CHEAP TRICK CLOSE TO VEGAS HEADLINER DEAL:

Interesting news from the Las Vegas Review Journal: "The iconic American rock band Cheap Trick is close to finalizing a headliner deal with the Las Vegas Hilton that would feature the group performing The Beatles' epic album "Sgt. Pepper's Lonely Hearts Club Band" live with a full orchestra. Word has it their performances could begin as soon as March and stretch throughout 2009.

Cheap Trick's original members would be involved in the exclusive agreement with the Hilton. The band has sold 20 million records and produced 29 movie sound tracks. They hit it big in 1979 when "I Want You to Want Me" peaked at No. 7 on Billboard's Top 40. "The Flame" topped the charts in 1988 and their cover of Elvis Presley's "Don't Be Cruel" reached No. 4 a couple of months later. VH1 listed Cheap Trick No. 25 among the "100 Greatest Artists of Hard Rock."

Count me in! My daughter's boyfriend's uncle is the general manager of the Vegas Hilton - maybe I can swindle a meet?

My dad used to look exactly like the drummer for Cheap Trick. He was mistaken for him in public all the time.

This would be a must see for me if their playing when I'm there in late June.

This is pretty sad, considering the group's "iconic" stature.
"Exclusive agreement with the Hilton"?Good God, what has become of this bands rock n roll spirit? These kinds of deals should be reserved for acts such as Celine Dion and Donny & Marie.
I wonder if they'll wear the Sgt. Pepper outfits.

"Surrender" indeed!

Anthony, I know know how you feel, Hopefully and I expect this to be not a consecutive run but a exclusive type of thing.

As mentioned in a previous thread, I saw Cheap Trick in November in Clearwater, FlL with the Florida orchestra doing Sgt.Pepper's for charity and it was a knock out.
This exclusive Las Vegas engagement will allow others like JohnG, DanO and others see how great Cheap Trick has pulled this off! With that said, they have recorded a new album to follow "Rockville' and I am sure they will continue to exceed our expectations. I Love Cheap Trick! And I know you do with your echoed concerns.

Rick A.

If the Beacon Theater was in Las Vegas would the Allman Brothers be considered sellouts for playing their exclusive engagements there?

The money here is green too - the bands get paid - good music gets heard - people have fun. If Phish can play the "White Album", Cheap Trick can certainly play "Sgt. Pepper". I could never understand this way of thinking. The band makes money, the fans have a good time.

I don't think there's enough appeal here to sustain an ongoing show, but hey, it's not my money...

Bands are certainly entitled to make money any way they can, and different fans enjoy different things. When The Allmans play The Beacon, they play their stuff their way.As a Cheap Trick fan, I hope for more from them than this, but that may be my problem, and I didn't use the word "sellout".
I'm sure they'll do well and put on a wonderful show, which I hope you enjoy.

I think the traditional rock and roll lifestyle -- record, tour, repeat -- is a pretty tough one to maintain after a certain age, especially if you're trying to maintain a stable family life. They say it's why so many actors of a certain age stop making movies and do TV for a while. You get to live in one place, wake up in your own bed, see your kids every day. Finding a way to continue to play good music and make money when you're not young and hot is tough. I expect we'll see more experimentation in this line.