Columnist Joe Delaney: Bid the year adieu with pick of celebrities

Joe Delaney

Friday, Dec. 29, 2000 | 10:19 a.m.

Joe Delaney's column appears on Thursdays and Fridays. Reach him at 259-4066 or joe@lasvegassun.com

As we say "goodbye" to 2000, there are some who feel that this was really the last year of the old millennium and that 2001 is really the first year of the new millennium ... Be that as it may, for those of you who wish to make a night of it on Saturday rather than Sunday, there are a number of one-night attractions including Gladys Knight (Aladdin Theatre for the Performing Arts) and Styx (Hard Rock).

The Godfather of Soul, James Brown, is the Blue Note Las Vegas attraction tonight through Sunday ... America performs in the Flamingo Las Vegas Sunset Ballroom at 9 tonight and Saturday ... Comedian Damon Wayans is at the LV Hilton 8 p.m. Saturday.

Earth, Wind & Fire (House of Blues) is another Saturday-night-only attraction, while the Mandalay Bay Events Center presents Journey and REO Speedwagon ... Lynyrd Skynyrd plays Sam's Town Saturday.

Patti LaBelle (Venetian) is the last but far from the least of our Saturday-night-only special events with a 9 o'clock show followed by Andrew "Dice" Clay at 10:30 p.m. ... Saturday night should be less expensive and tickets more available than on New Year's Eve ... There will be fewer amateur drinkers as well, an important consideration this time of the year.

Debbie Reynolds (Orleans); Don Rickles (Paris Las Vegas) and Frankie Randall (Suncoast), singing the music of Frank Sinatra, backed by the full Vincent Falcone Jr. Orchestra (Suncoast) are here tonight through Sunday ... It should be noted also that Steve Lippia will join "The Rat Pack Is Back," as Frank, at the Sahara starting New Year's Eve.

All of the New Year's Eve attractions are covered completely in today's Accent section ... We thought it was worthwhile considering some Friday and Saturday alternatives to the madness that will be manifest on Sunday.

Welcome, Van Morrison

Irish icon, Celtic bard and soul singer Van Morrison will perform at the Hard Rock New Year's Eve and Monday at 8 p.m. ... One of the most influential singers of the past three decades, his impact upon rock singers/songwriters is unrivaled by any other artist with the possible exception of Bob Dylan ... Belfast-born Morrison is equally loved in the Irish Republic as he is in his native Northern Ireland.

Morrison's "Astral Weeks" album is considered a rock-music landmark, still selling 31 years later ... He continues to be active, recording, guesting on records with other top artists and performing ... He is a musical legend, once again in full flight.

Have some trivia

Gladys Knight and James Brown were both born in Georgia ... Knight in Atlanta and Brown in the Macon area ... That "Midnight Train" was destined for another U.S. state when Gladys suggested changing the title to "Midnight Train to Georgia" ... The writers are glad they took Gladys' suggestion ... Would you believe that Brown, Little Richard and the late Otis Redding were all born within a few miles of one another?

Make this a safe, sane and an even happier New Year's Eve ... Go out, if you must; enjoy but be sure to have that designated driver with you ... It doesn't take many drinks to get to that citable level ... There will be DUI checkpoints, you could feel all right and still get arrested ... Don't ... See you next year.