Someplace new to stupidly talk yourself into taking the over on Super Bowl XLV. (Photo by Hew Burney | CantorGaming.com)

The transformation of Wasted Space is complete. The Hard Rock Hotel’s new sports book and adjoining lobby bar are now polished up and ready to go — just in time for Super Bowl weekend. It now stands in place of the former rock club. So in the spot where we had such a good time finally seeing Helmet for the first time since 1993 is now where we can go to lose money on yet another Kentucky Derby. For the … oh, let’s call it, 20th straight year. Hooray.

By Jason Scavone

We sincerely hope his next BMX trick will be named “The Judicial Action.”

According to TMZ, Carey Hart has filed a lawsuit against the Hard Rock Hotel over the closure of Wasted Space. He claims the hotel hid profits before closing the club, and he wants an unspecified amount in damages. The hotel says the club never made any money.

Right now, the space is being converted to a new sports book. Last time we walked by, you could hear a whole bunch of sawing and hammering behind the construction wall, so we’re willing to bet it’s going to be a fairly extensive remodeling job.

By Jason Scavone

Welcome to the sportsbook era. (Photo by Hew Burney. Additional photos by Jessica Blair | SpyOnVegas.com)

Wasted Space launched with a grand opening a little more than two years ago that drew Paris Hilton, the Madden brothers, Gavin Rossdale, Ice-T, Mandy Moore, Maynard James Keenan, one of the lesser Baldwins, Mike Tyson, Dana White and others.

Last night, the little rock ‘n’ roll club that could, couldn’t. It ended its run at the Hard Rock Hotel with Alien Ant Farm, Deuce, Kinda Major, eENIK and Hellyeah, who flew into town after doing a show in Phoenix last night to wind down the venue. We suppose Vinnie Paul eases the sting out of any somber time.

Early in August, it came out that the Hard Rock would be pulling the plug on Wasted to make room for a new sports book. Click for more words and pictures »

By Jason Scavone

Going out not with a bang, but an Ant Farm.

Originally thought to make it to October, it looks like the Alien Ant Farm show Sept. 19 will be the last stand for Wasted Space at the Hard Rock Hotel. That’s a Sunday and will also feature the L.A. Comedy Club performance of Chris Porter. It appears the last show at the venue that will actually be kind of rocking is L.A. Guns on Sept. 16. Depending, we suppose, on your definition of rocking. Click for more words and pictures »

By Jason Scavone

No way anyone is that pale without having time traveled here from Victorian England. (Photos by Hew Burney | SpyOnVegas.com)

Everybody’s favorite gutter pin-ups who are also banned from Nerdageddon, the Suicide Girls, took over Wasted Space last night at the Hard Rock Hotel.

Headlining were spacerockers Pride & The Vanities, late of the Deadly Seven. It was more or less the only spot you could see body modification, snakes and some of the finest examples of robot boobs you’ll see all year, jumbled together in one convenient location that isn’t Gary Busey’s house.

By Jason Scavone

Well, well, well, you just can’t tell

It’s our one hard and fast rule in life: You can never have too many opportunities to hear “My Michelle.” Tonight, Steven Adler brings his eponymous Adler’s Appetite to Wasted Space. It is, coincidentally, your chance to see Chip Z’Nuff, of Enuff Z’Nuff fame, on stage. We know you’re a closet “New Thing” fan. Click for more words and pictures »

By Jason Scavone

(Photo by Hew Burney | SpyOnVegas.com)

How much money would you pay to see a show where Ron Jeremy solved maritime mysteries? $1,000? $5,000? We’re pretty sure we’d borrow money from relatives to make that happen.

By Jason Scavone

Like the ’27 Yankees of porn. By which we mean they’ve inspire 27 yankees. (Photos by Hew Burney | SpyOnVegas.com)

It’s nice to get a little mid-year fix while we’re waiting for January and the return of the Adult Entertainment Expo. The Annual Gentlemen’s Club Owners Expo and the Annual Adult Nightclub & Exotic Dancer Awards Show is going on at The Mirage. It’s a trade show for strip club owners, but they also handed out their own awards last night, with Lisa Ann capturing Adult Movie Entertainer of the Year. The convention goes through Wednesday where it closes with the Woodystock Entertainer Showcase & Party At Rick’s Cabaret. It’s the most perfectly named stripper gathering that we can think of, including our pitch for Bonerthon ’10.

The afterparty was at Wasted Space and brought out porn stars Sunny Lane, Monique Alexander, Mary Carey, Nikita Cash, Raven Alexis and the ever-present Hedgehog, Ron Jeremey. SpyOnVegas has your adult entertainer fix.

By Jason Scavone

If a band could spring fully formed from an Ozzfest …

Bodies are hitting the floor at the soon-to-be-departed Wasted Space inside the Hard Rock Hotel with Drowning Pool when they hit the stage with Nonpoint. Shameful confession time: Back in the bad-old-days of nu-metal we fell in love with, and still dig, Nonpoint’s old-school hip-hop mash-up “The Tribute“. We’re going to chalk it up to youthful indiscretion combined with a love of Slick Rick, Busta Rhymes and Method Man. Click for more words and pictures »

By Jason Scavone

Soon in this space: Simulcast! (Photo by Hew Burney | SpyOnVegas.com)

That sports book that’s going to replace Wasted Space we told you about last week? It’s going to be another operated by Cantor Gaming.

Cantor is the company behind In-Running wagering, which is also available at the M Resort and Palazzo.

The new sports book will open in spring 2011, though the Hard Rock confirmed that there’s no firm timeline for Wasted Space’s closure. Now we can start speculating as to whether Body English will ever reopen, but as a bingo parlor.

By Jason Scavone