DJ AM, M, 500 and a Datsun 510

By John Katsilometes

Friday, March 6, 2009 | 6:41 p.m.

A quick word about DJ AM and sobriety, which are vitally linked:

DJ AM (real name Adam Goldstein) is well known as one of the highest-paid club DJs in the country. He’s also an investor in LAX at the Luxor, and of course made national news after he and performing partner Travis Barker skirted death after a plane crash in South Carolina in September. Both were serious burned in an accident that claimed the lives of four other passengers. But something else about AM: He’s been clean and sober for nearly 10 years (his sobriety date is April 1). The man behind all that wildly inventive, high-volume dance music for the overnight club crowd is squeaky clean.

The other night, AM’s name came up during a discussion on this topic amid a group of common friends. He is known to have helped quite a few people in recovery from drug and alcohol addiction. This story from The New York Times, linked on his official Web site, makes a passing reference to that part of his life (and also a passing reference about his weakness for sneakers). AM is not terribly open about that facet of his personality, but he has talked of attempting suicide, when he was in the depths of crack addiction and put a loaded .22 into his mouth. He squeezed the trigger, but the gun malfunctioned. Click.

DJ AM is back, tonight, at Pure, taking the stage around midnight. To say he spins the magic would be right.

The Em

That M Resort is adding 250 new employees to deal with understaffing at the new resort is no surprise. Well, maybe it’s a surprise that the number is 250 and not higher, because M was already developing a reputation for subpar service in its first week of operation. I was out there a few days ago, to dine at the Red Cup Cafe. I arrived at 1:15 p.m. to a line that might have been mistaken for the ticket line at the McCartney show at the new Joint, except no tie-dye. I was told the wait would be 45 minutes. When we were seated, the place was about 70 percent full. The sentiment among the diners was, “There are not enough employees here!” ... Before that, confusion reigned at one of the ladies’ lavatories. The early afternoon sunlight on the restrooms next to the main cashier washes out the signs indicating “Women” and, oh, “Men.” Hopelessly out of his element, a guy walked out of the women's room and bumped into a woman on her way in. She asked the obvious: “Are you RuPaul?” Actually, she asked, “Are you supposed to be in here?” He looked around and responded, “Yipes!” ... My initial feeling about M is that the “desert chic” design elements, the muted tones (brown and gold, in M’s case) that work for Red Rock and Aliante work here, too. Also, the black-gray-red carpeting reminds me a lot of Planet Hollywood, which isn't a wholly bad thing. Others have already made those comparisons, but I don’t care. ... I am one who misses the jangle-dangle of coins spilling into the metal slot-machine trays, a sound effect lost with paper pay and play. I find a quiet casino a little unnerving.

Another day for Bobby Slay

Bitterly hilarious comic Bobby Slayton is celebrating his 500th show at Hooters by … leaving. His last night is Sunday. His act is great, but unless you know what’s coming – and his often comped-up crowd were fairly blindsided – it can be a jarring experience. But few are funnier than the equal-opportunity Pitbull.

Seen on our streets

Rattling through the McCarran Airport tunnel, a Datsun 510, yellow, in fairly good condition. Datsun ceased production of these cars in 1973.

“Folies” thought

I would not be stunned to see the “Folies” production resurrected, in some form and in a different venue, after it closes at the Tropicana.

Catch a buzz

The annual St. Baldrick’s Day fundraiser, in which people with hair shave such to help raise money to fight childhood cancer, has added Quinn’s Irish Pub to McMullan’s Irish Pub as an event location tomorrow (Saturday). The party runs from 5 to 10 p.m. at Quinn’s and from 2 p.m. to 3 a.m. at McMullan’s. The St. Baldrick’s Foundation started in Pasadena, Calif., and is now a nationwide network of fundraising events where people donate money while other people are groomed clean. The past two events at McMullan’s have raised $350,000.