No "Magicians / Midgets allowed in Rod Stewarts Vegas show

By Phil Gallo Phil Gallo – Fri May 20, 9:21 pm ET
LOS ANGELES (Billboard) – Rod Stewart, 66, firmly embodies the term "musical icon." The hallmarks of his success include performing in such classic bands as the Jeff Beck Group and the Faces and recording his "Great American Songbook" album series. In 2001, Stewart was the first artist to receive the Chopard Diamond Award from the World Music Awards for sales exceeding 100 million records.

On August 24, the London-born singer/songwriter will embark on a new endeavor -- Las Vegas showman -- as he begins a two-year, 52-show residency at the Colosseum at Caesars Palace.

Subtitled "The Hits," Stewart's show will focus on "the songs that made me famous," he said, adding that the rest of the show will be surprises. A 13-piece band will provide plenty of opportunities to explore his standards collections, the 40th anniversaries of two of his landmark albums, "Every Picture Tells a Story" and "Never a Dull Moment," and material that'll be part of the blues-oriented album he's working on with guitarist Jeff Beck.

Billboard: Elton John and Celine Dion designed shows that would only play in Las Vegas. What will you have that's Vegas-only?

Stewart: Nothing. It's a rock'n'roll show. There won't be any magicians or midgets, just a good rock show.

Billboard: When you performed "I Ain't Superstitious" with Jeff Beck at the El Rey Theater in Los Angeles in 2009the first time the two of you were onstage together in more than 30 yearsit seemed like there was plenty of mileage left in your partnership.

Stewart: I think Jeff and I created, though we weren't aware of it at the time, a certain amount of magic in the late 1960s. We weren't always the best of friendswe weren't enemiesbut there's a tremendous amount of respect I have for him. And when you age, no matter what differences you may have had, you become mates again.

Billboard: How far along are you on the blues album you're recording together?

Stewart: It won't be strictly a blues album. It'll be 70% blues: Muddy Waters, Howlin' Wolf tracks, a Jimmy Reed track. But we've updated them quite considerably to make them brand-new. We redid Muddy's "Tiger in Your Tank" -- he's turning in his grave. I think they all will: Little Walter, Jimmy Reed. We've thrown them on their heads, these songs. Jeff and I will have a summit meeting to decide where we're going to go. There's no rush for this album.

Billboard: Sam Cooke's songs -- "Twisting the Night Away," "Having a Party," "Bring It On Home to Me" -- always seem to make it into your sets. What does he mean to you?

Stewart: He was my first hero. When I first heard Cooke, I was working as a gravedigger or silkscreen printer making wallpaper while listening to a small transistor radio. Cooke's voice came out of it and I've been hooked ever since. When I sing a Sam Cooke song, I'm so conscious of trying to sing like him. He's the greatest. No Sam, no Rod. I believe that.

Billboard: Is there any chance of that rumored Faces reunion with Ron Wood?

Stewart: The trouble with Ronnie, we get together and we mess about, but the thing is, he is still committed to the Stones. Talking for myself and the rest of the band, we need a commitment, not just, "Well, I've got next month off." It doesn't work like that. It's not very professional. If he can give us the time, then I'll commit to that as well. Until he's finished with the Stones, whenever that will be, I can't commit to it. I'd love to. I really would love to.

(Editing by Zorianna Kit)

Who ever thought back in the 70's, that these guys, Rod & Elton would be playing Vegas which at that time was considered a joke, Rod is no longer a Rock N Roller, but up there with Wayne Newton as a Vegas act.

This reads like a rock show, where it could have potential. 
I would think that in a years time, the Stewart/Beck lp would
be released, where there could be joint shows.
Have a great time Parmy

Well I'm all for Rod playing some of his early material. Even if it takes a 13 piece band to play it. But he's full of shit talking about the Faces. Ronnie has no comiitments to the Stones. Even if the Stones eventually do decice to tour. It won't be until the mid to latter part of next year. They could have easily scheduled a Faces tour before then.

Nellcote wrote on May 24^th, 2011 at 11:14am:

Well even without a Vegas residency. If the Stones do tour next year. Your still looking at 12-14 months before it happens. The Faces don't need that much time to tour. But don't think even a Road led Faces would do big business.

Rod will always find some BS to get him out of a Faces tour. I don't think he really wants to do it.
Ronnie is his escape goat. IDK. He's seeing the Vegas lights right now with $ signs. 

While I wait for The Faces to really happen I'll read the new book out on the band.

left shoe shuffle wrote on Jun 17^th, 2011 at 3:22pm:

Going to Vegas anytime soon?
You've GOT to snag a ticket to see Rod at The Colosseum - I am so glad I did!

The conventional pomp, pristine Colosseum; where everyone seems to be so prim and proper, and the ushers don't utter a word unless spoken to... got a jolt of rock and roll reality when they invited Rod to grace their stage!  Normal folks (like us) would have never guessed he 'broke the house rules' with what looked to me as one of his typical shows.
On any other night - (as taken from the mouth of a very reliable insider that works at the venue who also upgraded our seats for nothing, I would like to add...)
No cameras - ever!
No cell phones - ever!
No rushing the stage - ever!
No standing, dancing, yelping like a fool - ever!
No entertainer stepping down into the aisles to 'work the room' - NOT EVER, God forbid!!!

Rod said, 'fuck 'em all'!!!  (Celine would have been cursing his dirty-ass ten ways to Sunday in French if she witnessed what Rod had transformed her palace into, lmfao!)

So y'all can forget any worries you might have had thinking Rod was going to 'turn all Vegas' on us... it didn't happen, kids.  He didn't sell his ass out short for one second.  It was pure Rod the Mod.  I was extremely pleased to see his band was with him - It was very fitting he paid homage to Elvis - And he seemed ever so happy to remind us all of his good friend Ronnie Wood (of which there were several shout-outs for our little Stones-muffin that Rod acknowledged and thanked openly) before he piped into 'Stay With Me'.

But my best moment was when he stepped off the stage and walked up our aisle (which shocked the fuck outta everyone; especially security as they obviously were not prepared).  He was so gracious, so sincere, as he stopped and hugged some of the ladies and shook hands with some of the men - I yanked my husband back off of his aisle seat so fucking fast (he didn't realize Rod was coming right at us, but I sure the hell did!) and I had to make my move.  I stepped out into the aisle with opened arms and ol' Rod walked right into them   

Here's a local critic's take:
http://www.lvrj.com/neon/small-changes-make-difference-in-rod-stewart-s-return-1...

http://www.lvrj.com/neon/rod-stewart-planning-for-fun-changes-as-las-vegas-show-...

Before I forget - LJ & SW... Rod is still sporting that 3-row diamond bracelet on his right wrist.  I was in awe of it... goddamn beautiful, it is!