For years, Vegas has been the garden of neon, sequins and men painted blue, comedians, crooners and Bette Midler lung-busters. Then along came some limber swingers interpreting the music of the Beatles and Michael Jackson. But for the REAL rock & rollers, not much was happening on the Strip on a regular basis. Until now.
Las Vegas has finally found a home for all those kids who grew up in the sixties and seventies. Those of us who still crank up Zeppelin and AC/DC still love music that was made with the rawness that ProTools has essentially rubbed out, and still cling to all the nuances that only a vinyl record can hold. Finally we have a steady home amidst the glitter and martinis. Welcome to Raiding The Rock Vault.
“It’s a show about the history of classic rock,” former Heart and current Rock Vault guitar player Howard Leese explained to me last year. “The background story starts in 1948 and shows the roots of rock & roll. We start playing music circa 1965 with The Who’s ‘My Generation.’ And we play songs from every year and it shows the growth of the music and how the music affects society and how the world changed as the music changed.”
Created by former Asia vocalist John Payne with the help of producer David Kershenbaum, Raiding The Rock Vault is currently hailed as one of the top attractions to see in the Nevada oasis by Trip Advisor and that assessment sums it up pretty spot on. This should be your first stop when hitting the city that never sleeps; and it wouldn’t hurt to catch it again before you leave. It’s full of energy, great songs reinterpreted by some kick ass musicians, all sharing the stage and having so much fun that you can’t help but have fun with them. You actually leave wanting more.
When I took my seat at the LVH (which just changed it’s name to the Westgate Las Vegas), there was much excitement sparking in the air. The almost sold-out crowd consisted of young and old and many ages in between. But what made the show even more fun was that you felt a part of it. Everyone was singing, dancing by their seats, even high-fiving the musicians. These songs, people connected with. There was history there, both personal and universal. The setlist may change a bit every few months to give a new jolt of entertainment but these are the songs that chronicle our lives. They make up the soundtracks to first loves and thirty year anniversaries. They conjure up days when freedom was indeed another word for nothing left to lose; when “I hope I die before I get old” was the ultimate rebellious snarl to parental authority who wanted their offspring to become responsible adults, have kids, grow old.
Playing on the concept of a time capsule, a rock vault actually, found in the year 3012, actors walk us through different time periods important to rock & roll, intertwining them with the historical events that many among us participated in, such as the Vietnam War. These mini-skits are prominently scattered throughout the course of the show to help us get the feel of each moment in time. “We looked for the songs that exemplified each year,” Leese clarified. “We looked at, what was the greatest song that had the most impact each year and it just sort of goes in chronological order.” Opening with The Who’s “My Generation,” the band sweeps through the classic rock arsenal with a genuine love for what they are performing.
Featuring three main singers: Rough Cutt’s Paul Shortino, MSG’s Robin McAuley and Lynch Mob’s Andrew Freeman, the songs are in safe vocal cords, as all three men have the range and versatility to handle songs by such icons as Jim Morrison, Robert Plant and Brian Johnson. Add in to the mix the exceptional Carol-Lyn Liddle handling Ann Wilson and Pat Benatar rockers and you’ve got yourself one heck of a rock show just on those artists alone. But the meat and potatoes of every band is, well, the band.
Newcomer to the gang is Whitesnake’s Doug Aldrich, taking a breathtaking rendezvous through “Stairway To Heaven” and Jimi Hendrix’s “Star Spangled Banner.” This man is not all abs and a pretty face. His chops define what rock guitar is all about. Put him next to Leese and the combination is outstanding. [my interview with Aldrich follows this article]
No one is a minor player at the Rock Vault. Michael T. Ross knows how to lay down some strong keyboards, giving the others a perfect foundation to walk upon. And drummer Jay Schellen is hot on the drums, tirelessly adding the beat and rhythm that all songs are based on and without would simply fall apart. Mark Boals, best known for singing with Yngwie Malmsteen, sang a few songs at the show I attended, and former Bon Jovi bass player Hugh McDonald also sat in and has now become an official part of the family. Other special guests in the past have included Starship’s Mickey Thomas, LA Guns’ Tracii Guns, who actually sat in for a tenure, Foreigner’s Lou Gramm, Rainbow’s Joe Lynn Turner and Jon Anderson of Yes.
