Paul McCartney, Yoko Ono lead celebration for ‘Love’ anniversary

Christopher DeVargas

Giles Martin and his father, Sir George Martin, in the listening room at The Love Theater at the Mirage on Tuesday, June 7, 2011. They are in town to celebrate the fifth anniversary of Cirque du Soleil’s “Love” at the Mirage on June 8.

By Robin Leach (contact)

Wednesday, June 8, 2011 | 10:08 a.m.

Denise Truscello/WireImage

Marc Anthony and Jennifer Lopez at Love at The Mirage.

Courtesy

The John Lennon Educational Tour Bus.

Courtesy

The John Lennon Educational Tour Bus.

After 2,000 shows for 4.3 million people, the Cirque du Soleil Beatles show Love commemorates its fifth anniversary tonight at the Mirage, and Yoko Ono, Sir Paul McCartney and Olivia Harrison will lead a superstar turnout for the celebration. Ringo Starr, who is currently on tour in Europe, was unable to break away for a crazed round trip across the Atlantic, so he has recorded a video that will be shown before the performance.

Paul, who is staying on in Las Vegas for his weekend show at MGM Grand Garden Arena, will be accompanied by his new fiancee Nancy Shevell, a 51-year-old New York City businesswoman who is on the board of the Metropolitan Transit Authority there. The couple is expected to marry very shortly in a small, private Justice of the Peace ceremony.

The 68-year-old Beatles legend proposed in April with a $650,000 diamond ring after dating for four years. (It’s his third marriage and her second.) He also has brought his own favorite DJ Chris Holmes with him from England who will twist the turntables at the lavish, private after-party.

The Beatles record producers Sir George Martin and his son Giles Martin have flown over from London, and you must read Senior Editor Johnny Katsilometes’ wonderful interview with them posted yesterday in The Kats Report on Las Vegas Sun.

They’ll be joined by a scheduled all-star lineup that includes George Harrison’s son Dhani; hometown magic favorites Siegfried & Roy; actresses Kristin Davis, Rosanna Arquette and my good friend Oscar winner Marcia Gay Harden; rockers Slash, hometown heroes The Killers, Matt Sorum, Mark McGrath and Mike Dirnt; rapper T-Pain; talk show royal Gayle King; and Pussycat Dolls creator Robin Antin with British singer and Caesars Palace headliner Matt Goss.

Many of the stars plan to visit the John Lennon Educational Bus Tour parked at the Mirage until Saturday night. The public also can tour the nonprofit mobile recording studio to test out the latest cutting-edge recording and video technology that’s been used by artists including The Black Eyed Peas and Natasha Bedingfield. Three onboard engineers teach visitors how to write, perform, record and produce songs and videos. Check out more at the YouTube page JohnLennonBus.

Cirque will be represented by President Daniel Lamarre; Gilles Ste-Croix, the company’s artistic director; and Dominic Champagne, director of Love. All of them arrive from Montreal headquarters this morning. The cast and crew of Love are giving up their one free night this week for the special private performance, and they’ll be rewarded with a night off at a later date.

We’ll use Twitter for live reports from the red carpet this early evening, and we’ve got the entire night covered from start to finish for our report and fabulous photo galleries that will be posted right here at Vegas DeLuxe tomorrow.

Robin Leach has been a journalist for more than 50 years and has spent the past decade giving readers the inside scoop on Las Vegas, the world’s premier platinum playground.

Follow Robin Leach on Twitter at Twitter.com/Robin_Leach.

Follow Vegas DeLuxe on Twitter at Twitter.com/vegasdeluxe.

Follow VDLX Editor Don Chareunsy on Twitter at Twitter.com/VDLXEditorDon.