December 28
By: Valerie Knox
Las Vegas, December 28, 2005
What started as a private getaway for a rebellious young rocker ended up becoming the wildest New Year's party in Las Vegas—and probably the entire planet. Billy Carson, the frontman who's been lighting up the underground scene with his band, decided to close out the year with a single promise: "I'm going to make Vegas regret letting me in." And he kept it. On the night of December 25th, Billy booked out two entire floors of the Bellagio Hotel, had concert-level sound and lighting gear flown in, plus a DJ straight from Berlin, and shut down the rooftop "just to watch the fireworks." Rumors say he spent around half a million dollars. The Bellagio ran at full tilt. The hotel manager mentioned they were booked solid and are already considering future events. No damage bill has been released yet, but losses are estimated at $200,000.
According to witnesses, the first guests were close friends—models and indie musicians. But things went nuclear in the media when a photo leaked through the blog VegasAfterMidnight, showing Billy popping champagne on top of a limousine right at the hotel entrance.
An assistant who asked to remain anonymous said, "People were jumping into the lobby fountains, someone lit fireworks in a jacuzzi, and Billy… well, Billy shaved his head at 5 a.m. while we all chanted 'Born to Be Wild.'"
Security at the Bellagio tried to shut things down around 4 a.m., but it was too late—the party had spilled into the hallways, stairwells, and terraces. Local police didn't intervene—apparently because "they didn't want to interrupt something so symbolically American."
By dawn, Billy was spotted skateboarding through the hotel kitchen wearing an AC/DC shirt and a cigar in his mouth. "I didn't plan this," he told an impromptu reporter with a camera. "But if you're going to throw a party, make it the best damn party. Next time, it's going to last a week."
Back to the point, Bellagio management hasn't released an official statement, though it's rumored that damages exceed $200,000 in minor losses and missing property. The only sure thing is Billy Carson celebrated Christmas in his way—and by 2005, we'll all still be trying to catch up with Billy's parties, hoping the guests are still searching for their sunglasses, an aspirin... and the dignity they left on the dance floor.
…
Scarlett woke up with a pounding headache that made it hard to open her eyes. She was completely overwhelmed, still consumed by the intensity of the party. She tried to get up, but the pain in her head forced her back down. It felt like a jackhammer was drilling into her brain. She could only think of the brain cells she'd lost in the chaos—completely wiped out, she felt like groaning out loud.
–Hey, babe, you're finally up. You were pretty wild last night. – Billy said, handing her the pills he usually kept for when parties went overboard. That's why he always paced his drinking; only twice before had he ever felt like this.
–Don't talk so loud. – The blonde groaned, clearly crushed by what she now considered a true disaster. She had a film shoot coming up soon, but all she wanted was to stay in bed. She chuckled at the memory of last night. It had been insane. She took the water and pill. Lots of water… lots.
–I ordered dinner. It'll be here in half an hour. – Billy said, closing the curtains.
–Dinner? But the sun's coming up. – she whispered, watching the light outside.
–It's going down. – Billy replied, walking over with a cold, damp towel. He gently placed it on her forehead and ran his fingers through her hair, a cheesy gesture that melted the blonde's heart. He kissed her nose and teased her for being a sleepyhead.
–What did you order for dinner? –She asked.
–Fruit salad, sushi with teriyaki sauce, a few extras... shrimp, king prawns, and octopus for me. And a filet mignon for you. You know—protein and carbs. – Billy said, dismissing the idea of compromise.
–Damn, what a hell of a party. – Billy muttered, now seeing it from a different angle. Any living person would have wanted to be there—thousands of people doing their thing, dancing nonstop, enjoying the music, chatting with no reason at all, and tons of great food.
–I lost it when The Killers started playing, and you jumped in to do The Whispers. That was epic. – Scarlett said. – They were amazing. And it was cool that you let the college kids in, even though some snuck in with hidden cameras. You managed to get most of them, but the vibe was great—they were hilarious. –
–Yeah, I guess it was. – Billy said, taking a deep breath.
–Next time, let's make it something more private—but just as epic. – Billy added.
–No more parties. At least not for the next five years. – The blonde replied, trying hard not to move. She was trapped in a hangover that brought her to a breaking point. What could she do? You start dancing at five in the afternoon, you sweat like hell, then you drink again—wine, champagne. It's hard not to get swept away by a party like that.
–Where'd you learn to dance like that? – he asked, still a little amazed.
–Well, I love dancing. Good music just makes you move—it's the best way to let go. – The guy was sure that his past life had at least left room for fun, and dancing with his partner was one of those moments where you express yourself more truthfully than with words.
–Yeah. That's true. –
Dinner arrived—just as lavish as promised. He'd ordered a huge spread, and everything was in place: shrimp in a tomato, garlic, cilantro, onion, and mango sauce; prawns in a similar, slightly spicy version; octopus; and, of course, a thick filet mignon.
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