Bullet won’t stop ex-security guard
Paralyzed three years ago during a nightclub melee, former security guard Tom Urbanski has found something better than medicine to ease his chronic pain.
He organized a band and named it Four Bullets Later, after the four that tore into his right hand, left wrist, stomach and spine.
"I get to do what I love. This brought me back to my music and it takes away the pain," Urbanski said.
He was shot three years ago at Minxx nightclub after an altercation allegedly sparked by NFL star Adam "Pacman" Jones. A bullet severed Urbanski's spine, resulting in medical bills exceeding $2 million, he said.
Jones' involvement in the incident was a factor in the NFL's decision to ban him from the league for a year. Prosecutors say they are zeroing in on the shooter, reportedly a member of Jones' entourage.
The shooting came hours after the 2007 NBA All-Star Game in Las Vegas.
Urbanski, lead guitarist in his three-man band, has turned to music as therapy.
"When I play I go into another world, literally a pain-free world. It takes me places. It's the best natural high," he said Thursday by telephone.
Four Bullets Later will debut May 8 at Hogs & Heifers, 201 N. Third St., and return to the downtown hot spot May 16 for the Hogwild for Kids motorcycle charity.
The classic rock band's logo features four bullets flying out of a microphone. Urbanski's bandmates are drummer Jeff Weikel and bass player E.B. Gearhart.
"I needed something to live for," Urbanski said.
THE SCENE AND HEARD
Rachel Uchitel is shopping for a reality show. Uchitel, the first mistress of many linked to Tiger Woods, has been pitching a show titled "Romancing Rachel," the celebrity website TMZ.com reported Thursday. The former VIP host recently moved to Las Vegas and has been taking ballroom dancing lessons from Tony Delgado. Since Delgado had trained three Las Vegans for "Dancing With the Stars" -- Penn Jillette, Floyd Mayweather Jr. and Holly Madison -- that set off speculation that Uchitel might be joining the ABC dance show.
MAY I RECOMMEND ...
Rio headliners Penn & Teller, back as grand marshals of Sunday's AIDS Walk, for Aid for AIDS of Nevada, are again matching donations. Registration ($35) starts at 8 a.m. The 9 a.m. opening ceremony at World Market Center includes a glee club. The walk starts at 10:30 a.m. Chris Saldana from KLAS-TV, Channel 8 will be host.
SIGHTINGS
Singer Enrique Iglesias, doing a photo shoot Thursday at Rain nightclub at the Palms. During a break he ended up in the kitchen at N9NE Steakhouse, where he signed chef Barry Dakake's celebrity door. ...
The Australian singing group Human Nature, showing up at Holly Madison's housewarming party Wednesday with three baby kangaroos. ... University of North Carolina basketball coach Roy Williams , spotted Wednesday on the MGM Grand studio walk. ... Lea Salonga, known for her starring role in the musical "Miss Saigon" and for her singing as Princess Jasmine in "Aladdin" and Mulan in "Mulan," at "Jersey Boys" on Sunday. ... At Todd English P.U.B. (Crystals at CityCenter) twice over the weekend: "So You Think You Can Dance" judges Nigel Lythgoe, Mary Murphy and Adam Shankman, along with host Cat Deely.
THE PUNCH LINE
"The giant cloud of ash over Amsterdam is so bad that you can't even see the giant cloud of hashish." -- Jay Leno
Norm Clarke can be reached at (702) 383-0244 or norm@reviewjournal.com. Find additional sightings and more online at www.normclarke.com.
