Paris Hilton, U2 and LeAnn Rimes bring star power to Las Vegas

By Melissa Arseniuk

Monday, Oct. 26, 2009 | 11:16 p.m.

It was a musically-diverse weekend in Las Vegas, as U2, The Black Eyed Peas, Alice Cooper, Everlast, Gordon Lightfoot, and LeAnn Rimes all performed on Friday.

Bono and the boys brought their 360 Degrees tour to the Sam Boyd Stadium on Friday, along with openers the Black Eyed Peas.

Fergie, Will.i.Am, Apl.de.ap and Taboo popped by The Bank later that night for their official afterparty, though Will.i.am had to cut his post-concert celebrating short in order to make it from the Bellagio to the Palms in time for his second gig of the evening, a guest spot at Rain.

Among those taking in Will.i.am's set (separately) were Boston Red Sox outfielder Jacoby Ellsbury and Senator John McCain's daughter, Meghan McCain.

Alice Cooper followed up Thursday night's show at the John Varvatos store at the Hard Rock and on Friday brought his “Theater of Death Tour” to The Orleans Showroom. The well-spoken shock-rocker played three consecutive shows there, Friday through Sunday.

Cooper had dinner at Simon at Palms Place on Saturday night, along with fellow musician Steve Miller. ("They enjoyed steaks and mac-n-cheese," said a source.)

Meanwhile, Jermaine Dupri heated things up on the Strip on Friday as he returned to Privé at Planet Hollywood.

Tennessee Titan Ahmard Hall and fellow pro athlete, Minnesota Twin Joe Mauer, partied at Pure on Friday, along with comedian Carlos Mencia.

Everlast and Lightfoot were off the Strip on Friday night, with the former planning a scaled-down show at Wasted Space at the Hard Rock Hotel and the latter having taken to the stage out at Aliante Station.

Also playing a significant stone's throw from the Strip on Friday evening were alternative rockers, the Stone Temple Pilots. The group did their thing out in Primm, at the Star of the Desert Arena.

Slightly closer to the great boulevard on Friday night, The M Resort went country with a performance by Tim McGraw.

Fellow country artist LeAnn Rimes, on the other hand, was in the midst of activity on the Strip that night, and performed at Treasure Island. (She also stopped by the Encore on Friday to have breakfast -- without flame Eddie Cibrian -- at Society Cafe inside Encore on Friday).

Actress Whitney Port was one casino south of Rimes, at The Mirage, on Friday. She and friends had dinner at Fix before heading to Jet, where she and her “The City" co-star, Samantha Swetra, lived it up in true Las Vegas style.

Academy Award nominee Seymour Cassel was also in Las Vegas this weekend, along with Lacey Chabert, Johnny Whitworth, Adrienne Barbeau and Alfre Woodard. The actors attended a special screening of Cassel's new film, "Reach For Me," on Friday, which was held in conjunction with the AARP Expo at the Las Vegas Hilton.

During his time in town, Cassel also had dinner at Benihana steak house and caught Lani Misalucha in "Voices."

Jessica Alba and her husband, Cash Warren, were spotted on Friday afternoon as they were getting dropped off at the valet at The Palazzo. The couple reportedly made their way through the hotel lobby to VIP check in before making their way to Sam Boyd later that night, for the U2 concert.

They also popped by the Hard Rock Hotel the following night, where they caught the Steve Miller Band at The Joint before hitting the high-limit gaming tables.

They weren't the only famous faces in the U2 audience on Friday night: Paris Hilton and her NFL hubby, Doug Reinhardt, were there, too, as was Dr. Dre and former President Bill Clinton.

"Prison Break" actor Amaury Nolasco and his girlfriend, "House" actress Jennifer Morrison, got things started at the Hard Rock on Friday, first with dinner at Ago, then with a night of dancing at Body English.

Nolasco's co-star, Dominic Purcell, was there, too, and joined the couple on the red carpet on Friday at the grand opening party for the Hard Rock's new Affliction store.

Actress Dawn Olivieri of "Heroes" was also on the carpet that night, and Formula 1 driver Colin Buis; pro skateboarder Rob Blasko Nicholson; and UFC fighters Keith Jardine and Tim Sylvia joined the fun, as well.

