Columnist Kate Maddox: Rose club snub a thorny issue

Kate Maddox

Friday, Jan. 4, 2002 | 8:46 a.m.

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

It had to hurt Slash's pride to be turned away at The Joint's door by former pal and bandmate Axl Rose.

On New Year's Eve the former Guns N' Roses guitarist was blocked by security guards specifically assigned by Rose to keep Slash from crashing the Hard Rock Hotel gig.

So much for old time's sake. Or auld lang syne. Or whatever.

Slash, the top-hat-wearing, snake-loving, powerhouse behind the popular late '80s/early '90s hair band, just happened to be in Las Vegas over the weekend, according to reports. He wanted to see Rose's "new and improved" incarnation of his old group.

With the exception of Dizzy Reed and Rose, the current members had nothing to do with taking fans to Paradise City.

Rose, who turns 40 next month, played Vegas on New Year's Eve 2001 at the House of Blues -- it was his first public concert in seven years.

This time around Rose apparently threatened to walk off the stage if he spotted Slash or any former Guns N' Roses members in the audience. One insider said the diva-esque request applied to both Sunday's and Monday's sold-out shows.

No big deal for Slash. Witnesses say he went to the bar after his banishment.

Following a brief photo free-for-all with fans and a few drinks, Slash went elsewhere -- undoubtedly to a jungle where he would be welcomed.

Speaking of welcome-challenged celebs: Shannen Doherty, Pauly Shore, Playboy perennial Brande Roderick and former "Baywatch"-er Angelica Bridges were just some of the names ringing in the New Year at Hush.

Don't feel confused. The new bar/club is simply the old 19th-floor Polo Towers lounge. Amazing what slipcovers, sound systems and soft lighting can do to a place.

Locals are buzzing that Hush is the new "in" insiders spot. More than 1,500 people turned up for the New Year's Eve festivities alone.

That was indeed Tiger Woods celebrating his 26th birthday at Light at Bellagio on Sunday night. Woods, who sources say had just flown in from another birthday bash in the Bahamas, tied one on with good buddy Charles Barkley and friends at the pricey new club.

Woods apparently didn't have a problem with the minimum $250 bottle charge at Light's VIP tables.

Light is also the source of all that "party of the year, party of the year" business stretching from New York to Los Angeles. Light's big opening blowout, scheduled for later this month, is being orchestrated by PR firms on both coasts and will feature more A-listers than any opener of recent memory -- if you believe the hype.

Members of 'N Sync reportedly celebrated their "Star Wars: Episode II" cameo coup by taking over Whiskey Sky's pool area Wednesday night at Green Valley Ranch Station Casino.

The band, which is beloved by George Lucas' two daughters, got the gig when Lucas sold out ... I mean, decided to cast the boy-boppers as Jedi knights.

Biggest rumor of the New Year so far: MGM MIRAGE will buy the Aladdin. Then implode it. Then build something new in its place.