Columnist Kate Maddox: Electra has magical outlet

Kate Maddox

Saturday, Jan. 6, 2001 | 2:55 a.m.

Kate Maddox's column appears Sundays, Tuesdays and Fridays. Reach her at 259-2309 or kmaddox@lasvegassun.com.

Let's get this Carmen Electra show deal straight once and for all because the story just gets stranger. Seems Electra has officially signed on for a Vegas production called "Lumiere." And here's the kicker: She's doing magic.

The former "Baywatch" babe is apparently going to give Melinda, the First Lady of Magic a run for her money. But Electra's also going to, um, sing and dance. The dancing part might make the cut since the pinup's pre-fame gig was shimmying onstage for Prince back in the early '90s.

But sing? Honestly, didn't know she had it in her.

"Lumiere" is also being tagged as a "stunt show" with "magic tricks that have never been designed before." Great, so let's get that rookie Carmen in there real quick.

Las Vegas producers David Tumaroff and Gary Ouellet, the minds behind signing Electra, are still hoping to put the show into the yet-to-be-completed Aladdin Showroom, but have been shopping "Lumiere" to other properties.

In the meantime Electra's agent, Chris Coelen, is still glowing from the deal. "It is unusual for a young, hip star to sign on for a Las Vegas show," Coelen said in a statement. "But 'Lumiere' is an exceptional project ... and (Carmen) is eager to start."

The new Guns 'n Roses riled some New Year's Eve revelers at the House of Blues during its concert last week. Before signing on for the anticipated comeback show, lead singer Axl Rose reportedly insisted on lots of extra-special requirements.

One of the diva-esque rules required the screechy singer to take the stage at exactly 1:01 a.m., right after the Goo-Goo Dolls concert. But Rose didn't kick things off until 3:30 a.m., leaving both fans and HOB management slightly perturbed.

Ironically, the late start was the result of some of Rose's other demands. The singer insisted that no one at the concert was to bring in cameras or tape recorders, and each person in the sold-out crowd was physically searched before entering the hall, which led to a nasty two-hour wait just to get inside.

But Rose and company, who had only played together a couple of times before the New Year's Eve show, kicked things off with "Welcome to the Jungle," and naturally, after that happiness was restored.

Guns 'n Roses didn't stop rockin' until the wee hours. Concertgoers were spotted leaving the House of Blues at 5:30 a.m.

Speaking of the Goo-Goo Dolls, they took in "The Rat Pack is Back" at the Sahara Saturday night. The boys from the band were back in town to do a private show for a Microsoft party. Lenny Kravitz also worked the invite-only CES party circuit, performing at the House of Blues. These select mini-concerts are a coup for entertainers; corporations usually shell out the big bucks for big names.

Howard Stern's planning a Vegas vacation. The New York-based shock jock, who just signed a four-year contract extension, is hoping to take his show on the road later this month. Stern has been telling listeners that he intends to play one $1 million hand of blackjack while in town as a promotional stunt.

Any hotel out there willing to take the gamble?

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