Dan Gross: Survivor Steven Adler has new 'Appetite'for life

"I'M JUST an underdog who wants to get his life back together and fulfill his dreams before he dies," says Steven Adler, original Guns N' Roses drummer, who played on the best record of all time, "Appetite for Destruction."

Adler, who was kicked out of the band when his heroin problem got out of control, is now clean, thanks, he says, to Dr. Drew Pinsky, on whose VH1 show "Celebrity Rehab" Adler has appeared. The rocker and his new band, Adler's Appetite, play July 27 at the Mill Creek Tavern (4200 Chester). From 6 to 7 that night, Adler signs copies of his new memoir, "My Appetite for Destruction," at the Barnes & Noble on Rittenhouse Square.

Adler says that writing the book was a healing experience because he kept so much anger and pain bottled up inside.

Fans tell him at shows that he's smiling the whole set. "I'm very appreciative," Adler told us on Thursday. "I survived so much crap. I didn't kill myself."

His bandmates include Chip Z'Nuff, from Enuff Z'Nuff, Alex Grossi (ex-Quiet Riot) and Michael Thomas (Faster Pussycat), and Rick Stitch, of Ladyjack. The guys perform mostly old Guns N' Roses songs and originals, including their single, "Good to be Alive."

Anchored, from Texas, and local band Razorblade Skin open on the 27th.

Tickets are available at millcreektavernphilly.com.

Best of Style's big crowd

The Borgata's casino room at the Best of Style party Thursday at the Crystal Tea Room stayed busy all night with proceeds going to the Philadelphia Animal Welfare Society, whose president, Dana Spain, was among the crowd at the popular event.

Kijafa Frink, of PNKElephant. com, the lovely fiance of Eagles quarterback Michael Vick, was there as well, along with fashion stylist Renee Reese, wife of 610 WIP's Ike Reese, and Carmena Ayo-Davies, of 3BG Marketing Solutions.

Television types at the event included 6ABC's Jeff Skversky, with girlfriend Mandy Lam, of Steven Singer Jewelers; NBC 10's Dawn Timmeney, Aditi Roy, Deanna Durante, Harry Hairston, LuAnn Cahn, Glenn "Hurricane" Schwartz and Justin Pizzi; Fox 29's John Bolaris, Jennaphr Frederick and Joe Staszak; Comcast SportsNet's Marshall Harris; and CBS 3's Chris May, Stephanie Stahl, Nicole Brewer and Lesley Van Arsdall. Van Arsdall and husband, Mike Joson, are expecting a baby in about six weeks. Former CBS 3 GM Michael Colleran, who is now a partner at ECorpTV.com, was also a guest.