Columnist Kate Maddox: Stars schmooze at Billboard Awards

Kate Maddox

Friday, Dec. 10, 1999 | 4:26 a.m.

Kate Maddox's column appears Tuesdays, Fridays and Sundays, only in the Las Vegas Sun. Reach her at kmaddox@vegas.com. To subscribe to the Sun, call 383-0400.

The backstage scene at Wednesday night's "Billboard Music Awards" was filled with rockers, teeny-boppers, publicists, press, bodyguards and groupies.

As the bands poured through the various press rooms, stars got a chance to mingle and congratulate each other. Leann Rimes, who spilled the beans about the new movie she's developing with Warner Bros., stayed close to boyfriend Andrew Keegan.

Britney Spears, winner of Female Artist of the Year, was overheard pleading with her entourage to help her meet Jennifer Love Hewitt -- she's apparently a big fan of the actress.

Latin sensation Ricky Martin expounded on the virtues of meditation and admitted that gambling isn't something that he enjoys when he's in town, but that Vegas does hold a special place in his heart -- his brother got married here when Martin was in town for his recent concert at Mandalay Bay.

Mike Tyson, in heated pursuit of gorgeous groupies for most of the evening, managed to pause for a picture with Aerosmith. The band's personal photographer caught the boxer as he posed, biting the ear of one of the rockers. Tyson then partied late into the night at the Venetian's C2K nightclub.

Anthony Kiedis, lead singer of Red Hot Chili Peppers, said that he was so taken with the performance of "O" that he saw on Tuesday night, he's planning a return trip to Vegas just to see it again.

Some of the stars opted for late-night sushi at NOBU after the show was over. Ben Affleck, who introduced fellow Bostonians Aerosmith at the awards, grabbed a bite, as did singer Sarah McLachlan.

Metallica showed up at NOBU as well. Joining them was Michael Kamen, the conductor of the San Francisco Symphony, who worked with them on their new album.

There is some serious Hollywood buzz going around about a soon-to-be-produced remake of the Rat Pack classic, "Oceans 11."

Hot young director Brett Ratner, whose major break was the film "Rush Hour" (and whose recent foray into music videos landed him the job of putting together Mariah Carey's latest), is said to be at the helm of the project. That might worry some of the old-school Rat Pack fans, but Ratner, who has also directed a slew of Coca-Cola commercials, has apparently received the OK from the powers that be at one of the bigger movie studios.

The "Ain't It Cool News" website is reporting that offers have already been made to some of Hollywood's hottest stars regarding who will play the roles made famous by Sinatra, Bishop, Davis, Martin and Lawford.

George Clooney, who is currently shooting the movie version of the best seller "The Perfect Storm" off the coast of Massachusetts, has reportedly been approached to play the part of Danny Ocean -- filling the shoes of Ol' Blue Eyes himself.

French photographer Michel Haadi, who has taken pictures of dozens of celebrities -- including Clint Eastwood, Winona Ryder, Sandra Bullock, David Bowie, Uma Thurman and Denzel Washington -- is in town this week to shoot some of our city's "younger" set. Haadi is also a contributing editor at Interview magazine and he just completed work on the newest Giorgio Armani ad campaign.

He is here to work on a photographic essay tentatively titled "The New Las Vegas," which will most likely end up in the pages of French Vogue.

Haadi will spend some time shooting scenes from the Rodeo and the Hard Rock, as well as some of Vegas' younger up-and-comers -- including Entertainment Development Corporation President Mimosa Jones, Benny Behnen of Binion's Horseshoe fame, nightclub managers Ryan Doherty and Richard Chu and local man-about-town Michael Shulman (Haadi even blew his last couple of shots on this columnist).

Celine Dion, who performed at Wednesday night's "Billboard Music Awards," will be back in town with her husband, Rene Angelil, on Saturday night.

Dion and her husband will welcome an invitation-only crowd to a show by French impressionist Andre-Philippe Gagnon at C2K. Following the show, the two will host a private dinner for guests at Zeffirino's.

Although Dion is technically on hand to lend her support to Gagnon and his new show, rumor has it that the diva won't let the evening's festivities end without a song. That would be a special treat, especially since Dion intends to "retire" for a few years after her millennium celebration performances.

Check out Vegas.com's video link to the awards at http://www.vegas.com/video/ html/news/billboard99.html