VegasBeat — Timothy McDarrah: LV confab drums up support for Ringo

Wednesday, Aug. 4, 2004 | 10:43 a.m.

Yes, that was Ringo Starr heading into the Stirling Club Tuesday night.

The former Beatles drummer had dinner with a Las Vegas resident who promotes concerts, and a mutual friend of theirs, Somer Hollingsworth, chief executive of the Nevada Development Authority.

"It was a social dinner," Hollingsworth told us. "But my goal is always to push it up to another level." The NDA is the premier state agency in encouraging new and existing businesses to move to Nevada.

"I am one of those old guys who grew up in the 'Beatlemania' days," an ebullient Hollingsworth told us before the big meeting. "So obviously meeting Ringo is a thrill.

"But at the same time, there are a lot of people who visit Las Vegas from time to time, such as Ringo Starr, but never thought of moving a company or doing any business here. My job is to open that door."

Starr is reported to have suffered a number of business setbacks. Several reports said the reason that Paul McCartney and George Harrison agreed to the "Beatles Anthology" project was that Starr sorely needed the money.

Today, Starr arrives in Los Angeles, where he will help sell some rock memorabilia during an appearance on a home-shopping cable television show.

"I have no formal agenda for Ringo. But I'd love to get him involved in something in Vegas," Hollingsworth said. "There are few more recognizable names than his."

Music awards

While it is not clear as to whether or when "The Vegas Show" will return to the airwaves, its co-producer, Rick Garson, will surely be busy for the next couple of weeks.

Garson, who cut his teeth with the World Music Awards, has succeeded in bringing the telecast from its longtime base in Monaco to, yes, Las Vegas.

The big show will take place Sept. 15 at the Thomas & Mack Center, and will be televised live nationwide by ABC.

Then the show will be syndicated to 160 countries, where "1 billion viewers around the world will tune in to see the show," according to Claudia Lang, the show's Monte Carlo-based spokeswoman.

The show draws the biggest names in music. Previous performers and presenters have included a diverse group of entertainers ranging from Eminem to Elton John, the Bee Gees to Prince, Stevie Wonder to Pink.

No acts have been confirmed yet for this year's show, and ticket information has not yet been announced.

Garson co-produces the WMAs with G. John Martinotti.

One of the reasons the show draws so many name acts is that each year much of the proceeds go to building a health care or educational facility in a Third World nation.

There are 15 active WMA-sponsored charitable setups, including a home for handicapped girls in Sri Lanka, a home for abandoned children in Brazil and a 24-hour ambulance service in India's Orissa state.

Rumors

Just as George Maloof quietly broke ground on the new Palms tower recently, Sheldon Adelson plans a similar no-fanfare groundbreaking for his new Venetian tower. It could happen as soon as this week ... Depeche Mode and New Order have been approached about playing a double bill on New Year's Eve at The Joint at the Hard Rock Hotel ... Curve, the nightclub at the Aladdin, will likely shut next month and reopen under a new name with a new management team once the Planet Hollywood folks assume ownership of the property.

Teeth marks

A new show called "Bite" opens at the Stratosphere on Friday the 13th. Aug. 13, that is.

Stratosphere spokesman Mike Gilmartin said that the show is "an erotic and sensual topless review based on deliciously evil vampires with a simple story line of sin, sex and seduction."

According to a news release, the show "centers around the Lord Vampire and his search for the perfect female specimen. Aiding the Lord is his coven of sultry and nimble dancers, the Erotic Angels of Rock."

The story will be told through classic rock songs of the '70s, '80s and '90s. And, audience members will be chosen to become part of the "erotic adventure."

" 'Bite' is not about the blood, guts and gore of vampire lore, but rather the power and sexual mysticism that make vampires so feared and loved," said Tim Molyneux, producer of the late-night offering.

Watch

Nascent Golden Nugget casino host and "The Casino" featured player Tommy Sunstrum hosted a viewing party Monday night at the Roadrunner on Flamingo Road and Interstate 215.

The episode highlight was Sunstrum and a pal literally escaping out a window at the Cottontail brothel in Lida Junction. They were disappointed at the girth of the girls and decided to make a run for it. (The episode was part of a story arc that involved Sunstrum and Cottontail.)

"My mom calls me before each episode and asks me if she should watch," said Sunstrum, 23, a born and bred Las Vegan. "I sure hope she wasn't watching this one."

Sunstrum was joined at Roadrunner by Zach Conine, the right-hand man to owners Tom Breitling and Tim Poster, VIP casino host Richard Wilk, hotel veep Daniel Shumny and friend Dominic Rizzolo, son of Crazy Horse Too owner Rick Rizzolo.

VegasBits

Still here: "Law & Order: Special Victims Unit" star Ice-T had an intimate dinner with a female friend at Simon Kitchen & Bar (Hard Rock) on Monday night ...

Coming: Musician Lenny Kravitz plays the Mandalay Bay Events Center Oct. 16. No ticket info has been announced.

From Sun wires

Musicians oppose Bush: In an unprecedented series of concerts in nine swing states, more than 20 musical acts -- including Bruce Springsteen, Pearl Jam and the Dixie Chicks -- will perform fund-raising concerts one month before the Nov. 2 election in an effort to unseat President Bush.

The shows, which will begin Oct. 1 in Pennsylvania, will take an unusual approach: as many as six concerts on a single day in cities across the states expected to decide the November presidential race. Other stops on the tour are North Carolina, Ohio, Michigan, Iowa, Minnesota, Missouri, Wisconsin and the key state in 2000, Florida.

"We're trying to put forward a group of progressive ideals and change the administration in the White House," Springsteen told the Associated Press in one of the most overtly political statements of his 30-year career.

Clinton on 'Late Show': Former President Bill Clinton came to sell his book on "Late Show with David Letterman" Tuesday night but left a copy as a gift for David Letterman's son.

Reading aloud the inscription in his hefty 957-page memoir, Clinton wished Harry Letterman (born to Dave and his girlfriend, Regina Lasko, Nov. 3) a happy 9-month birthday.

"With luck," Clinton went on, "you will finish this by your 21st birthday. Meanwhile, carry it around and build more muscles than your dad has."