Las Vegas Weekly

April 17, 2009 · 10:08 AM

Las Vegas plays host to a gallery of stars this weekend

By Robin Leach

Brandon Flowers of The Killers.

Photo: Tom Donoghue/www.donoghuephotography.com

It’s certainly the biggest blockbuster weekend invasion of superstars and supershows since the economic stimulus package enacted by the politicos in the Nation’s Capital. In fact, it’s so awesome, you would think Las Vegas is right back at the top of its heyday doing what it always does best!

This truly is a weekend of fun and festivities that can hardly be believed -- all astounding and incredible. Vegas DeLuxe has it all covered from the opening of The Joint with The Killers and Paul McCartney at the Hard Rock Hotel to the official premiere of Peepshow to the Miss USA 2009 Pageant to Black Eyed Peas singer Fergie, all at Planet Hollywood.

It’s also the weekend the pools open with Mandy Moore at Tao Beach in The Venetian, The Hills star Lauren Conrad at MGM’s Wet Republic and Snoop Dogg at Rehab in the Hard Rock.

On Sunday, Rehab will unveil new features, including an expansion to the pool that was previously named one of the Top 10 pools in the world by the Travel Channel, The 50 signature thatch-roof cabanas have been renovated and now include 42-inch plasma flat-screen HD televisions and poolside spa service options. The Hard Rock also has added sundecks with daybeds in addition to a state-of-the-art sound system. Summer reservations have already doubled since last year, and this opening weekend is a complete sell-out with Grammy Award-wining rap pioneer Snoop Dogg and the second season of TruTV’s filming of the Rehab pool parties.

Music fans are in 7th heaven this weekend with the all-star lineup. Check our Royal Robin Rundown in Strip Scribbles for the full listing, but the highlights are obviously The Killers tonight opening the new Joint, followed tomorrow by Avenged Sevenfold and, capping it all off, the one and only Paul McCartney on Sunday night. “I’m looking forward to rocking The Joint,” Paul said. Hard Rock Hotel President Randy Kwasniewski added: “We are honored to have him launch us into a new era of rock and roll. We could not have asked for a greater legend than Paul to open the new Joint.”

For those who didn’t know, Killers frontman Brandon Flowers was a former Gold Coast bellman and Caesars Palace bus boy before stardom hit. Brandon’s also a Mormon who loves his cigarettes and blackjack!

There’s a double header of excitement at Planet Hollywood tomorrow night even without the entire Miss USA 2009 extravaganza. The red carpet will be rolled out for the premiere of Scary Spice Mel B and General Hospital Kelly Monaco’s new adult burlesque cabaret Peepshow. It’s sizzling and sexy -- click HERE for our first look last week. The innocent fairytale of Little Bo Peep has been turned into “a torrid tale with tease” by award-winning creator, director and choreographer Jerry Mitchell, and those dancers, including Red Riding Hood, are real topless showstoppers! We’ll have the full first night report here Monday.

Then at the neighboring Prive, Black Eyed Peas singer and newlywed Fergie launches her new shoe line. She’s promised to hand out 50 pairs of new shoes from her collection to the luckiest ladies attending. Perhaps hubby Josh Duhamel will be with her?

Tomorrow, there’s the Grand Tasting of the 35th Annual UNLVino fundraiser and the arrival of rockers Joel and Benji Madden for three nights of opening parties, for Carey Hart’s new Hard Rock Hotel tattoo parlor, that Carey’s throwing in his Wasted Space club. Plus, our “Las Vegas Dancing With the Vegas Stars” at Rain in the Palms on Sunday afternoon right before the Miss USA Pageant begins at Planet Hollywood.

Add it all up, and you’ve got one of the biggest, splashiest and most lavish star-studded weekends that Vegas has seen since the days of the Rat Pack! Be sure to keep checking back to Vegas DeLuxe throughout the weekend as we bring you the continuous coverage of all these extraordinary events.

Vegas is back in business with a big bang, so let the good times roll!

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.

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