'Mindfreak' magician Criss Angel has just pulled off the most dangerous illusion of his life, but he came perilously close to disaster.

It was a real dice with death when he faced down a steamroller in a deadly one-on-one, and you'll get to see the magical escape on the new season of his hit A&E TV series this Spring. I chatted with him at Vince Neil's surprise birthday party, and he told me that, to completely confound, he will expose the startling, Houdini-styled stunt by lying over glass when the heavyweight vehicle moves forward. His TV cameras recorded the fantastic feat at the weekend in a Luxor parking lot. The 10 ton steamroller somehow rolls right over Criss, all the way up to his neck and chin! But before it can crush his face, as he stares right into the jaws of definite death, he vanishes! There has never been an illusion like this before in magic history and it's so phenomenal Criss will be hailed as magic's 21st century Houdini! "If they'd been a millimeter out of synch it would have been certain disaster. It just doesn't get anymore dangerous than this," I was told.


Meantime, we move closer to the official Cirque du Soleil, Criss Angel and Luxor announcements about the $110 million magic spectacular they'll launch early next year at the resort; making it the 6th unique Cirque show to dominate the Strip. Previously I've called it the $200 million spectacular, but over and above the $110 million marked for staging the show's incredible illusions, the additional megabucks are earmarked for advertising, marketing and worldwide promotions. Expect the full details to be released in about three or four weeks.

Before I leave the subject of magic and move onto Vince's surprise birthday bash, I've got early details of another completely different magician coming to Vegas that will be so shocking and startling it's going to set off a firestorm of controversy. I'll even go so far as to say expect fireworks the likes of which we've never seen before in one of the biggest battles in Vegas entertainment history! Sorry to be so mysterious but I am only now tying up all the loose ends to be spot on. I'll probably be sent to the doghouse for revealing it ahead of the official announcement, but my sole mission is to ensure you're the first to read it. Expect the blockbuster news and then the instantaneous nuclear fallout within the week,

BIRTHDAY SURPRISE

Criss was joined by basketball bad boy Dennis Rodman and 40 of Vince Neil's closest friends at the surprise 46th birthday party, which the Motley Crue singer's stunning wife, Lia organized. We all huddled in the darkness of an outdoor, sky-high terrace as the couple was given a tour of the Nove Italiano in George Maloof's Palms Fantasy Tower. And when the door opened to the outdoor rooftop patio, we all yelled out "Happy Birthday," as the lights went on. The look on Vince's face was priceless.


"I had absolutely no idea, because I thought we were doing a birthday dinner tomorrow," he laughed. Among those celebrating were Planet Hollywood head honcho Mike Mecca and his wife, Sandy, heavyweight madhouse comic Jeff Beacher with Wee Matt, knockout Playboy bartender Teanne, who will be featured in Playboy magazine shortly, celebrity colorist Michael Boychuck and yours truly!


A special candle-laden cake (seen above) was rolled out before the party guests moved on up to the Playboy Club where we ran into New York Yankee Jason Giambi (below, left), partying with Bunny servers Cerra and April, who were later joined by Bunny Michelle at 2AM to welcome Rex Grossman (below, right) to the Blackjack tables for a pre-dawn session of stamina.


FINALLY OPEN!
Magic maestro Steven Wyrick (left) finally opened his long-awaited, and construction-delayed, $35-million entertainment complex at the Aladdin/Planet Hollywood Desert Passages and the previews will run until the grand gala opening on March 16. "Previews are essential to fine tuning the show prior to the grand opening," says Wyrick, who has headlined in Vegas for more than 10 years, performing some of the largest illusions on the Strip. This time it's a new one-of-a-kind mega-illusion magic experience, faster-paced, more edgy and uncut, but with all the quality production values of a Broadway performance. Wyrick performs some of the most imaginative and mind-blowing illusions anywhere including making a Lear Jet 35 and an AS 350 helicopter appear and a West Coast Chopper disappear into mid-air. His signature, larger-than-life illusions are jaw-dropping. "I'll be introducing four new colossal illusions in addition to some illusions I've premiered on national and international television," says Wyrick. "I'm confident that my new show will give each audience member a unique and exclusive entertainment experience." The complex also features ventriloquist Ronn Lucas and Philippines heart-throb singer Martin Nivierra and a late night pre-midnight show will be added shortly. The most amazing part of this complex is that it all converts into 2 floors of ultra-lounges and four-level nightclub appropriately called TRIQ as of 11PM nightly.

