Columnist Kate Maddox: Rock around the lock at C2K

Kate Maddox

Friday, Sept. 1, 2000 | 10:35 a.m.

Kate Maddox's column appears Fridays, Sundays and Tuesdays. Reach her at kmaddox@lasvegassun.com.

What many speculated would happen, did happen. On Wednesday night the Venetian put a lock on the door of the nightclub C2K, as well as its showroom, effectively shutting down business at the popular but troubled nightspot.

Plagued by rumors of drug use, violence and overtly sexual club nights, C2K wasn't exactly the Venetian's most popular tenant. However, the hotel effectively lost its say in who gets to go where within the $28 million space when they made a 30-year lease agreement with H & H of Nevada -- the company that sublet the space to the nightclub. Trouble ensued, and with this week's locking of doors, don't look for C2K to make a comeback anytime soon.

Unfortunately, the two acts occupying the Showroom at the Venetian (which each evening then becomes C2K, sans tables and chairs), Melinda, the First Lady of Magic and Andre-Philippe Gagnon, were left out in the cold as a result of the C2K lockout.

Gagnon had to cancel his show on Wednesday (Melinda's show was dark) and, as of Thursday afternoon, both productions were waiting anxiously to hear whether the hotel had worked out an agreement with H & H to let the performers return.

The rumblings about drugs at C2K had escalated in the past two months, as had stories about overzealous in-house security teams and partial nudity on the dance floor. Club Rubber, a popular monthly club night that landed at C2K, opted out last month after drug rumors were leaked to Venetian staff. Although the Rubber people deny any drug involvement, they weren't in a hurry to return to C2K and will instead debut Club Rubber at the Drink on Sunday.

What will happen with the multilevel is still up in the air. Speculation about the partnership between H & H and the Venetian is also a hot topic. Bottom line, however, is that no one involved was pleased with what was coming out about C2K, and even though the club might put up a fight to be let back in, odds are it ain't gonna happen.

The MAGIC convention brought some celebrities to Las Vegas this week. On Wednesday night Mike Tyson, rapper Jay-Z, Mary J. Blige, NBA hoopster Ron Harper and various members of the Wu-Tang Clan all showed up at the Harley-Davidson Cafe to celebrate the launch of the new Ruff Ryders urban streetwear line called the Dirty Denim collection. More than 1,100 invited guests packed the house to party.

Over at the Hard Rock on Tuesday night, Matt Damon, Eddie Furlong, Vince Vaughn and John Favreau flocked to the pool to celebrate fashion-meister Hugo Boss' stylings.

Puff Daddy was also in town. The Puffster was without gal pal Jennifer Lopez at his Four Seasons suite, but still managed to make the MAGIC rounds to promote his urban street line, SeanJohn.

Also this week: