Here we go...

http://www.reviewjournal....04439.html

"The rumored arrival of Prince as a nightclub operator at the Rio is raising questions: How far he will take his spirituality in free-wheeling Las Vegas?

As a Jehovah's Witness convert, would he continue his door-to-door conversion efforts in Sin City?

There are rumblings that he intends to charge $31.21 for admission on most nights [note: one report stated admin would be $125 on nights he performed, $31 otherwise]. Is that a coincidence or, as some suggest, a biblical reference? His most recent album, released in March, was titled "3121."

The four-time Grammy winner reportedly has finalized a deal to open a nightclub in the Rio's former Club Rio space.

When he's not performing at the club, still-unnamed, Prince reportedly plans to use the club to showcase artists he has signed to a label.

The only information on his new Web site, 3121.com, is a graphic showing the silhouette of the Rio.

The irony is not lost on producer Greg Thompson, whose topless revue "Erocktica," was given two-days notice Friday. The show closed Sunday.

"I find it kind of interesting that Jehovah has come to Las Vegas to cleanse Sin City of sex, sweat and rock 'n' roll," he said, a reference to a line used in ads to market "Erocktika."

CBS reportedly has signed Prince to perform at the 2007 Super Bowl in Miami."


Personally, as long as it's not really overbearing, I don't care when he 'preaches'. I can go all Charlie Brown and only hear "wah wah wah" if need be and go get a drink. As long as I get to hear the music and lay my eyes on him, it's all good.

Regarding the other show closing, the girl in the earlier article said revues are closing left and right, so it's not only the Rio. The types of shows run in cycles, revues come and go constantly in Vegas.

Found this review about the Eroktica show, it may have been time to go, maybe it wasn't pulling in good crowds. Also, notice its ticket prices.

http://www.koat.com/trave...etail.html

UPDATED: 9:07 am MDT August 9, 2005

"You have to give show creator Greg Thompson credit for trying something different with the topless show formula.

His successful "Skintight" at Harrah's puts an erotic spin on things with sexy vignettes featuring both female and male dancers. While "Erocktica" at the Rio isn't quite as interesting, it certainly is unique.

It's the only topless show in town with live singing and a full rock band, in this case US/UK, a heavy metal-ish group playing faithful (and really, really loud) covers of everything from "I Love Rock & Roll" to "Walk this Way" to "Born to Be Wild" and beyond. Think Alice Cooper, the Rolling Stones, AC/DC, KISS, Aerosmith and the like and you'll be in the general ballpark with the music choices. The four guys in the band do a lot with a couple of guitars and a drum kit, throwing themselves into the medley of greatest hard rocking hits with gusto. It's loud, like a good rock show should be (as they warn at the beginning, "If it's too loud, you're too old"), but come prepared with ear plugs if you are even the least bit volume sensitive.

The vocal duties are shared by the band and the show's stars, Gabriella Versace and Raymond "Ray-J" Jones. He's fine, if a bit over-the-top theatrically, and she was obviously hired for assets other than her singing voice, which was a bit limited in range. Although I will admit she did a terrific cover of Pat Benatar's "Heartbreaker," some of the other selections didn't quite make it.

Backing the band (literally -- the musicians are up front and the dancers behind them) is a group of comely lasses strutting their stuff in a variety of rock-and-roll style get-ups. There's a lot of shaking and shimmying -- even a stripper's pole -- and some decent choreography, but really it's all just an excuse to look at topless women while listening to rock music. It's like early MTV, only with bare breasts.

Some of the set pieces are a bit disturbing. I know it seems silly to complain about misogyny in a topless show, which many would argue is misogynistic by definition, but the vignettes involving Versace being dressed up in a slutty wedding-style dress complete with collar and chain by another woman in a tuxedo, then strapped to a St. Mark's-style cross backstage while stripped by a pair of leather-clad men verges on stomach-churning.

And the part when the band takes a break and pre-taped music is piped in was just out of place. I enjoy Christina Aguilera and Beyonce as much as the next guy, but it just didn't work here.

But, OK, the women are beautiful -- in that strip club kind of way -- and while I didn't find any of it particularly erotic, I'm not exactly what you'd call the target audience for this kind of show.

