Fame, Navels and Music Awards

It’s billed as a loose, irreverent ceremony known for honoring such music industry “talents” as “nicest navel,” but the “My VH1 Awards” at the Shrine Auditorium on Sunday was tinged with real-life seriousness.

Behind the scenes, band handlers in leather pants mingled with several dozen security guards and police officers, and in the Green Room--a tent in the parking lot--entertainment reporters, not allowed to interview the talent up close, watched as celebrities ate, drank and smoked.

Onstage, the spirit of George Harrison, who had died two days before, was often invoked.

The pride of New Jersey, Jon Bon Jovi, performed “Here Comes the Sun” in front of a backdrop of black-and-white photos of Harrison.

Dave Matthews, who, with his band, received four awards (including “My Favorite Group,” “Must Have Album” and “Damn I Wish I Wrote That!”) spent the evening shuttling between the parking lot and the podium.

“I’m a little embarrassed,” said Matthews of his sweep. Later, he noted that he had been listening to another nomination for “Must Have Album”--the re-release of “1” by the Beatles--and it “kicks ... our album.”

Singer Jewel said Harrison and the Beatles had “a lot of whimsy and a great sense of humor,” before providing the most insightful observation of the evening.

“Fame,” she said, can lead to a “prolonged adolescence. You can be really spoiled and people still really like you.”

(The “Best Navel” honors, by the way, went to Britney Spears.)

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An AIDS Project for Elton John

Elton John was in town Saturday to raise awareness for the continuing fight against AIDS, appearing at the Gagosian Gallery in Beverly Hills. Wearing yellow-tinted glasses and a dark suit, John unveiled two public service announcements to be shown on VH1 and MTV titled “AIDS Ain’t Over.”

“The disease is overlooked these days,” John said. “But our complacency ... is costing us lives.”

Barbara Davis and MAC cosmetics Chairman John Dempsey were among the guests at the gallery.

On Dec. 12, John will host “The Concert--20 years of AIDS,” a show at Universal Amphitheater that will include performances by Alicia Keys, Jon Bon Jovi and Sting, among others.

The concert, which begins at 8 p.m., will benefit the Elton John AIDS Foundation and AIDS Project Los Angeles.

John disappointed thousands of fans when he announced at a New Hampshire concert Friday night that his latest disc “Songs From the West Coast” will be his last.

“I’m fed up with it. I like playing to you guys, but I hate the record industry,” said John from stage. “It’s the last record that I’ll ever make.”

But on Monday, spokeswoman Fran Curtis said that although John may take a little break after promoting his new disc, she would not bet against his continuing to make music. “Elton loves his new album so he will focus on that for the next year.”

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Cocktails With the Tenenbaums

Gwyneth Paltrow stepped out in Santa Monica on Friday night for an intimate cocktail party at Michael’s restaurant hosted by Anjelica Huston to celebrate director Wes Anderson’s new film “The Royal Tenenbaums.” Paltrow, who co-stars in the film, arrived before her new beau Luke Wilson and his brother Owen Wilson, who also co-star in “Tenenbaums.” The quiet, candlelit affair featured an assortment of Anderson’s pals, from “South Park” co-creator Matt Stone and actor Stephen Dorff to Michael Keaton and Dick Cook, the chairman of Disney’s motion picture group.

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Dueling Divas?

Not to be outdone by rival pop singer Jennifer Lopez, Mariah Carey has scheduled a performance for U.S. troops overseas. Details are still pending on Carey’s show, but Lopez is set to perform on the same bill as Kid Rock and Ja Rule for a pre-taped MTV special called “For the Troops: An MTV/USO Special” to air New Year’s Day. For security reasons, no details on the place and time of the show taping will be released, an MTV spokeswoman said.

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Sightings

The Sunset Room in Hollywood drew dozens of famous folks Thursday for a preview of “Dream,” a cabaret-style burlesque show that supper club owners may offer on Thursday nights next year.

Dylan McDermott, Robert Downey Jr., Sylvester Stallone, Cuba Gooding Jr., Kevin Costner, Rod Stewart, James Wilder and Chuck Zito were there, as well as star-gazer Robin Leach.