Joel Madden, Gavin Rossdale, Rampage Jackson among stars lighting up Las Vegas

Erik Kabik/Retna/www.erikkabikphoto.com

Robin Thicke co-headlined a concert with Jennifer Hudson at The Pearl in the Palms on May 1. He performed at the NHL Awards earlier this week and is expected tonight at the Bank nightclub in the Bellagio in Las Vegas.

By Melissa Arseniuk (contact)

Published Friday, June 19, 2009 | 11:37 a.m.

Updated Friday, June 19, 2009 | 2:39 p.m.

Justin M. Bowen

Quinton "Rampage" Jackson

Las Vegas didn’t have to wait for the weekend to see the stars come out to play.

People magazine’s newly-crowned hottest and most eligible bachelor, Chace Crawford, has been in town; the NHL’s biggest and beefiest players have been partying at the Palms (and at the Venetian, and at the Palazzo and at Caesars and at the Rio …) all week; Kevin Connelly and Michael Bublé were among the famous faces at the NHL Awards; Eddie Griffin was spotted at Blush; Xzibit was at both Moon and N9NE Steakhouse … there’s been no shortage of famous faces in and around Las Vegas.

Still, the celebrity sightings show no sign of letting up now that the weekend is here.

Good Charlotte frontman Joel Madden will return to reprise his role as guest DJ at Privé tonight, and take to the turntables at Planet Hollywood.

Meanwhile, Robin Thicke will make his second Vegas appearance of the week across the street at the Bellagio. The Grammy Award-winning singer-songwriter will host this evening at the Bank.

The crooner performed at the NHL Awards earlier this week but will resurface once again, this time in the swanky surrounds of the Bank.

Back at the Palms, meanwhile, the aftershocks of the NHL Awards will continue as the biggest names in hockey continue to recover from Thursday’s (and Friday’s) NHL Awards afterparties.

Most of the hockey players will wrap-up their Vegas vacations this weekend but not before putting in an appearance or two. Prime spots for chance sightings this weekend include Ditch Fridays at the Palms pool; N9NE Steakhouse at dinner time; Playboy Club, Moon and Rain at night; and Simon for mid-day meals and their famous Sunday brunch.

What's more, Gavin Rossdale will give an exclusive midnight performance at the Sky Villa at the Palms tonight as part of a just-announced (just made public) "Keep Hope Alive" benefit honoring Jeremy Roenick. All proceeds from the $200-per-person event will support Stacia and (NHL legend) Luc Robitaille's non-profit, Echoes Of Hope.

Out in Red Rock, meanwhile, San Diego Charger Quinton Jammer will be at Cherry tonight to celebrate his birthday. While the party is decidedly off-Strip, sources close to the football star say the soirée will be of the hook – and therefore worth the trip.

Tomorrow will be a busy day, too, with plenty of famous faces out and about.

UFC fighter Michael Bisping will put in an early appearance at Findlay Toyota on Saturday morning for the “Stock ‘Em and Load ‘Em” Veterans Supply Drive. Bisping will be at the Valley Auto Mall from 11 a.m. until noon.

UFC

Michael Bisping

Later that night, the UFC action will shift into high gear as fighters Diego Sanchez and Clay “The Carpenter” Guida meet in the main event at the UFC’s “Team USA vs Team UK Finale” at the Pearl.

Following the fight, Guida will host an after-fight party at Hawaiian Tropic Zone starting at 11 p.m.

The UFC fun will continue over at the Hard Rock Hotel, as fighter Rampage Jackson, will host his birthday bash at Body English.

Meanwhile, UFC commentator and comedian Joe Rogan, will also be in town and will host a post-fight party at Tao. Rogan and a handful of his (semi) famous friends will toast his new Spike TV comedy special at the Venetian nightspot, and are likely to arrive between 11 p.m. and midnight.

Also celebrating a birthday on Saturday is actress Teri Polo, who is perhaps best known for her role alongside Ben Stiller in “Meet the Fockers.” While her former co-star won’t be joining her in Vegas this weekend, Polo will celebrate her birthday at Privé.

While it may seem like she just arrived, former “scary” Spice Girl, Mel B, will say goodbye to “Peepshow” on Sunday. Before she gives her final and scantily-clad bow, however, she will get a warm send-off from the folks at Tabu at MGM Grand.

Chelsea Handler will trade her celebrity-focused talk show routine for her equally funny and scathing, self-deprecating stand-up routine on Saturday when the host of E!’s "Chelsea Lately” takes to the stage at the Joint.

The comedian is bringing a slough of her famous and funny friends to Vegas with her but there is no word if her pint-sized sidekick, Chewy, will join her entourage at the Hard Rock Hotel.

Meanwhile, country sensation Big & Rich will be close by – if you consider Primm close by, that is – as the “Save a Horse, Ride a Cowboy” duo play the Star of the Desert Arena.

Heating things up Saturday night will be a former Playboy Playmates Monica Leigh, Stephanie Larimore and Lauren Anderson. The sexy threesome will host what’s being billed as “the hottest summer party” at the New York-New York nightspot, Rok.

Another Playmate, 2009 Playmate of the Year, Ida Ljungquist, will be in town this weekend and will return to the place of her PMOTY crowning, the Palms, on Sunday.

It will be the first time the petite brunette will be in Vegas since she received her title in May but after nearly two months with the highly-coveted crown, her reign will see her return to Playboy Club to host Goodlife Sundays.