- and encourage them to join in the unique orchestra of sounds.

*Star surveillance: Country star Phil Vassar joined Flamingo President Don Marandino in a VIP booth to watch the Donny & Marie show there. … Rapper Paul Wall enjoyed dinner at Strip House inside Planet Hollywood. … My pal pop artist prince Peter Max will be returning to his gallery in the Caesars Palace Forum Shops on Friday evening and Saturday afternoon to meet with collectors and fans and debut his new “Sage With Umbrella” creation. He’ll happily sign dedications to all of his artworks purchased this month.

*We’re about a week and a half away -- Saturday, Dec. 6 -- from our great Santa Run with Siegfried & Roy. I’ll join the incredible illusionists along with my singing duo friends Zowie Bowie at 8 a.m. next Saturday morning at the Fremont Street Experience as we attempt to break the current world record for the largest Santa gathering in the world. It’s all to raise funds that benefit our beloved Opportunity Village charity. Pick up your Santa suit from the now all-lit up Opportunity Village Magical Forest or register in advance at www.lasvegassantarun.org, but we need your support to field 10,000 Santas and beat the competing runs in Ireland, Tasmania and Liverpool.

If Roy promises to walk the entire course without his walking stick, you can, too!

Now it’s time for us to put on sneakers, stretch and sprint out to all the other holiday weekend attractions in a special Thanksgiving edition of the Royal Robin Rundown:

Tonight’s tip

The Jive Turkey pre-Thanksgiving bash at Rok Vegas in New York-New York features a live performance by Mya, Rhyme N Rhythm, Los Martinez Bros and the Bargain DJ Collective.

Tomorrow’s tease

Happy Thanksgiving, everybody! Stay home, sleep off the turkey and the trimmings, and get ready for the wild turkey weekend!

Friday, Nov. 28

*He’s my Mr. Cool, and I just hope that if and when I get to be his age, I will be as suave and sophisticated. Tony Bennett brings his heart in from San Francisco and his soul from New York for two nights at the Hilton. What’s more amazing about this singer-painter is that he sounds even better crooning his hits as he gets older!

*Poison frontman Brett Michaels has his own dangerous elixir when he drives his “Rock of Love Bus Tour” into the new Access showroom at the just-opened Aliante Casino in North Las Vegas. His legendary ’80s rock band sold more than 25 million records with its mix of hard rock and glam. He’s been filming the third season of his Rock of Love VH1 reality series, which begins airing in January -- and if the girls don’t want to marry him, they sure still wind up under the covers in rock-star style! You’ve gotta be 21 or older to experience this because who knows what will happen between consenting adults!

*The extraordinary jazz trumpeter and composer Chris Botti has a double-header this weekend here in Vegas, and tonight sees him with the first gig at the Ovation at Green Valley Ranch. His sounds are magical and melodious, and he’ll make the spirits soar!

*I think he must have just stayed over from last weekend’s Comedy Festival! Frank Caliendo, who is the star of his own TV show, gets a one-night headliner’s spot at Treasure Island for his comedy and impressions. … Headliner David Spade has two nights making lots of laughter in his usual spot at the Planet Hollywood theater.

*Turn back the hands of time to reach yesteryear as the Kingston Trio perform a legacy of their sweet hits from days gone by at South Point -- and they’ll throw in some holiday harmonies, too. … If you want the memories of Elvis Presley, then check out Brandon Bennett, who does Elvis -- My Way up at the Suncoast.

*It will not be a religious ceremony when the Sisters of Mercy perform live at the House of Blues in Mandalay Bay, but all the fervor of zealots will be at play with Hypernova as their opening act.

*For basketball fans, it’s time to go to the hoop with three-pointers as the two-night Las Vegas Invitational Basketball Tournament gets underway at The Orleans Arena.

Saturday, Nov 29

*The biggest event of the holiday weekend is at MGM Grand Garden Arena with hot pop stars the Jonas Brothers. Even I’m taking my twin grandkids, Meg and Jack, to the show, which will feature Demi Lovato as their special guest and introduce Honor Society and Big Rob. Naturally, you can expect the full photo report Sunday morning, since I’ll be taking copious notes for Meg, their biggest fan!

*The new 13,000-square-foot Entertainment Pavilion at the redecorated Silverton Casino Lodge is unveiled with a show by the Commodores. Over 30 successful years, the legendary Motown group has sold more than 60 million copies of their 50 albums and scored hits with “Three Times a Lady,” “Sail On” and “Easy.”

*How appropriate that on top of everything we ate on Thanksgiving, the Smashing Pumpkins bring their 20th anniversary tour to George Maloof’s Pearl Theater at the Palms. They’ll perform tracks from their new album If All Goes Wrong, and, no, the Mince Pies aren’t opening for them!

*For his second of two shows in Vegas, Chris Botti heads out to the spanking-new Access Showroom at Aliante in North Las Vegas. His brilliant music explains why he’s won Grammys for best jazz album and best pop instrumental album. Now you know what you’ll be doing the rest of your life!

*Dizzy Reid of Guns ’n’ Roses will perform live during the Chinese Democracy album release party at Carey Hart’s Wasted Space in the Hard Rock, and Bell Biv Devoe will take control of the House of Blues in Mandalay Bay.

Sunday, Nov. 30

The Wall should come tumbling down when Down Under stars of the Australian Pink Floyd show come up to The Joint in the Hard Rock. These guys have been paying tribute since 1968 and have aged right along with the real thing. They will perform the 1979 classic rock opera complete with a psychedelic lightshow modeled after the original band’s 1967 and 1994 tours -- but watch out for the pink kangaroo trademark!

Weekend tease

For this Thanksgiving holiday weekend, it’s the incredible story of the Britney Spears comeback, which should include a New Year’s kickoff right here on the Strip. Those negotiations are being finalized in London this weekend. Britney celebrates her 27th birthday on Tuesday with the release of her new album Circus and a Good Morning America appearance at New York’s Big Apple Circus.

Vegas DeLuxe has the full inside story with advance photos from Sunday’s emotional, sometimes heart-breaking and very revealing MTV documentary of her climb back to the top. She’s recovering from two years of major messy missteps -- and now fighting for top pop status all over again!

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