Don’t make him angry. … You wouldn’t like him when he’s angry. It makes him sing power ballads.(Photos by Erik Kabik | Retna)

Terror struck Las Vegas Saturday night as Cabo Wabo at Palnet Hollywood was hit by the largest hostage crisis the city has ever seen. Hundreds of diners were submitted to an impromptu concert by rocker and owner Sammy Hagar prior to his concert with Aerosmith on Sunday.
While details on the terrifying situation are sparse, we can only assume that the innocent victims, kept against their will most likely at knifepoint, heard Hagar perform hits like “55″ and “Why Can’t This Be Love” while dancing around stage in clothing most people keep at the bottom of a drawer for when they have to paint a room or do auto work.
Listen, we are unabashed David Lee Roth supporters at DailyFiasco, so maybe we’re biased. We just don’t get it. But we can admit when we’re outnumbered. The guy does seem to have a lot of fans and supporters and has obviously figured out what America wants.

By Jared Harmon

Thank God it’s closing in on bikini model season. (Photo by Denise Truscello)

Adriana Fernandez had the best kind of fashion show Friday night at Eve inside Crystals — a bikini fashion show. Holly Madison was on hand with Laura Croft, even coming out for the fashion show in a black one-piece.

This all comes after lunch on Friday at Cabo Wabo inside the Miracle Mile where she had a brush with awesome. Lita Ford, soon to be a household name again when The Runaways comes out, but forever partly for “Close My Eyes Forever,” but mostly for dressing like this in the ’80s. See, back then we would buy tapes like Lita and Vixen because they had pictures of rocker chicks all over the gatefold. When Open Up and Say … Aaah! had a banned cover and actual naked boobs in the liner notes, it was like finding the Dead Sea Scrolls wrapped in a lovely Christmas card from the nice alien family next Saturn. If you are under about 23 you cannot underestimate what a radical development the Internet is.

Ford was there with her two kids and her husband, Nitro singer Jim Gillette that night for dinner and the Rock Daddy performance. They should’ve honored her with an all-”Kiss Me Deadly” set.

Over at Blush, Bears linebacker Brian Urlacher was apparently celebrating Julius Peppers signing with Chicago. Killers bassist Mark Stoermer had a table as well. Jay Fiedler was at N9NE Steakhouse in a group of 10, while upstairs at Moon, Brad Jones of the Packers partied with five friends.

But what’s truly fantastic is that Ed Lover was poolside during the day. If you were a pool DJ and Ed Lover was there, you’d have to play “Let Me Clear My Throat” until he collapsed from doing the Ed Lover Dance, wouldn’t you? And, just because: Ed Lover and a drunken ODB. Take the rest of the afternoon off, because it don’t get no better.

By Jason Scavone

MTV owns the patent on this relationship. (Photo by Carlos Larios)

Audrina Patridge and Ryan Cabrera grabbed lunch at Cabo Wabo and were making out and holding hands inside the new Sugar Factory at the Miracle Mile Shops, which officially moves the candy store square into the realm of sugar overload. The two bought lollipops, chocolate bars and … chocolate body paint. We’re just going to throw it out there. There’s no one from The Hills who we want to see drizzled in chocolate body paint. Ever. Especially you, Spencer and/or Heidi.

By Jason Scavone

Mas, por favor. (Photos by Scott Harrison | Retna. Additional photos courtesy.)

Looking a lot more like The Dude than the leather-pantsed Red Rocker of yore, Sammy Hagar — pink polo shirt, madras shorts and all — had a couple of surprises for the crowd Friday night at the Cabo Wabo grand opening inside the Miracle Mile Shops, but there were a few waiting for him, too.

Not only did Hagar get passed a note to watch his language, as the hour-and-a-half set was being shown on Planet Hollywood’s Strip-side video screens (which he immediately responded to with a hearty, “Well, fuck.”), but close friend Kenny Chesney jumped on stage to do two songs — and even Hagar’s crew kept the surprise a secret from him until it was time to bust out “I’ll Fall in Love Again.”

After gleefully bantering with Chesney and backing band The Waboritas about Tiger Woods, Hagar brought up Van Halen bassist Michael Anthony and Pantera drummer Vinnie Paul to break out VH’s “Poundcake” (A song less about baked goods than about sex with women who aren’t strippers, or possibly Eddie Van Halen’s ability to power-drill his guitar without tangling up his hair in the Black & Decker.) and “Heavy Metal.” Red Hot Chili Peppers and Chickenfoot drummer Chad Smith took over for Paul for a closing set that included Zeppelin covers “Whole Lotta Love” and “Rock ‘n’ Roll.” Click for more words and pictures »

By Jason Scavone

If the Hamburglar ever broke in he’d robble robble Cabo Wabo.

