Today: Guns & Roses, Tomorrow: Def Leppard, And Then...Van Halen?

It’s a great time in Las Vegas for 80’s heavy metal fans. First Hard Rock Casino brought you Motley Crue. Sure Vince Neil couldn’t sing more then two songs in a row, but it was MOTLEY F’N CRUE! Now they’re bringing a residency featuring Guns N Roses. Sure it’s just Axl Rose singing karaoke with a live band, but still…it’s GUNS N F’N ROSES!

Next March Hard Rock will bring Def Leppard to Vegas for a brief residency.

According to USA Today, Def Leppard will begin performing at Hard Rock’s The Joint on March 22. “We’re very happy to be part of what I call the first wave of rockers to take Vegas back from the lounge singers — Wayne Newton and his type,” singer Elliott told USA Today. Being dubbed Viva Hysteria!, the residency will find Def Leppard performing the album Hysteria in its entirety.

That’s right, DEF F’N LEP is coming to Vegas to perform Hysteria which was by far their best selling album. That’s about as cool as the Crue and GnR and should continue to bring the aging LA rockers in from Los Angeles to the Hard Rock. That’s the Hard Rock’s demo, the shows are selling well and people are having fun. Let it be.

So who’s next? A quick look at the 100 best selling albums from the 80’s on Amazon gives us a few ideas.

ACDC – Nope. They still tour internationally.
Dire Straits – Nope. The masses don’t care.
Bon Jovi – Nah. They’d probably do an acoustic/countryish thing for more money even though I’d like a Slippery When Wet show.
Van Halen – DING DING DING. We think we have a winner.

It seems as if the talent bookers at Hard Rock are just going down the list of best selling hard rock and heavy metal bands looking for their next resident and I think Van Halen would be perfect.

No matter who’s singing for the band they wreak of what the HRC used to be. They’re also one of the last remaining big selling hard rock bands that may do a residency since they’re based in Los Angeles and still trying to make money as a band (see last year’s release).

Besides, I know I’ve heard people say VAN F’N HALEN before and that’s really all you need to play at the Hard Rock.

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