No David Bowie in Vegas
July 6, 2007 | 9:53
am
I guess my excitement at the idea of David Bowie having a permanent show in
Las Vegas was premature. I suspected as much. But now it's official. Bowie's management got back to me and has put to rest the reports of
the star being in the midst of planning a show in Vegas in partnership with AEG
Live. Bowie's office e-mails:
"Bowie is constantly approached by various promoters and hotels in Las
Vegas for a permanent show. At the current time there are no active negotiations
with any party."
I guess I will have to keep waiting for the return of the thin white duke
to this desert city.
I think you were off in your previous article about Bowie. He DOES have the hits. Nothing from the last 20 years to be sure, but his incredibly fertile period from 1972-1984 could sustain a show no problem. The big problem with him or any other classic rock act I feel, is, do they have a fan base that will come out to the desert year in year out to see them? Probably not.
Also, classic rock fans might be put off in seeing one of their childhood icons doing the "Vegas thing". There's no stigma for Celine Dion or Barry Manilow or Cher, or even Elton John. But if the likes of Tom Petty, Queen, et al started doing it, cries of "sellout!" might automatically follow.
David Bowie with a huge multimedia production stage show could certainly pack them in for 20-30 shows a year, but you'd have to sell him to a new crowd -- one that's not necessarily familiar with the name. A show that would cost that much would be an iffy proposition.
Posted by: seth janklowicz | July 07, 2007 at 08:11 AM