Part of the inescapable charisma of Van Halen was that their party anthems were populist in nature — you might now be David Lee Roth, but they never said you couldn’t dance the night away. Sammy Hagar on joining the band before 1986′s 5150 certainly benefited from that mass appeal, and even after his 1996 departure cemented his status as a partier of the people despite the fact that he’s been known in his later years just as much for pushing premium tequila is he is for music.

There’s one very good way to maintain your position as a champion of the common man: Get dancing girls in tight shirts to pour your tequila into the willing throats of anyone who rushes the bar. Even better? Record a drinking anthem, “Mas Tequila,” for them to gyrate ‘n pour to while they do it.

Hagar’s efforts as a one-man tequila marketing machine pay off at Cabo Wabo inside the Miracle Mile Shops. Once in the walls of this Stripside tequila dispensary, the Waborita stands as its signature drink. No twists, no pretensions, the Waborita is your standard-issue Marg: Fresh sour, Cointreau, Cabo Wabo blanco and Grand Mariner. Click for more words and pictures »

By Jason Scavone

Meanwhile, Eli spent the day after Thanksgiving learning how to favor his left foot. (Photo by Hew Burney | SpyOnVegas.com)

Wasting no time after dismantling the Raiders on Thanksgiving day, Miles Austin and Tony Romo of the Cowboys were hanging out at the Hard Rock Hotel Friday night with Gossip Girl’s Chace Crawford before hitting up Body English. Couldn’t keep it up after beating the Bengals, could you Oakland? Thanks. Thanks for nothing.

Meanwhile, former Van Halen and current Chickenfoot member Michael Anthony was with 10 friends at Sammy Hagar’s Cabo Wabo at the Miracle Mile shops on Saturday. Hagar will be in town Friday for Wabo’s grand opening, and Chickenfoot plays The Joint on Saturday. There is expected to be a citywide tequila shortage on the Sunday following Hagar’s departure.

By Jason Scavone

Looks a little like the Pink Rocker, actually. (Photo by Carlos Larios)

The Miracle Mile’s Cabo Wabo made a sudden opening on Wednesday, and capped off its under-the-radar launch with a show from owner Sammy Hagar on Saturday, blown up on the Strip-side video screen that adorns the Planet Hollywood’s exterior. Hard to appreciate his pedal-to-the-metal balladeering of “I Can’t Drive 55″ when you’re stuck in Strip traffic, though. Stay tuned for another chance at a free show, though as a public concert is set for 9 p.m. Dec. 4.

Over at Tao, Dancing with the Stars pro Karina Smirnoff and a male friend had dinner and sake, while Kevin Dillon was spotted on the floor of the Hard Rock Hotel. Amaury Nolasco of Prison Break had dinner at Ago. Reds outfielder Jay Bruce and Jermaine Dupri were both seen at Body English.

Retired Mets right fielder Rusty Staub had dinner at Society inside Encore. The Bears’ Brian Urlacher stopped in later and on his way out gave his congratulations to a new bride and groom. And then tackled the crap out of the groom. (Well, no, but admit it: That would’ve made your night.)

By Jason Scavone

Tiki bar. Cantina. Either way, there will be stand-up.

When Trader Vic’s went down, it wasn’t just the tiki joint that was going dark — the L.A. Comedy Club’s status was in doubt too. But, the showcase worked it out to move into the former Canyon Club spot at the Four Queens downtown on July 1, and is in the midst of hashing out details to resume shows at Planet Hollywood in two to three months’ time above the new Cabo Wabo, taking the place of Vic’s.

Tomorrow night at the Queens, the club is bringing in E!’s Loni Love at 8:30 p.m. and is expecting around 400 — up from the 200 or so they’ve reconfigured the space to handle. The Canyon Club was a big room even for a rock show. When Nick Thune played there last April, it felt a little lonely despite the decent turnout. We’re eager to see what they’ve done with the place to make it more comedy-friendly. One good place to start is with two price points — $14.95 to do it dry and $24.95 for all-you-can-drink. It’ll certainly help the mood. We know we’re always primed for mirth when a bucket of cheap whiskey is involved.

By Jason Scavone

Hey, The ’80s. How you doin’? (Via Life.com)

We’re hearing that Trader Vic’s at Planet Hollywood Resort will be replaced by a Cabo Wabo Cantina, the second of the Sammy Hagar-sponsored joints that would be in Nevada after the Red Rocker’s first venture in Lake Tahoe. Hagar just opened Sammy’s Beach Bar & Grill at McCarran Airport less than two weeks ago, so it kind of fits. Of course, where all things Sammy Hagar are concerned, we defer to the gentle words of warning provided by Nerf Herder.

By Jason Scavone