Columnist Kate Maddox: Slashing through GN’R rumors

Kate Maddox

Friday, Jan. 4, 2002 | 4:52 a.m.

What did happen to Slash when he was banned from the Guns N' Roses gig at The Joint on New Year's Eve? According to a spokeswoman for the Hard Rock Hotel, "If you have a ticket or a credential to a concert, you will be allowed into that concert. If not, you will be declined admittance." All right, that's simple enough, but how was Rose able to have Slash turned away at the door by security, as was widely reported?

On Friday afternoon the Hard Rock spokeswoman said, "There is no record of any of our security having any interaction with Slash (at the concert.)"

So either Slash had a ticket, got in, enjoyed the show and the whole thing is a nicely packaged rumor. Or Slash didn't have a ticket, got stopped by the doorkeepers and couldn't enter. Or (and this is the one favored by insiders and conspiracy-lovers alike) Slash had a credential to enter, got in, was seen by a certain lead singer and was forced to leave by security personnel not employed by the hotel. Whatever the case, the Hard Rock doesn't seem to want to be associated with the dispute.

For the record, Guns N' Roses' manager Doug Goldstein offered no comment. The Hard Rock spokeswoman said the hotel "cannot confirm or deny if (Slash) was there or not."

We've had our share of Where Are They Now contenders on the moving-truck circuit, now haven't we? Lee Majors is a resident, and isn't Charo over there at The Venetian?)

Former "Lifestyles of the Rich & Famous" host Robin Leach reportedly closed escrow on a new home in swank Spanish Trail last week.

The Las Vegas party frequenter purchased the abode of Sacramento Kings owner and semi-permanent Vegas-ite Gavin Maloof.

Friends say the deal is done and Leach is slated to move in a couple of weeks. (Maloof is apparently moving into a pad next door to the bachelor manse owned by younger brother and Palms owner George Maloof.

I hear that the whole family is ensconced in homes on the same Spanish Trail street. Awww.)

For his part, Leach didn't bother to romanticize the decision to hunker-down in Vegas. "I ain't moving," he says.

Rita Rudner re-upped her contract with New York-New York. The comedian will be performing on the Strip for at least another three years.

The Travel Channel has scheduled yet another documentary about Las Vegas. This one's called "How to Spend a Million."

Segments include a shopping spree with dragster Frank Marino at Fred Leighton; private parties featuring performances by Lance Burton (reportedly costing at least $100,000 for the privilege) and Danny Gans (try $500,000); private jets and the playboy wannabes who keep them at their beck and call; and those elusive hotel-dwellers who live in Strip suites for upwards of $10,000 a night.

The two-week shoot wrapped last week and the program is slated to air in March.