As if that wasn't enough for star-sightings on property that night, actor Cole Hauser was also spotted at the Hard Rock on Friday.

Fashion designer Betsey Johnson was also in Las Vegas this weekend, and stopped by the Mirage to catch the 7 p.m. showing of Cirque du Soleil's "Love" on Friday. Johnson also popped by her store (as did "Peepshow" starlet Holly Madison) on Saturday afternoon.

Ray Romano was at the Mirage this weekend and he managed to keep audiences inside the Terry Fator Theatre laughing on both Friday and Saturday.

Saturday’s sightings also included the over-the-top eccentric Canadian-born performer otherwise known as Peaches, who performed as part of Perfecto at the Palms.

Larry Tee followed Peaches' sweet and juicy set at Rain, while former Matchbox 20 frontman, Rob Thomas, took his solo career to The Pearl.

Thomas had dinner at N9NE Steakhouse before his show on Friday, as did "Glee" actor Mark Salling and previously-mentioned MLB catcher Joe Mauer.

Meanwhile, professional gambler David "Devilfish" Ulliott kicked back in the sexy surrounds of Playboy Club, along with Palms showroom headliner Matt Goss and about a dozen others.

While the fish and the Brit sipped their spirits at Playboy Club, actor Justin Berfield (aka Reese Wilkerson from the now-canceled series, "Malcolm in the Middle") was upstairs at Moon.

Earlier that day, another famed gambler, gaming legend Jackie Gaughan celebrated his 89th birthday at the El Cortez. "The champagne was flowing," a witness reported, as Gaughan celebrated with an Elvis impersonator, showgirls and friends.

Also that afternoon, up-and-coming teen hearthrob Justin Bieber gave an in-store performance on the Strip, at the Hard Rock Cafe. The private show was part of a promotion organized by local radio station KLUC 98.5 and saw hordes of young girls flock to the new eatery to check out the emerging artist.

Hilton and Reinhardt reappeared on Saturday over at Circus-Circus when the duo got a little freaky -- or should we say, freaked out -- at Fright Dome. (Vinnie Paul of Pantera also checked out the hotel's spooky spectacle on Sunday, along with Fright Dome owner Jason Egan.)

They later returned to the Hard Rock, where Reinhardt celebrated his birthday, first with dinner at Rare 120, then at Body English.

Meanwhile, Hilton's ex, Good Charlotte musician Benji Madden, performed across the casino floor, at Wasted Space. (Club owner/Hart and Huntington Ink co-founder/pro dirtbike rider/Pink's ex-husband, Carey Hart was also there, as was System of a Down drummer John Dolmayan.)

There was no drama, though, and Amaury Nolasco and Jennifer Morrison joined the birthday boy and his smiley plus-1 at Body English after having dinner at Tao.

Stephen Dorff also had his evening meal at Tao on Saturday, enjoying lobster wontons, bass satays, crispy rice and spare ribs with the club's owners.

After dinner Dorff and the others headed to the upper level nightclub, where boxer Floyd Mayweather Jr. also partied well into the morning.

Also on Saturday: Shaggy hosted at Pure at Caesars Palace and Lil Jon did the same – OK, not the same, but similar – at Privé at Planet Hollywood.

Brent Bolthouse was also at PH’s go-to hot spot on Saturday night, while XXX film starlet Tera Patrick was spotted enjoying dinner next door on the PH mezzanine, at Strip House.

Holly Madison high-tailed it from her home base, Planet Hollywood, after her final “Peepshow” performance on Saturday night and headed north on the Strip, to Encore.

She and a group of both friends and co-stars went to XS to celebrate the birthday of “Peepshow” eye candyman, Josh Strickland.

Wasted Space went from a rock club to a rap club on Sunday as Canadian hip-hoppers Swollen Members took to the stage, along with Big B and Dirtball, Common Market and Bliss n Esso.

And finally, Khloe Kardashian rounded out the weekend’s lineup as the socialite-turned-reality TV star-turned-diet pill-pusher returned to Las Vegas and visited the Mirage for Closet Sundays’ one-year anniversary party at Revolution.

Celebrity hairstylist Kim Vo also came out for the event.

Melissa Arseniuk writes about Las Vegas entertainment and celebrity events. She can be reached at 702-948-7823 or by e-mail at [email protected].