Las Vegas Sun

March 29, 2024

LOOKING IN ON: ENTERTAINMENT

It's the British Invasion redux.

A few of the most recognizable names and groups from Great Britain who helped alter the direction of rock 'n' roll in the United States in the '60s will perform in Las Vegas this weekend and next.

The Rolling Stones. The Who. Herman's Hermits with Peter Noone. Well, the Hermits may not have had the impact of the Stones and The Who, but they will always be remembered for such pop-rock hits as "I'm Henry the VIII, I Am" and "Mrs. Brown, You've Got a Lovely Daughter."

The Who

The Who will be the first to wade ashore, with a concert tonight at Mandalay Bay Events Center.

Original members Peter Townshend and Roger Daltrey will be accompanied by John "Rabbit" Bundrick on keyboards, Pino Palladino on bass, Zak Starkey (Ringo Starr's son) on drums and Simon Townshend (Pete's younger brother) on guitar and vocals.

The group's longtime bassist John Entwistle (1962-2002) died in Las Vegas in 2002 at the Hard Rock Hotel.

The Who, famous for their powerful music and energy onstage, will perform songs from their new mini-rock opera, "Wire & Glass," material from their new album "Endless Wire" and some of their greatest hits.

The Pretenders, an English punk group that has been around since '78, opens the show.

Details: The Who; 8 p.m. tonight ; Mandalay Bay Events Center; $61.85-$240.35; 632-7777

The Rolling Stones

The Rolling Stones, who have remained a rock 'n' roll force since hitting the stage in the early '60s, will perform at the MGM Grand Garden Arena on Saturday.

The group released its first hit in 1964 - a cover of Buddy Holly's "Not Fade Away." The Stones followed with a string of original hits - "Tell Me (You're Coming Back)," "The Last Time," "Jumpin' Jack Flash," "Honky Tonk Woman," "Brown Sugar," "Start Me Up" and the signature "(I Can't Get No) Satisfaction." The band continues to stake a claim as the "world's greatest rock 'n' roll band."

The Stones have released more than three dozen albums, including last year's "A Bigger Bang."

Bonnie Raitt is opening for the Stones in Las Vegas and Los Angeles.

Details: The Rolling Stones; 8 p.m. Saturday ; MGM Grand Garden Arena; $131.25-$472.50; 891-7777

Herman's Hermits

Herman's Hermits featuring lead singer Peter Noone follows in the shadows of the two rock giants, performing at the Cannery on Nov. 18.

The group became international favorites in the mid-1960s with such feel-good songs as "Mrs. Brown, You've got a Lovely Daughter" and "(What a) Wonderful World."

Details: Herman's Hermits starring Peter Noone; 8 p.m. Nov. 18; The Cannery's The Club; $19.95; 507-5700

The Four Lads

The Four Lads?

Yep. The Lads, along with The Diamonds, will perform at the JW Marriott (Rampart hotel) in the Grand Ballroom at 8 p.m. Sunday .

Quite a coincidence, a couple of the sort of harmonizing groups in town the same week as the sort of rock groups that eclipsed their careers.

The Four Lads began singing in Toronto nightclubs in 1950. Their first gold record was "Istanbul (Not Constantinople)" in 1953. The Lads followed it with "Moments to Remember," "No, Not Much" and "Standin' on the Corner."

The Diamonds are another Canadian pop quartet that found fame in the mid-1950s to early '60s but couldn't withstand the relentless push of rock. The group's first hit was "Little Darlin'," followed by "The Stroll," "She Say," "Silhouettes," "Church Bells May Ring" and "Why Do Fools Fall in Love."

Details: The Four Lads and The Diamonds; 8 p.m. Sunday ; JW Marriott's Grand Ballroom, 221 N. Rampart Blvd.; $20; 869-7777

archive