Playboy May 2004

COVER STORY Whenever Pam Anderson appears in PLAYBOY she causes Pamdemonium. But we've conducted drills and are prepared to handle all the accolades we'll get for photographer Stephen Wayda's sexy pictorial. One thing's for certain: Pam's still a VIP. Our Rabbit loves to play footsie. FEATURES 66 GUNNING FOR THE BIG GUY For our exclusive report on the BALCO steroids bust, PLAYBOY gained unlimited access to the investigation's key undercover narcotics cop. Find out why an IRS agent appeared to be hell-bent on bringing down Barry Bonds, what the narc learned after he bench-pressed his way into the home run hero's inner circle and how this landmark investigation was almost derailed by a near-death experience. BY JONATHAN LITTMAN 80 RAISING THE BAR Meet the world's five best mixologists, men and women who are turning the age-old job of bartending into fine art and high science. They've updated classic cocktails for today's generation—and we have their secret recipes. BY JAIME WOLF 88 SEX PISTOLS Welcome to the golden age of the vibrator—the pulsating playthings have never been more popular or more advanced. We decided to take a closer look, so we filled our intrepid author's home with nearly every buzz toy on the market and asked her and her girlfriends to give them a whirl. It's the ultimate road test. BY ANNA DAVID 108 DEATH AND DISHONOR On July 14, 2003 five veterans of the most brutal battle of the Iraq war celebrated their recent return home at a Georgia strip club. Hours later one of the soldiers disappeared without a trace. His father, a former military man, set off to find the truth. He discovered a shocking tale of brutality and betrayal. What could turn former platoon mates against one another? The answers may lie in the blood-drenched streets of Iraq. BY MARK BOAL 121 CENTERFOLDS ON SEX: ANGELA MELINI Angela gives tips on the art of the approach. Sharpen your skills. 122 20Q: MATTHEW PERRY Friends has ended, but the actor who played Chandler isn't content to sit collecting residuals from reruns. Currently starring in The Whole Ten Yards, he reveals how it feels to be one of the 100 richest celebrities in the world, what he must see on TV and how hard it was to talk Amanda Peet into taking off her top. BY ROBERT CRANE FICTION 84 SEE YOU IN PARADISE A nice guy gets involved with a rich man's daughter. When the father forces him into working for the family business in the Caribbean, life's anything but a beach. BY J. ROBERT LENNON INTERVIEW 59 JOHNNY DEPP In Fear and Loathing in Las Vegas, Ed Wood and What's Eating Gilbert Grape, Depp specialized in playing misfits. In real life Depp specialized in getting liquored up, arrested and involved with the likes of Winona Ryder and Kate Moss. Now with an Oscar nomination and a $300 million hit under his belt, Depp has emerged at 40 as the hottest actor in Hollywood. Is he a changed man? In his most revealing interview to date, the rebel actor talks frankly about his life as an exile, a dad and a former boozehound. BY BERNARD WEINRAUB PICTORIALS 72 REMEMBERING HELMUT NEWTON He was a master of nude photography. In a tribute to the late visionary, we look back at some of his most striking PLAYBOY photos. 94 PLAYMATE: NICOLE WHITEHEAD This gorgeous pilot will take you to dizzying heights. 124 PAM ANDERSON Stripperella takes it all off. NOTES AND NEWS 13 HAPPY HOLIDAYS WITH HEF Hef and his sexy elves celebrate XXXmas with Nic Cage, Steve Van Zandt and Thora Birch. 51 THE PLAYBOY FORUM A chat with the man behind Bush's environmental plan and a bird's-eye history of the finger. 155 PLAYMATE NEWS Victoria Fuller goes pop on the art world and three zingers about Nikki Ziering. DEPARTMENTS 5 PLAYBILL 17 DEAR PLAYBOY 21 AFTER HOURS 40 PLAYBOY TV 41 PLAYBOY.COM 43 MANTRACK 47 THE PLAYBOY ADVISOR 106 PARTY JOKES 143 WHERE AND HOW TO BUY 159 ON THE SCENE 160 GRAPEVINE 162 POTPOURRI FASHION 114 DRESSING THE PART Six of Hollywood's next big things model clothes worthy of a red-carpet premiere. BY JOSEPH DE ACETIS REVIEWS 31 MOVIES Man on Fire is hot; Van Helsing is a vonderful vampire hunter; it won't hurt to watch The Punisher 33 DVDS Cut through The Last Samurai and Kill Bill Vol. 1; topless Teri Hatcher is a super woman. 34 MUSIC Open your ears to Dilated Peoples; Blondie's back. 36 GAMES ESPN Major League Baseball steps up to the plate; score with a sexy pixel named Emma. 38 BOOKS Eventide is a smooth sail; a history of getting high; X-rated posters to add to your video collection.