But what about the songs? “We do a couple of medleys with bits of songs, and a lot of full-length songs. We try to do the songs as safely to the original recording as we can … And every time we have a guest, we’ll do a couple of his songs,” said Leese. “You’ve heard these songs a million times but until you actually figure out how to play it, you really don’t know it. So it’s been a voyage of exploration and I’m learning some cool stuff that other people have done. One of the songs that is interesting is The Doors’ ‘Light My Fire.’ I did learn that solo when I was fifteen. I used to see The Doors in LA, I grew up in LA, and I used to see them. So that was such a big hit, I naturally learned that guitar solo. So for this show I just had to remember it, cause it was quite a while ago. So it’s kind of fun to go back and figure this stuff out and play it properly. People really like that we do some of the stuff just exactly perfect.”
On the night I had the pleasure of observing this full-length production last month, I heard “Light My Fire,” “Jukebox Hero,” “Smoke On The Water,” “Honky Tonk Women,” “Stairway To Heaven,” “Livin’ On A Prayer,” “Separate Ways,” “All Along The Watchtower,” “Here I Go Again,” “Highway To Hell,” “Alone,” “Hotel California” (where the musicians came out in Las Vegas Wranglers hockey jerseys), “Addicted To Love,” “Dream On,” “Stayin’ Alive,” and “Another Brick In The Wall,” among others. And they ended with a fun-filled “Jump,” bringing members of the audience up on stage to sing with them.
So if I had to sum up in one word the experience of attending Raiding The Rock Vault, I would have to say exciting. It’s a non-stop magic carpet ride through OUR music, performed by musicians and singers who are more than talented enough and personable enough to make the songs fresh and invigorating – nothing is cringe-worthy – and for an hour or so, you forget about Steven Tyler and Pete Townshend and David Lee Roth, and just live the songs with these guys. Raiding The Rock Vault could simply be the best time you’ll have in Las Vegas.
Before the Rock Vault show, I sat down with guitar player Doug Aldrich. He had recently officially announced his departure from Whitesnake but was excited about his future.
Ok, let’s get the big question out of the way: You officially announced you were leaving Whitesnake. How hard was it for you to come to that decision?
Really, I wasn’t looking to leave Whitesnake. I didn’t want to leave Whitesnake. It just came down to I needed a little bit more flexibility in my schedule and it didn’t work with Whitesnake’s schedule and that’s it. It was very hard. I love David, I love the guys, I’d do anything to help them. It just came down to schedules. I mean, I’ve been there a thousand percent for Whitesnake but I just needed it to be a little bit more loose. I’m in the middle of, not only Raiding The Rock Vault residency which is great, but some other projects, some sessions that I agreed to do last year and, you know, eventually it would all have gotten sorted out and I figured everything would be fine and I would end up doing the next project and I’d worry about touring next year, you know, when there is a tour for Whitesnake. But it just wasn’t meant to be. It got to the point where it was just not going to be workable for either side. David is my bro. If there is any kind of tension, it just bums me out. So I just decided I’d rather just step aside and let him do what he needs to do and I think he was probably bummed about it but these things happen.
How did you get involved With Raiding The Rock Vault? Who pulled you in?
In 2011, John Payne called me and said, “Hey, I’m putting a show together. I got this idea I’ve been working on with some guys and I would like you to play guitar on it.” And I said, “Who is in it, who is involved?” And he goes, “I’m still kind of piecing it together but I want you to play guitar and be the main guy, or whatever.” I was like, “Ah, that is really cool. When is it?” It was just one show and it turned out that it was going to be like a couple weeks of rehearsal and then filming and all that other stuff for this one show and it was in the springtime and Whitesnake was getting ready to tour. Or we were doing something, I can’t remember what it was. But either way, I couldn’t do it. There was no way I could fit it in. Once again, schedule stuff with Whitesnake. So he called me last year and said, “Hey, we’re thinking about getting a new guitar player. Would you like to hang with us for a couple months and join the cast? You could either join full-time or you could do like once a week every couple of months or something.” And I said, “No, let’s just try it.” At first I was blown away by how involved a production like this is, cause obviously a production with a rock band like Whitesnake or anybody, it’s a big deal. But I didn’t have so many costume changes or choreography. This is a different situation. It’s almost like a real theater show.
Was it easy to adjust to it?
