Las Vegas Weekly

October 13, 2009 · 1:34 PM

Strip Scribbles: Cheap Trick, producer donate $20,000 to MusiCares

By Robin Leach

Cheap Trick at the grand opening of the John Varvatos store at the Hard Rock Hotel.

Photo: Erik Kabik/Retna/www.erikkabikphoto.com

It was more than the music that scored in the recent run of Cheap Trick shows at the Las Vegas Hilton for Sgt. Pepper Live. Producer Bill Edwards and the rockers donated $20,000 from booming ticket sales to support the emergency health and human service and addiction recovery programs of MusiCares and the music education programs of the Grammy Foundation. A portion of every ticket sold during the Hilton run was donated to these nonprofits of The Recording Academy.

“Music programs in our schools are usually the first ones cut, especially in an economy such as ours. These programs are so important that we wanted to make sure we were doing our part,” Bill said. “When you work with really talented musicians such as Cheap Trick, you know how important it is for kids to have access to music and for professional musicians to have a safety net if they need it.”

Sgt. Pepper Live by Cheap Trick saluted the 40th anniversary of The Beatles’ influential album. I’m reliably told that the Hilton rotating entertainment schedule will feature a return of the production!

*I didn’t know that during the two Mariah Carey concerts at The Pearl in the Palms over the weekend, hubby Nick Cannon danced along to her songs while standing at the soundboard. He also led the shout-outs when Mariah brought two men onstage for a surprise -- and successful -- wedding proposal posted on YouTube during the weekend of National Coming Out Day:

*The contestants for the Miss Nevada USA Pageant travel to Las Vegas today from all over our Silver State. Tomorrow, hair king to the stars Michael Boychuck welcomes them altogether for the first time at his Amp Salon in the Palms. They will get hair and makeup treatments for their headshot photo sessions. Last year’s Miss Nevada USA Georgina Vaughan will be hosting them and along with other experts doling out advice on how best to handle the pageant competition.

Georgina will be on camera asking offbeat questions so the girls get to show their fun side. She’ll also file a special report exclusively for Vegas DeLuxe after the beauty event. The Miss USA Pageant is set for next April at Planet Hollywood.

*An as-yet-unknown musical talent from the Bahamas will be walking the red carpet when we unveil the Las Vegas premiere of the late Michael Jackson’s This Is It at the Brenden Theatres in the Palms on Oct. 27. Las Vegas resident Joe Jackson, Michael’s dad, is in the Bahamas signing new stars for his debut record label MarAnce. Joe is on a series of global hops titled “We Are the World All Nations Talent Search.” This week, he’ll audition performers from hundreds of submitted tapes in the Bahamas.

The Top 10 will perform this Friday and Saturday, and Joe will announce the winner, who gets a record deal and the trip here for the Palms premiere. George Maloof and Johnny Brenden will be presenting a celebrity star to Joe at the event, which I’m emceeing. The winner also will star in a beauty showcase this weekend, where the Top 12 girls will be photographed for a calendar at my friend fashion mogul Peter Nygard’s extraordinary, sprawling complex on Nygard Cay in the Bahamas.

*Spooky, sickly celebrations start tonight at Fremont Street Experience and run through month’s end. The OktoberFrightFest features Binion’s Haunted Casino, Sexy & Dangerous Mario & Jenny from America’s Got Talent and master illusionist Jan Rouven. The German magician will perform his death-defying illusions each night.

Star surveillance

It was the final weekend of Cher’s current run at The Colosseum in Caesars Palace, and fashion designer Marc Jacobs was among the VIPs who stopped backstage after the show. Also meeting Cher were Martie Maguire and Emily Robinson of The Dixie Chicks. Earlier, they celebrated Martie’s birthday with family and friends at Rao’s, and executive chef Carla Pellegrino popped out of the kitchen to add her birthday wishes -- contributing photographer Glenn Pinkerton of Las Vegas News Bureau captured the photo. … The 2010 Hooters Calendar Girls are in town signing calendars and posing for photos. On their first night, the ladies watched Men of X at the casino hotel. … After successful, consecutive shows inside the Mystere Theatre, comedian Carlos Mencia watched a performance of Mystere. He and his guests led the audiences’ ovation for the cast and then went backstage to meet the performers of the show, the first Cirque du Soleil production in Las Vegas nearly 17 years ago. … Music legend Dionne Warwick headlined a one-night-only performance at the Cannery, and contributing photographer Glenn Pinkerton was on hand for our photo. Dionne and I go back to Lifestyles of the Rich & Famous because she created a special “Champagne Wishes & Caviar Dreams” song for our closing credits each week.

Tonight’s tips

Foxy redhead and ex-Baywatch beauty Angelica Bridges leads the new lineup at the 10th anniversary of Fantasy at the Luxor. Click HERE for yesterday’s exclusive photo preview. … Comedy Central sports show host John Caponera, along with Katsy Chappell and Kenny Kane, opens at Harrah’s Improv for a run through Sunday.

Tomorrow’s teases

We take a look at Garth Brooks, the true king of country, as hotel tycoon Steve Wynn prepares to announce his new headliner on Thursday at high noon. Newlywed Lamar Odom brings his bride Khloe Kardashian along with L.A. Lakers teammate Kobe Bryant to party on the Strip before the first pre-season game against the Sacramento Kings, plus Justin Timberlake plays celebrity golf and looks over Women’s Day of his weeklong fundraising events for Shriners Children’s Hospitals.

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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