Adam Steck didn’t just walk into “Ikons of Rock.” He first circled this concept for years.
SPI Entertainment’s founder has watched ensemble tribute shows perform at varying degrees of success. “Legends in Concert” ran for 38 years in Las Vegas before performing its last show in town at the Orleans Showroom in July 2023.
Steck has even considered, then balked at, bringing an updated version into the Strat Theater as recently as December, when series founder John Stuart died and the current producers were in Las Vegas for his celebration of life.
Another “Legends”-style tribute that caught Steck’s eye was “The World’s Greatest Rock Show” at the Strat Theater, which ran from 2017 to 2020. This was a Dick Feeney production (the veteran producer who has “MJ Live” and “The Rat Pack Is Back” running in Las Vegas). The show was solid onstage but soft in sales.
“I thought, ‘There are so many tributes out there,’ ” Steck said recently. “Then I heard about ‘Ikons,’ and I was curious about it. I saw some social media posts about it.”
Steck caught the show during its run at the Hard Rock Cafe on the Strip.
“I saw it and said, ‘This is actually amazing. It’s really, really good,’ ” Steck said. “I had known (co-producer) Steve Arnold for years. I met with all the cast. I just wanted to make sure I felt a good vibe from them before I moved forward.”
Powerful roster
The hotel has a tribute pedigree, having hosted several similarly styled shows, including “American Superstars,” which ran from April 1996 to March 2011; “The World’s Greatest Rock Show” from 2017 to 2020; and “MJ Live” from 2015 to ’21.
Steck has operated the venue since May 2021. The adult-comedy revue “Rouge” runs at 9 p.m. daily. “Ikons” now occupies The Strat’s choice 7 p.m. slot, dark Mondays. The show is impressively and surprisingly high-tech, with The Strat’s wraparound videos, pyro, stage smoke, full costuming and a powerful cast.
Darren Moore, the “Ikons” co-creator, plays several lead singers, among them Paul Stanley in the Kiss segment, Ozzy Osbourne and Alice Cooper. Moore is a member of the Canadian Music Hall of Fame band Harlequin and is a veteran film, TV and recording artist. Drew Hart, a highlight of “World’s Greatest Rock Show,” whose battery seems always at full capacity, leads the Motley Crue, Bon Jovi and Journey sections. Christelle Dussault, a touring artist and songwriter who has worked with hit-making team The Matrix; and Rachel Kline, who has performed in Vegas for five years, including a stint with tribute act Rock 702 Band, performs the Heart, Pat Benatar and Joan Jett leads.
The musicians alternate. Chris Cicchino, Todd Kerns, Nanette Fortier, Andy Gerold, Kurt Krezaski and Darcell Labiuk are great players in the Strat production and on tour.
Playing the hits
The show rotates its acts in a keep-’em-guessing strategy.
“The marketing is going to be, ‘Hey, you never know who you’re going to see,’ ” Steck says. “But it won’t matter because you will know all the songs.”
The production has stockpiled Kiss favorites “Detroit Rock City” and “Rock N Roll All Nite,” Pat Benatar’s “Hit Me With Your Best Shot,” Def Leppard’s “Pour Some Sugar on Me” and “Hysteria,” and Ozzy Osbourne’s “Crazy Train” and “No More Tears.” Journey’s “Open Arms” and “Don’t Stop Believin’,” Joan Jett with some “I Love Rock ’n’ Roll,” Alice Cooper’s “School’s Out” and a Motley Crue medley highlighted by “Girls, Girls, Girls” are in the shuffling production numbers.
Moore, who relishes and has nearly perfected his onstage roles, has run the show on tour. Steck’s company is also a partner in that production. The vision is to establish a hard rock brand in and out of Las Vegas.
“ ‘Ikons of Rock’ was built to give audiences the full arena concert experience up close, with the authenticity and musicianship these legendary artists deserve,” Moore says.
‘Iconic tower’
The show’s $61.03 base ticket price is offset by a limited-time offer (aren’t they all?) for a free Strat Tower admission pass, a $36.95 value. Every direct ticket purchase currently includes that promotion.
“We are selling hundreds of those tickets,” says Steck, who is marketing outside of The Strat’s in-hotel clientele. “This is a cool, iconic building. My theory is, New York City has its Empire State Building; The Strat has this iconic tower. People might not know it’s not in the middle of the Strip, but they want a good excuse to go there. This promotion has just really done the trick.”
“Ikons” and the incoming “Now You See Me” magic show are the two major shows at the about-600 capacity scale opening on the Strip by the end of the year. Business has been stagnant for several shows in that range for more than a year.
“We are seeing good occupancy rates for October, which is a good indicator for us,” Steck says. “We are hoping that Vegas shifts back to where it used to be.” When it does, “Ikons” will be ready to play.
John Katsilometes’ column runs daily in the A section. Contact him at [email protected]. Follow @johnnykats on X, @JohnnyKats1 on Instagram.