Ultimately, I'm torn by this one. It gets big bonus points for trying something different with the topless show genre, but credit subtracted for not doing it as successfully as it probably could have.

Erocktica
Rio All-Suite Hotel and Casino
3700 W. Flamingo Rd.
Las Vegas, NV 89103
Wed. through Mon., 10 p.m.
Tickets: $49.95, plus tax

Vegas4Visitors Grade: B-"

Jehovah's Witnesses who are active in the faith go from door-to-door wherever they live.

Celebrities are not excluded from that.

However, Prince closing down a strip show doesn't mean he is trying to 'convert' Vegas. What it DOES mean is that he does not feel comfortable running a strip joint while he is in charge of a club.

That's all. To think that Prince is expecting to somehow 'convert' all of Vegas is simplistic and stupid.

All Prince is doing is making sure HIS house is clean.

In addition, Jehovah's Witnesses have been in Vegas for years and years doing their ministry work as they do in almost every other country and place in the world. 'Jehovah' is not 'coming' to Vegas. He was already there (in more ways than one).

Prince usually makes one or 2 comments about religion during his shows but even these days he's hardly what I would call preachy in concert. It's just an assumed view about him that isn't actually based on facts. And I think there will be lots of sweat and rock 'n' roll when Prince puts on his show, so he's hardly eradicating much!

Despite most people's reservations about this Vegas gig, it is sounding more and more like one of his old Glam Slam clubs where they play a lot of Prince music and have associated acts when he's not there and occasionally turning upto peform impromptu relaxed un-formulated sets.

I dont know about yall but Im happy for him

I don't know what the big deal is concerning Vegas in general. Prince has always taken the norm and twisted it with inspiration and creativity to create something new and that in usually extraordinary. Granted Vegas healining for 3-4 months would not have been on my list of things to do but then again lets see what happens. I don't thing he will fall into the usual, customary and obvious trappings of previous acts, he's unique. As far as preaching goes, anyting is possible but given his last few years of appearances the music still rules and dominates!

Is it possible that it wasn't Prince himself that closed the show, but the dealmaker/head honcho decided to do it as a business move. Maybe the show wasn't doing well, and/or they decided that there wasn't room for them and all the Prince deal would have wanted. Maybe they just booted them b/c the Prince deal was waaaayyy more lucrative. It's all about money in business.

Oh, forgot to say, thanks Serena!
[Edited 10/24/06 5:54am]

hokie1 said:

I kind of thought that the topless revue and where Prince will perform were the one and same stage, if they are having it as a Prince space all the time clearly the revue had to be shut down eventually. So even more so it is not about Prince coming to town and trying to shut these type of revues down but merely the hotel owner making space for his new act.

Freat the sooner it's started the sooner it's over, I'm getting sick of hearing about it!

metalorange said:

this line of thinking seems to make the most sense to me. The article was reaching big time! sounds like Greg Thompson is just upset that his show got squashed and is lashing out at Prince and showing his religious intolerance at the same time.

basically Prince had the money rent out the Rio for himself because he wants to be there, not because he wanted to shut down a crappy show

Just found this little tidbit also:

http://journals.aol.com/r...eLifeVegas

"The one-named pop-icon Prince is back on the late-night Vegas party scene. He turned up with his gal-pal at PURE in Caesars and royally commanded the Red Room just for the two of them as he sipped on port. Next night, he and his girlfriend sipped only water as they stayed at Tangerine until 4:30AM, watching the bumpin' grindin' dance floor action but not once moving to cut up the rug!"

hokie1 said:

You're welcome and I agree, it's not Prince closing it down, it's the Rio making a change. It sounds like his NPGMC VIP room is being brought to life and I can't wait to see it!!

Very interesting stuff, It's just way out of my league, Oh how i would love to take a trip to vegas but at this time in my life I dont c it happening for me. To all that get to c the show, jam out for me! Looking forward to the superbowl tho! Peace and Love

Prince is not responsible for Erotika's closing other then they needed the show room in order for him to have a space to perform.

DanceWme said:

I'm with you! Whatever makes him happy

This part is what I find most interesting...what artists are currently signed to NPG? (I'm presuming that's the label being referred to...)

