Def Leppard to rock Strip for 12 shows
WHAT do you want? What do you want? I want rock ‘n’ roll. Those lyrics are copped from Def Leppard’s “Rock of Ages,” from the blazing 1983 album “Pyromania,” and they are not randomly applied.
The British rockers are opening a 12-show series at Planet Hollywood Resort in August.
“Def Leppard Hits Vegas: The Sin City Residency” launches Aug. 14 at the Zappos Theater and runs for select dates through Sept. 7 (tickets start at $60, not including fees, and go on sale at 10 a.m. Feb. 22 at ticketmaster.com/defleppard or at the Planet Hollywood box office).
Founded in 1977, Def Leppard will be inducted into the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame on March 29. “The Sin City Residency” comes six years after the band’s “Viva Hysteria” run at The Joint at the Hard Rock Hotel, an 11-show spree in March-april 2013.
“Five years ago, we played our first ever residency in Las Vegas, which was relatively new ground for a rock band giving this kind of experience,” frontman Joe Elliott said in a statement Wednesday morning. “I have to say, we really enjoyed it! Being in one place for the best part of a month is vastly different to our normal city to city touring routine. Breaking this cycle adds another element to the experience for both us and the audience.
“We look forward to seeing you at the Zappos Theater this summer!”
Def Leppard’s lineup for the Strip run is the ever-familiar Elliott as vocalist, Phil Collen (guitar), Rick “Sav” Savage (bass), Vivian Campbell (guitar) and Rick Allen (drums). The band released consecutive, chart-topping albums in the early and mid-1980s, “Pyromania” and “Hysteria,” and classic-rock hits “Rock of Ages,” “Pour Some Sugar on Me” and “Foolin.”
The announcement of the Def Leppard series arrives just a day after the band’s hard-rock contemporaries Aerosmith announced it had tacked on 17 dates to its “Deuces Are Wild” run at Park Theater.
Though Aerosmith is playing 35 dates this year, and both bands are promoted by Live Nation, none of their shows coincide. Still, the booking of two legendary rock bands signals the heightened competition for top acts between Zappos Theater and Park Theater.
This variety of “rock residency” dates at least to Carlos Santana’s extended engagement at The Joint from March 2009-May 2011. In the days when it was known as Aladdin Theatre for the Performing Arts, the Zappos Theater was the primary stage for touring rock acts on the Strip. In fact, a famous rock band riding the success of a top-selling album stopped at the TPA in September 1983 — Def Leppard, touring behind “Pyromania.”
Finding Bigfoot with Canseco
Jose Canseco’s next Bash Brother is Bigfoot.
The former Major League slugger, Las Vegas resident and (yes) Strip stage performer is offering a weekend junket where (maybe) you’ll encounter Bigfoot. All you need to hand over is some time, faith — and $5,000.
A text message from Canseco’s manager and girlfriend Morgan Strelow informs: “Spend the weekend with
Jose for $5,000 cash. Only five lucky individuals will get a golden ticket. Oompa Loompas ain’t got nothing on Bigfoot. Travel in his custom RV to authentic alien sightings and proven Bigfoot habitats. Camp out in the wild. Tell stories and maybe meet a real Bigfoot. You never know what’s gonna happen with Mr. Canseco. Food included. Only serious inquiries please. I will help you book your flights to Vegas and set itineraries.”
This is where we note that Canseco’s own shoe size is “14, maybe 14½,” according to Strelow.
Canseco is asking for 50 percent of the money upfront and the balance upon arrival. His message to prospective travel partners: “Once we have secured our five lucky people, we will work on their schedules to set a date. We are looking at early April.”
Strelow emphasizes, “We are squatcher conservationalists. No harm will be done to any Bigfoots.” Or is it Bigfeet?
Strelow says her phone has been blowing up with interested parties.
Canseco, who hit 462 home runs for seven big-league teams from 1985-2001, can certainly spin some yarns during this odyssey. He was in the lineup for “Renegades,” a storytelling showcase along withex-nflqb Jim Mcmahon and Hall of Fame wideout Terrell Owens, at Cleopatra’s Barge at Caesars Palace from January-march 2018.
One of Canseco’s tales: While he was with the Oakland Athletics, he was late for a game in Anaheim against the then-california Angels. When he arrived at Anaheim Stadium, Canseco said A’s manager Tony La Russa was furious and threatened to bench the star slugger. But when Canseco said he had been with Madonna ,he says La Russa told him, “Get dressed. You’re in the lineup.”
John Katsilometes’ column runs daily in the A section. His Podkats podcast can be found at reviewjournal.com/ podcasts.contact him at jkatsilometes@reviewjournal. com. Follow @johnnykats on Twitter, @Johnnykats1 on Instagram. As of 9 p.m. Wednesday:
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