The entertainment scene past week was marked by Metallica owning up to the cluster that was the onsale for the upcoming “Life Burns Faster” residency at Sphere.
We had complaints of fans stuck in queues of more than 300,000 fans, prices ranging form $700-$3,000 and technical issues that kicked fans out of the process during presale.
Tickets went on sale to the general public March 6. All shows officially sold out within minutes on the official sales platform, Ticketmaster. As is the case, fans can find tickets available on such secondary market sites as StubHub and SeatGeek. The “get-in” prices are about $1,000, rising to more than $3,000. Advice to fans: Keep the radar up for a pack of released tickets as the October dates draw closer.
Metallica responded on social media by thanking fans for “a record-breaking week” of response for the 24 shows. The band also teased that at Sphere extension is possible:
“At this point in time, we will not be adding additional shows, but we are hoping to offer more in the future. In the meantime, we hear you loud and clear, that the ticket-buying process was not always smooth. We’re working with out partners to improve this experience and offer some remedies for the next time around.”
That “next time around” caught our attention. The 24 dates are Oct. 1 through March 13, 2027. would not get jumpy about about more dates next year. The band is reportedly at its self-enforced limit of 25 total dates next year. But ‘28 is open, if you’re patient. By then, the ticketing issues should be smoothed out (we are relentlessly optimistic).
Clinton-Holmes returns
Kelly Clinton-Holmes is moving her variety show to the Italian American Club Showroom on April 15 and April 19. “Kelly Clinton Live at The Italian American Club,” appropriately titled, runs two Wednesdays each month. Appetisers, desserts and a full bar is offered at 6:30 p.m. Go to IACLasVegas.com.
‘SNL’ alumni, Zappa booked
Chris Kattan and Horatio Sanz are heading up a unique (in so many ways) bill at Aliante’s Access Showroom on May 23.
The “Saturday Night Live” alumni join host Ahmet Zappa, son of rock legend Frank Zappa, along with Chris Gass (“King of Queens,” “Family Guy,” “Sex and the City,” “The Howard Stern Show”) and Rudy Pavich.
The latter is the stand-up and podcaster famous for winning a grade-school talent show with a stand up set he stole from A&E’s “Evening at the Improv.” This is his own assessment.
We met Zappa the summer of 2024, when he was a member of the creative team for Jerry Lewis’s “The Nutty Professor” musical that played a five-week run at Hale Centre Theater in Utah.
The “SNL”-driven show is the latest project from Alice Goldstein Entertainment, which is also behind the “Totally ’80s” show at The Strat on June 6. This is one-stop shopping for Missing Persons Prescott Niles’ The Knack, Bow Wow Wow and Tommy Tutone.
Stamos in the house
Actor/musician John Stamos and his wife, Caitlin; and comic buddy Jeff Ross ducked into Delilah’s Bubble Brunch on March 7. This was for some “recuperative food” after a weekend at Stamos’ buddy Scott Sartiano’s Zero Bond and Sartiano Steakhouse at the Wynn.
Stamos was reunited with guitarist John Wedemeyer from the Beach Boys. Stamos also met up with sax great Rob Stone, a regular on stage at Delilah and a member of John Fogerty’s band. Skye Dee Miles, long a column favorite, sings in these 1o:30 a.m. and 1 p.m. events..
Little’s back
Rich Little, one of the last remaining members of 1970s-era of Vegas headliners, is back in regular rotation. The legendary impressionist returns to Laugh Factory at Horseshoe on April 6. His shows run 6:30 p.m. Mondays through Sundays.
Toupee pays off
Terry Fator was invited to participate in Saturday’s St. Baldrick’s Foundation shaving event at New York’s Brooklyn Bridge. As usual, he was not alone.
Fator planned to bring his Walter T. Airdale puppet, as the figure is bald (like, Dr. Phil-style bald). Bowing to shtick, the ventriloquial star also brought a toupee he’d previously used for his Justin Bieber puppet.
Fator took the stage with the hairpiece-wearing Walter T., a convincing enough look. We’ve seen worse rugs on the Strip, just this weekend.
Fator’s wife/manager, Angie, shaved a little bit of the fake hair, then pulled off the wig to show the puppet’s bald head. Those who hadn’t seen Fator’s act busted up. It was some weird, wild stuff. Fator should write the bit into his act when he returns to South Point Showroom in April 21-23.
Clinton-Holmes returns
Kelly Clinton-Holmes is moving her variety show to the Italian American Club Showroom on April 15 and April 19. “Kelly Clinton Live at The Italian American Club,” appropriately titled, runs two Wednesdays each month.
The shows follow the format Clinton-Holmes employed for two years at The Composers Room at Historic Commercial Center, where she closed last month.
Appetisers, desserts and a full bar is offered at 6:30 p.m. Go to IACLasVegas.com for intel.
Clinton-Holmes’ departure opens a slot at TCR for …
Miranda’s ‘Spotlight’
Vegas vocalist and able talent recruiter Julian Miranda has opened hist Thursday night “Vegas Talent Spotlight” from 7-9 p.m Thursdays. Miranda’s show alternates weeks, with a rotation of local entertainers. Go to thecomposersroom.com for intel.
Tease this …
A superstar DJ is making an off-Strip premiere in the spring, specifics to be announced soon. This is an inspired booking …
John Katsilometes’ column runs daily in the A section. Contact him at [email protected]. Follow @johnnykats on X, @JohnnyKats1 on Instagram.