Kid Rock subs as deejay at Jet nightclub at The Mirage on New Year's Eve. Photo by Samantha Clemens/Review-Journal Usher gets a kiss from Pamela Anderson at Tao, during New Year's Eve partying.

A Hard Rock Hotel VIP guest who was awakened at 6 a.m. Sunday by someone attempting to kick down his door has a different version than the hotel's account.

"Hollywood" Dave Stann, a pro blackjack player, disputes the Hard Rock's story that Kid Rock tried to smash the door. A Hard Rock rep, in an e-mail on Sunday, said Kid Rock realized he was at the wrong door and apologized by giving the guest an autograph.

"It was two huge linebacker dudes screaming, 'Tommy's in there,' " Stann said in a telephone interview on Monday. "They started kicking in the door. I told them, 'There's no Tommy in here.' "

Stann said he called security. When security arrived, the thugs "had left size 14 boot prints and splintered the door," said Stann, who said he and his girlfriend were "freaked out" by the incident.

Stann said his 11th floor suite, a floor that can be accessed only by a VIP room card, is two doors down from the Hard Rock's penthouse suite for high rollers.

Hard Rock publicist Spencer Villasenor, in his account, said Kid Rock was "looking to settle a dispute over ex-wife Pamela Anderson." But when Kid Rock realized he was at the wrong door, "the gentleman that he is, signed an autograph for the apparent fan" and left.

Stann said the Hard Rock came up with that story because "they wanted to keep good relations with Kid Rock."

Anderson's ex-husband, Tommy Lee, performed at the Hard Rock on New Year's Eve, while Anderson was hosting the New Year's Eve party at Tao, The Venetian hot spot. Kid Rock hosted and served as deejay at Jet (Mirage) on Sunday night.

Stann said security told him the two men they found at his door were Kid Rock's bodyguards.

Villasenor, reached on Monday in Los Angeles, reiterated that Kid Rock was at the door.

BRITNEY BROUHAHA

Britney Spears missed a good party.

New Year's Eve turned out to be a short night for the pop star, who was paid, according to some reports, $300,000 to host the evening at Pure Nightclub (Caesars Palace).

Spears was seen being assisted from the club about 1 a.m., not long after she rang in the New Year with countdowns and champagne toasts.

Her manager, Larry Rudolph, took issue with reports that she collapsed on the VIP stage.

"By about one o'clock, she was just done, so we took her out," Rudolph, told The Associated Press Monday. "She was not drunk. She was just tired and falling asleep."

From my vantage point of 3 feet away, I saw Spears drinking a rum and pineapple cocktail, followed by several glasses of champagne about 12:15 a.m. Monday, minutes after she gave the countdown on Pure's terrace.

"She had a little too much to drink," said a Pure source. "She was assisted out, but she was not carried."

SIGHTINGS

Michael Jackson and four bodyguards, at the 7:30 p.m. showing of "The Good Shepherd" on Monday at Brenden Theatres (Palms). ... Oscar winner Jamie Foxx, joining Usher on stage at Tao (Venetian) in the wee hours Monday after a hoarse Pamela Anderson counted down to midnight. Anderson raised eyebrows by arriving with celebrity bodyguard/actor Chuck Zito as her date. ... Leonardo DiCaprio and girlfriend Bar Rafaeli, backstage after taking in Danny Gans' show (Mirage) on Sunday night. ... Nicole Richie, having dinner at Aquanox (Venetian) with her father, Lionel Richie, and her boyfriend/deejay Joel Madden.

THE PUNCH LINE

"I think I'm going to stop talking to Simon Cowell. I'm just going to give him the hand. 'Talk to the hand, baby.' " -- "American Idol" judge Randy Jackson, sharing his New Year's resolution with the Fremont Street New Year's Eve crowd.

Norm Clarke can be reached at 383-0244 or norm@reviewjournal.com.