DJ AM, Man of Mystery

Jan. 31, 2007 — -- After finding fame by dating lightweight Hollywood heavy-hitter Nicole Richie, DJ AM is in need of a new coattail to ride. His cost for a three-hour session spinning records at events is $25,000, but was his quote that high before he started dating Nicole? It's not as if the whole world knows exactly who he is.

But DJs can attain star status -- if they get a lot of publicity, or date someone who will give them publicity. And let's not discount talent.

Surprisingly, DJ AM has dated a lot of young Hollywood hotties. He's been spotted with Michelle Trachtenberg, Kristen Cavalleri (they say they're "just friends"), model Lauren Hastings and now ... Mandy Moore? That's right. But if you ask makeup-artist-to the-stars Rachel Herrera, you'll find that some hot girls do not pin everything on looks.

"Goes to show that beauty is not only skin deep. They probably have a lot in common since they're both into music," she theorizes.

Though reps for DJ AM and Mandy Moore refused to comment on whether the two were an official item, they have been seen together around Los Angeles and also were together during the Sundance festival.

Young music fan Ashley Curiel, had a different opinion: "Trust me. DJ AM will not make Zach, Andy or Wilmer jealous -- especially Andy." In the looks department, it is hard to compete with Mandy's tennis star ex, Andy Roddick, who's tall, athletic, and conventionally gorgeous.

We know why Mandy Moore is famous. She's cute as a button, and talented to boot. The question is, how does an average Joe like Adam Goldstein, DJ AM's birth name, get all the girls?

Well, he's an ex-rocker, although his band, Crazy Town, was a one-hit wonder. I mean, has anyone actually heard the song "Butterfly"?

But he has that thing that girls are drawn to -- he's good with his hands. It takes coordination to scratch with one hand and have the other hand on the crossfader. It's like watching a guitarist. (If you're a guy, ask one of your girl friends. They can explain it.)

Says Suzy McCoppin, a long time observer of -- and participant in -- the Hollywood social scene: "The attraction to DJ AM is pretty simple: fame. Fame is a greater aphrodisiac than just about anything.

"Remember in high school when people in different cliques couldn't date each other?" she asks. "The prom queen couldn't consort with someone from the chess club. Hollywood is the same. It's the ultimate popular clique. And once a princess -- in this case, Nicole Richie -- gives the frog the kiss of fame, she opens him up to a vast sea of famous options. DJ AM is a top DJ who never would have been famous without Nicole, but being a top DJ gives him indie street cred. And let's face it- Mandy Moore definitely needs to add a little edge to her bubble gum persona." Ah, mutual use-ification.