Lucky fans have a drink on Rod at Caesars
Rod Stewart fans got a bonus after his Sunday performance at the Colosseum at Caesars Palace.
The British crooner invited the crowd to join him for a libation at Gordon Ramsay Pub & Grill, a scone's throw from the entrance of the Colosseum.
Several hundred took him up on the offer and were doubly treated when Stewart showed up with some friends. Also there were soccer fans wearing Scotland's Celtic Football Club jerseys. Stewart had tweeted earlier in the week that he would buy a beer at Ramsay's pub for anyone wearing a Celtic jersey to celebrate "a very successful @CaesarsPalace run."
He's one of the club's most famous fans. Stewart, 70, was swarmed by his fans, including a group carrying a banner.
His generosity ranks among some of the classier acts by a Las Vegas headliner.
Frank Sinatra is in a class by himself, not just for his generosity but by forcing heavily segregated Las Vegas to back down by threatening to refuse to perform at any venue that practiced segregation.
Celine Dion deserves sainthood for her many acts of kindness here since her arrival at Caesars in 2003. She set the tone during opening week when she took the time to call a dying local teenage girl and comforted her with songs. Like Sinatra, she has pitched in for many a benefit and charity.
I once saw superstar Tom Jones sing until dawn with local performers at a since-shuttered small restaurant and nightclub. Nobody got paid. They did it numerous times, usually for a charity.
There are many stories of Wayne Newton going the extra mile for friends and strangers.
One of my favorites: Newton's friend Bobby Darin went off the rails after the assassination of Robert Kennedy. Then headlining at the Frontier, Darin ordered dinner one night and went berserk when something wasn't to his liking. He picked up a chair and broke a plate glass window. He was fired.
Darin left town and went into seclusion. He camped in his trailer near Big Bear Lake and avoided human contact. He was never the same after Kennedy's death.
Four years later, Newton was performing at Harrah's in Reno when he noticed Darin was the next act to follow him. Close as brothers, they reunited.
Newton asked when Darin was returning to Las Vegas.
"I'm blackballed in Vegas," Darin said.
Newton asked if Darin minded if he intervened on his behalf. Darin said OK.
Newton called Walter Kane, the head of entertainment for the Frontier, which was owned by Howard Hughes.
Newton and Kane were close friends.
"I'm here for a big, big favor," Newton said. Kane listened and said, "Ask me for anything but that."
Newton went all-in. Rehire Darin, Newton pleaded, and "if it's not working, fire me or take whatever out of my contract."
Kane sent the request to Hughes. Darin was rehired.
Britney 'torn'
It could be a negotiating ploy or it could be Britney Spears giving an honest answer.
Either way, she made some headlines at the Teen Choice Awards when she told E! she remains "torn" over how long she wants to continue her highly successful Las Vegas gig.
"I'm not really sure," she told E!'s Marc Malkin. "I haven't made up my mind. I really love doing the show. It's a lot, a lot of fun, but I'm kind of torn right now. I don't really know what I want to do."
She launched her "Piece of Me" residency at The Axis at Planet Hollywood in late December two years ago.
It's no secret Caesars Entertainment has offered a lengthy extension, reportedly two years.
Her 142-show deal concludes concludes New Year's weekend.
She told Malkin she's busy with new music projects.
"We're having fun right now. I'm working with some women who are amazing writers. I have ballads and, of course, dance music — fun, cheeky, sexy stuff."
The scene and heard
The 20th Fetish & Fantasy Halloween Ball will be held at the Hard Rock Hotel. Skyboxes are going for $6,500. ...
With "The Dennis Bono Show" celebrating its 15th year of broadcasting, this reminder: It's free and starts at 2 p.m. every Thursday at the South Point showroom. If you can't make it, you can catch it online anytime at www.TheDennisBonoShow.com.
Sightings
Luxor headliner Carrot Top, catching lunch at Honey Salt on Tuesday. ... Zayn Malik, a former member of One Direction, partied at Foxtail Nightclub in the SLS on Sunday. ... Checking out Branden Powers' newly opened Golden Tiki in Chinatown over the weekend: the Killers' bassist Mark Stoermer, with friends and members of The Jesus and Mary Chain.
The punch line
"Chris Christie said he will top Donald Trump's Iowa State Fair helicopter entrance by riding in on a pony. As a result, all the ponies in Iowa have gone into hiding." — Conan O'Brien
Norm Clarke's column appears Sunday, Monday, Wednesday and Friday. He can be reached at 702-383-0244 or norm@reviewjournal.com. Find more online at www.normclarke.com. On Twitter: @Norm_Clarke.