ELTON JOHN'S LOOKALIKE

Three time award winning musical comedian, impressionist and actor Stephen Sorrentino (above with yours truly) returns tonight to the very spot that got him started 10 years ago to the day as host of the long running 24-years production show Legends in Concert at the Imperial Palace. For the 1st time the show will feature him in the dual role as emcee and in his stunning impressions of Sir Elton John, who will be starring in his Red Piano concerts directly across the Strip at Caesars Palace!! My friend Stephen has been the opening act for Dennis Miller, Dana Carvey, Patti LaBelle and Chicago, but now headlines himself on the Strip.

TWO WRONG ELVIS IDENTITIES
Meantime, Matt Lewis, who features as Elvis Presley in Legends, has always been the dead ringer for the King of Rock 'n' Roll; but because Vegas has so many Elvis wannabe, twice in recent weeks he's been the subject of mistaken identity. Call it good news, bad news. He wound up on the covers of two different magazines, but in both cases he was twice identified incorrectly as two of his competitors! Don't be that cruel!! Talk about a 'Heartbreak Hotel' publicity staff!! So Luxe Life will simple 'Rreturn to Sender,' the incorrect info and publish the correct photo with Matt's correct name!! Viva Las Vegas! Thank you. Thank you very much!

STRIP SCRIBBLES
For the second time, George Harrison's widow, Olivia, showed up to see Cirque du Soleil's Beatles 'LOVE' and met with the cast backstage afterwards. ... Talk about taking your mind off the pressures but just prior to his opening night for 'The Producers,' its star David Hasselhoff toured the Bodies Exhibition and the Titanic sinking at the Tropicana. ... Mark Nason from Foreigner put on a preview show for Skechers execs at the Rainbow Bar & Grill before the group's own shows at the Luxor over the weekend. ... Golf king Tiger Woods proved he's just a regular guy, albeit a multi-millionaire, when he hit the Tangerine Nightclub at TI, because he simply stuck with a bottle of Amstel Light beer all night long. ... Could it be the beginnings of a new romance for 'The Sopranos' star Jamie-Lynn Sigler, who enjoyed a romantic hand-holding lunch at Wolfgang Puck's Spago with NY nightclub operator Scott Sartiano?

CELEBRITY JUDGE
I've still found time to squeeze in the TV taping of Bravo's 'Hell's Kitchen' finals tonight out at Green Valley Ranch. Fellow boisterous Brit, Gordon Ramsey who oft-times terrorizes the would-be superstar chefs will have the finalists prepare us a final dinner, and we'll vote on the winner. I'll be sworn to secrecy right afterwards so the surprise winner's identity doesn't leak out but the final fire in the kitchen goes down tonight.

TONIGHT'S TIP
The brand new eight lusty ladies who makeup the X Girls debut their xcitement and xotic dance moves with their first night of previews at the Flamingo. ... Adult entertainment star Ron Jeremy, the #1 all-time male porn star of 1,700 x-rated flicks, will be signing copies of his new book "Hardest Working Man in ShowBiz" at the Reading Room bookstore in Mandalay Bay this evening starting 7PM. Despite his wild wanton, ribald reputation I can tell you from working with him on our current VH1 'Fame Games' hit he's a kind gentle guy with a heart of gold and can always go back to his math-teacher skills when his day job falls flat!

TOMORROW'S TEASE
Our week-long NBA All Star diary, a special edition with every event and every party. We'll tell you where basketball's superstars are staying, playing and partying and you'll want to print it and keep it as your best guide to our All-Star City right through to Sunday's 56th All Star Game and the after parties. Plus our regular Luxe Life journal with a startling confession from Charles Barkley about his $10 million Vegas gaming losses and his $700,000 winning Super Bowl bet.

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