VegasBeat — Timothy McDarrah: Fab Four doesn’t mimic controversy

Wednesday, March 5, 2003 | 9:59 a.m.

It was 37 years ago today ...

Make that, Tuesday.

On March 4, 1966, in Maureen Cleave's column in the London Evening Standard, John Lennon was quoted as saying that The Beatles were "more popular than Jesus."

The line set off a tremendous backlash, particularly from people who were not rock 'n' roll aficionados. When defending the comments, Lennon argued that in 1966, the Beatles were, in some circles at least, more popular than Jesus or any religion during their peak in Britain.

On March 4, 2003, Ron McNeil, who plays Lennon in the new Fab Four show that opened Tuesday night at the Las Vegas Hilton, said no such thing.

"Oh, we're a pretty good group of guys," the Southern California native told VegasBeat in a more than passable British accent.

"Maybe we're bigger than Elvis. At least we're more alive than he is."

The group -- McNeil, Rolo Sandoval (Ringo Starr), Michael Amador (George Harrison) and Ardy Sarraf (Paul McCartney) -- was recently signed to perform in the Hilton's main showroom through April 6

"We play six days a week -- not eight days a week," McNeil said at a private after-party at Bistro Le Montrachet.

He also acknowledged that more than 22 years after Lennon's death, the slain Beatle still gets people stirred up.

Before McNeil performed Lennon's classic peace homage "Imagine," he told the sold-out audience how, in light of current world events, the song is still highly relevant. The applause was tepid and polite, but not much more enthusiastic than that.

McNeil's rendition of the song was uncanny.

"A little controversy? Maybe. But that's what John was all about -- making people think about the world around them and how to make it a better place," McNeil said.

The Fab Four's extremely entertaining show certainly makes Las Vegas a better place. As Penn Jillette says in a taped opening, the lads perform and sing each song live.

They recreate virtually every detail and nuance of the band's spirit and style, from the evolution of their outfits -- they go from matching Ed Sullivan show suits to Sgt. Pepper coats to casual hippie-wear -- to Amador/Harrison's blistering opening guitar riff on "Revolution."

Yea, yea, yea.

Crossed paths

Brooke Shields was handbag shopping at the pricey Judith Lieber boutique in the Forum Shops at Caesars one day last week, the store told VegasBeat.

Later, a server at a nearby restaurant in the Forum Shops reported a sighting of Steffi Graf and her husband, Andre Agassi -- Shields' ex-husband.

VegasBeat knows your next question, and no, they did not cross paths.

Bruce juice

Easy to see Bruce Willis playing an action hero. He zooms from place to place -- and looks good in the process.

Monday morning he was on "Good Morning America." Monday night he attended the Los Angeles premiere of his new movie "Tears of the Sun," where he plays a Navy SEAL.

The film also stars Tom Skerritt, Monica Bellucci and Nick Chinlund (who played a solid power forward to my inept off guard on the Friends Seminary Middle School basketball team in Manhattan in 1979).

Then, very late Monday night, Willis stopped into Tabu, the new MGM Grand club.

He seemed to enjoy himself; at one point he was dancing on the matrix screen tables with his shirt off. All the young goils in the club went nuts.

Tuesday morning Willis was back promoting his movie, appearing on "LIVE with Regis and Kelly," with Regis Philbin and guest co-host Jane Krakowski from "Ally McBeal." (Kelly Ripa is on maternity leave; she gave birth to baby Joaquin on Feb. 24.)

Unleashed

According to one industry survey, a full 78 percent of people with pets would take them on vacation if they could.

Soon, they will be able to do just that -- as long as the vacation is in Las Vegas, and they book it on VEGAS.com.

Today the American Dog and Cat Hotel on East Patrick Lane introduces itself at an afternoon event. Many four-legged guests are expected.

Pinch of salt

The April edition of Playgirl magazine just rolled off the presses and will be in stores nationwide Tuesday.

Many Las Vegans are looking forward to the mag because it features a photo and an interview with Kerry Simon, the good-looking proprietor of the hot eatery Simon Kitchen and Bar at the Hard Rock Hotel.

We got a sneak peek at the glossy on Tuesday. It is not exactly what people have been led to believe -- he isn't naked -- but there is no question that Simon is worthy of all the female attention he gets.

Clubbing

On Friday night Whiskey Bar, the Henderson hot spot at Green Valley Ranch Station Casino, has its one-year anniversary party.

The buzz at the hotel is that some of the famous folks who are friends of Cindy Crawford's husband, Rande Gerber, who runs the place, may attend, including George Clooney, Brad Pitt and Julia Roberts.

Then, on Saturday night the new club ibiza USA, located where the Blue Note Las Vegas was on Harmon Avenue off the Strip, has its grand opening party.

VegasBits

A producer from CNN's " Larry King Live" is doing a walk-through of Celine Dion's new Vegas home, The Colosseum at Caesars Palace, on Thursday. Dion has agreed to appear on King's show around March 25, when her show "A New Day" opens ...

"Seinfeld's" George Costanza -- Jason Alexander -- was browsing at Endangered Species inside the Forum Shops at Caesars the other day ...

Rita Rudner and husband Martin Bergman enjoyed the "X" show at Aladdin on Sunday night ...

Whatever happened to comic Emo Phillips? You can ask him yourself when he appears at the Riviera Comedy Club March 24 to March 30 ...

The Cow Parade auction has not been canceled, as might have been inferred from our item Sunday. The Connecticut-based group is conducting the online auction of painted pieces by itself, and it starts March 13.

From Sun wires

A panel says Rockville, Md., Police Chief Charles Moose can keep his teaching job, but it hasn't yet ruled whether his book on the sniper investigation and his consulting work comply with the county's strict ethics law.

The five-member commission met with the former head of the Washington-area sniper investigation Monday night in a closed session ...