Diesel celebrates its birthday with the party to end all parties

Photo: Getty Images

We got hyped about Diesel's 30th Anniversary bash, the xXx Party, way back when they made one of the funniest videos ever (warning! NSFW!) to promote it. Saturday's event was the birthday party to end all birthday parties and certainly didn't disappoint. Billed as a "rock and roll circus," the happening took place in a monstrous tent constructed on Brooklyn's Pier 3, and, though Britney was a no show, the night definitely still had its highlights:

> 5,000 guests were invited; 7,000 showed up, so you can imagine the mayhem at the entrance. Not surprisingly, a few do-you-know-who-I-am?'s were overheard, but as is usually the case, security didn't know who they were and furthermore, couldn't have cared less.

> Once (or rather if) one made it inside, the venue was modeled after -- surprise, surprise -- a circus, complete with fire breathers, acrobats dangling from the ceilings, and a bevy of scantily clad dancers.

> Performers included Chaka Khan (yes, she sang "I'm Every Woman"), T.I., and Franz Ferdinand. Crowd favorite M.I.A. was also on hand. The obviously pregnant singer -- in a cute striped mini dress and leather jacket -- only did a quick few numbers and then scurried backstage. Thankfully N.E.R.D. (pictured) was ready to pick up where she left off, keeping the crowd riled up for the rest of the night.

- While thousands of 21+ party goers couldn't make it in, 17-year-old Emma Watson (AKA Hermione from the Harry Potter films) was breezing around backstage in a sparkly gold dress. She even cut loose on stage during N.E.R.D.'s final number.

- Other celebs seen drinking free booze and eating cotton candy in the VIP area included Lindsay Lohan, Helena Christensen, Bryan Greenberg, Rhys Coiro and famed gay porn star Erik Rhodes, all sporting Diesel denim of course.

-- SETH PLATTNER