To Auld Rock Acquaintances

Before delving into the fab festivities to be found in our scene New Year’s Eve, let’s look back to some of the musical heroes without whom many of us would have caved long ago. Muchas gracias to Pennywise, Flogging Molly, Texas Terri & the Stiff Ones, Long Beach Dub All-Stars, Coyote Shivers, Motochrist and, of course, Betty Blowtorch, R.I.P.... Our torch was going to be lighted at the Whisky this New Year’s Eve by Betty Blowtorch, who was scheduled to open for Nashville Pussy.

Beautiful Creatures and Texas Terri’s band are now opening the event, which has turned into a tribute to Betty Blowtorch’s singer, Bianca Halstead, who was killed in a recent auto accident. Wow, a rock ‘n’ roll funeral pyre on the Sunset Strip. How positively fitting. (Whisky, 8901 Sunset Blvd., West Hollywood, [213] 480-3232. $25 in advance, $30 at the door.)

On the rock front, many scenesters are making a pilgrimage to Las Vegas to see Guns N’ Roses (kerrang!). But those who didn’t score tix to the Hard Rock show can rock here at home with this year’s mega-bash at the Hollywood Athletic Club, which includes a decadent danceable merger of Club Make-Up, Bang!, Cherry, Coven 13, Beat It, Tiger Heat and much more. (Hollywood Athletic Club, 6525 W. Sunset Blvd., Hollywood, [323] 462-6262. $30. For Guns N’ Roses info: Hard Rock Hotel, 4455 Paradise Road, Las Vegas, [702] 693-5066 or [800] HRD-ROCK. $130 and up.)

We love the Sunset Room’s plans for NYE: two performances by Sunset Rouge, its colorful Cirque du Soleil-inspired show. The Hollywood nightclub has also teamed up with the Hollywood Roosevelt Hotel, which is offering a special rate to guests who dine at the Sunset Room or its sister club, the Pig n’ Whistle, which is also offering an entertainment package. (Sunset Room, 1430 N. Cahuenga Blvd., Hollywood, [323] 463-0004; Pig n’ Whistle, 6714 Hollywood Blvd., [323] 463-0000; Hollywood Roosevelt, 7000 Hollywood Blvd., Hollywood, [323] 466-7000. $125 and up.)

The L.A. club Giant is living up to its name by plotting a gigantic deejay event titled the Giant Village. The festival takes place at the L.A. Coliseum, and among the guest deejays are Paul Van Dyk, Junkie XL, Derrick Carter, Sasha and many more. Promised are multiple stages, a Star Dome dance arena, fireworks, a Ferris wheel and a Gravitron. The party sounds funky fresh. (Giant, L.A. Coliseum, 3911 S. Figueroa St., L.A., [213] 480-3232 or www.giantclub.com.) Can’t charter a plane to Brazil? No worries, the Conga Room is offering the next best thing. The wildly colorful Mid-Wilshire nightclub has invited performer Ricardo Lemvo and Makina Loca to heat up the room, Brazilian style. Should be wicked fun. (Conga Room, 5364 Wilshire Blvd., L.A., [323] 938-1696. $110 and up.).... Got only a couple of bucks in your pocket? No worries; there’ll be plenty to do at the Bigfoot Lodge.

The Lodge, in Atwater Village, is charging a mere $5 to hear its famed deejay Lee transport guests all over the musical map. Heck, the cover even includes complimentary champagne. Now that’s a sweetheart of a deal. (Bigfoot Lodge, 3172 Los Feliz Blvd., Atwater Village, [323] 662-9227.) ... Also on the Eastside, check out the wunderbar supper club the Derby, which will be keeping toes tapping with performances by the Paladins, Deke Dickerson and the Ecco-fonics, and Big Sandy and His Fly-Rite Boys.

We’ve been fortunate to have spent New Year’s Eve at the Derby in the past, and you’ll find few places that can show you a better time. (Derby, 4500 Los Feliz Blvd., Los Feliz, [323] 663-8979. $50 and up.)

For a sexy time, check out the End at Boardner’s in Hollywood. The event is promising dozens of devil girls and live music. Should be fun as heck. (The End, Board- ner’s, 1652 N. Cherokee Ave., Hollywood, [323] 769-5001. $20 cover.)

D.A.S.K. Productions, the promoter behind the popular Saturday-night bash at Joya in Beverly Hills, is throwing a New Year’s Eve ball at the Beverly Hilton Hotel, and it looks like a swelegant affair. The event includes dinner, dancing, deejays, and live jazz, blues and popular dance music. Black tie requested. Now doesn’t that sound classy? (New Year’s Eve Ball, Beverly Hilton Hotel, 9876 Wilshire Blvd., Beverly Hills, [310] 281-8440, [310] 285-3733, [310] 274-7777.)

Dragonfly is teaming up with W.S. Productions for a full-tilt funk-on-parade party featuring deejay Sweet P and its usual Saturday-night gang. Should be off the hook. (Dragonfly, 6510 Santa Monica Blvd., [323] 466-6111. $30 cover.)

For some more Hollywood love, go to the Viper Room, which has invited the rock ‘n’ roll tour de force Faster Pussycat with the AC/DC tribute band Big Balls. Surely, that’s one way to loudly ring in 2002. (Viper Room, 8852 Sunset Blvd., West Hollywood, [310] 358-1881. $40 cover.)

An ambitious event is in the works at the Highlands, the new nightclub at the Hollywood & Highlands entertainment complex. The details include top L.A. deejays, dance performances choreographed by Madonna tour choreographer Alex Mango, and live reggae and blues artists. The Renaissance Hotel, which is in the same complex, is offering packages for Highlands guests. Sounds like something for everyone. (Highlands, 6801 Hollywood Blvd., Hollywood, [323] 461-9800 or [323] 882-6637. $75 and up.)