Are we looking at a bunch of new people that, face it, will probably be kinda mediocre or some "old friends" like Sheila, Rhonda, Maceo, The Time, even Chaka, Larry Graham, or dare I say, W&L?





.
[Edited 10/24/06 10:11am]

I gotta find a way to get to vegas.

Prince has become a bottom feeder, what a washed up little man he is. Take your ass to Canada and live free!

Vegas...Here I come!

I hope he performs during the time I attend the org Vegas meetup in April

does it really matter that the strip show is removed? i mean- who's gonna notice if one strip show is removed from vegas? i KNOW there's gonna be others around. and maybe he doesn't want to have topless women around when he's assciated with a nightclub. sheez- i'm sorry prince has a bit of respect to those who come for the music.

tznekbsbfrvr said:

Well, they had to go to free up the room - but I'm sure it matters to the girls.

So that's why I propose the 'Adopt A Stripper' Campaign. One would sure brighten up my house. Any takers?

Yes!!! Vegas here I come.

http://vegasblog.latimes...._nigh.html


Prince the Nightclub King?

Details are starting to leak out about Prince's plans with the Rio. It looks like Purple One will be taking over a nightclub in the Club Rio space where he will present talent from his label and band roster. How many times Prince himself will appear to perform is unclear. Norm Clarke of the Review-Journal reports that matching the title of his last disc 3121, the club will have a cover charge of $31.21.

Norm also reports speculation that 3121 refers to a biblical citation and wonders how the converted Jehovah's Witness will fit into Sin City. I actually think 3121 is a reference to the street address of the house Prince rented for recording some of that disc's tracks. But regardless, God and sex have always mingled freely in Prince's songs in ways that to traditionalists would not be acceptable for a Christian artist. As for his secular fans, they want the hits, good new songs, stinging guitar, Prince's charismatic stage presence and no more movies like "Graffiti Bridge."

The problem I see with this plan is not getting people in the door for a Prince concert, but getting a crowd on the nights Prince isn't playing (which will be most nights). Prince has musically elite tastes from another era that aren't nearly as popular as his own music: classic slow jams, R&B and funk. Prince merges all these genres into great pop hits, but the audience for the unadulterated original music that inspired Prince does not overlap much with club kids. His few stabs at rap and hip-hop have been embarrassments, so I wouldn't expect much of that sort of music at his nightclub.

When I was living in Minneapolis in the '90s, Prince was involved in opening a nightclub called Glam Slam. I went there a few times over the years and outside of a tiny core group of regulars, it was mostly empty, with folks wandering around hoping to catch sight of Prince. Glam Slam was created as a fantasy club out of a Prince universe of images and music that simply did not have broad enough appeal in the Midwest.

Obviously, Las Vegas is a much bigger market for nightclubs, but the essential problem remains: Prince's tastes, even more than his music, are out of step with the times. As a Las Vegas headliner, Prince would be a tremendous success in Las Vegas. But his style, music and taste are all products of another era for a nightclub. Nostalgia is great for headliners with many hits like Prince but it is never a good thing in Las Vegas nightclubs, which derive their vibe by being forward-thinking and looking for the next, newest and hottest of trends.

Serena said:

Vegas is so cheesy!

Kissmequick said:

Interesting points. I guess we will see if he actually can pull it off.

Some-ones gotta fill the void left over from Sigfreid & Roy.

Okay, here is proof that I have spent ENTIRELY TOO MUCH ENERGY thinking about this Vegas thing and hoping something official happens soon...


Before I begin, let me just clarify that I have not read this thread...

I haven't spent much time at all on the org in the past 4+ days.


Last night I had a dreamthat there was "buzz" that the deal w/ Prince and the Rio was getting closer to happening....The proof? The dancers in the Erotica show were being laid off as of Monday...the club was shutting down for renovation and Prince taking over was one step closer to becoming a reality.


How realistic was the dream??? The dancers were on Access Hollywood lamenting about the trend to close the erotic dancing revues in Las Vegas. "The revue shows are closing left and right." "I know of several shows that have closed in the last few months."







Just to CLARIFY....I am not stating this as fact...I'm laughing at my own dream.