No, I’m still trying to work on it but it’s getting better and better and it’s a lot of fun and I really dig it. Playing for different people every night and not having to travel is amazing.
How long are you locked in?
Anything can change but at the moment I’m agreeing to indefinitely. As far as I know, we’re going to be at this hotel for the rest of the year and maybe some time next year. I don’t know yet about that but I’m into it. I’ve got a few things I’ve got to do. I’ve got to travel a little bit here and there for some stuff on my own.
Howard does that with Bad Company so it’s doable.
Yeah, it’s doable. I’ve got the Burning Rain band and we’ve got some offers for tours. It would be short tours. The other thing is that my son lives with me so I just want to be with him. I don’t mind going on tour but I want to be able to take him with me or maybe would just go on shorter tours. I just don’t want to be away from him. He needs his dad. He deserves my attention. I’ve been away from him so much working on Whitesnake records, tours and whatever. I was always away. So now I’m able to play and I’ve got this gig that is super fun and I’ve got time to do all these other projects. I mean, it was a trying period the last couple of weeks. I was still kind of like, am I really not in Whitesnake? But that’s the way it is. I had to make a decision that was going to be good for everybody. And hopefully that was the right one.
What song did you have the hardest time trying to learn?
That was “Stairway To Heaven” because (1) I love Jimmy Page so much and I don’t play like him but I found a way to kind of do my own style like him as a tribute kind of thing. But also that double-neck guitar is a real bastard. It’s so hard to get comfortable with the two necks. It’s just bizarre when you actually have it strapped on and you’re going from twelve-string to a six-string. It’s pretty intense. And then the way it’s wired, you have to decide which neck and which pickup and you get it confused sometimes. So that was a real ballbreaker trying to get that together. So that was probably the hardest one. And then there are a lot of different tones on that song. So I’m still getting it down.
What song do you have the most fun playing?
I don’t know, I really love “My Generation.” Actually, I will say this, I think my favorite song right now is “Watchtower.” I love playing that. I’ve never done it and I’m playing stuff I’ve never played before and that song is just really cool. It feels great.
You and Howard fit so well together.
I’ve been here a few months now, three months, whatever, but I think that as you play with somebody and time goes on you start to gel together and you find out where his strength is and my strength is this and then we’ll work together on it. And knowing how somebody’s feel is, it’s something that just takes a little time. When Howard left and he went to go do a Paul Rodgers gig the first time, Jason Boyleston came in and it was like, wow, it’s totally different playing with another guy. Anyways, it’s been great and I love playing with Howard. He’s like a real musical genius. He’s the MD on this gig. But the main point is that I wanted to come in to the show and kick it in the ass. I don’t want it to be like a really safe thing, you know. When I play guitar, when I play with Whitesnake, I fucking play like I mean it. And I do that with this (holds his guitar up). I’m trying to put my own stamp on the guitar parts that I do and it’s been fun. It’s really a challenge, something I never did.
Speaking of guitars, I hear you are doing something with Gibson.
Yeah, I can say that I’ve been fortunate to work with Gibson on some stuff recently and I happened to pick up one of their guitars. It’s called a Signature, a Les Paul Signature, and it’s kind of a little bit new age Les Paul, cause it’s got a thing called an E-tune system that is programmable tuning. So it comes with twelve different tunings in it. Like, for example, here is your main tuning (plays guitar) but then you have a Drop D (strums). All these different tunings are programmed in and you can just go Bzzzp and the tuners just go bzzzzp and they automatically tune. It’s pretty cool. And you can program your own tunings and have it remember them. So I’ve been really digging that. And the other thing is it’s got a booster switch, just a silly thing that kind of makes the guitar louder and the thing that has really been fun is sometimes I’m away from my pedals and I need a little bit more gas and I hit that switch and the guitar just starts flying. It’s just got a lot of cool things. It’s basically a real workhorse Les Paul. I’m kind of old school as far as I love my guitars to look and feel like vintage guitars. But this is like a new technology for Gibson and they asked me to check it out, so I picked one up and I dig it. It’s awesome.
And you’re working on any other projects as well?
Yeah, Burning Rain is working on songs and I’m doing a session with, well, I can’t actually say yet, but I’m doing a session for Frontiers that I’m really excited about with some guys that you will definitely know.
Live photographs by Jo Anna Jackson
For more of my prior interview with Howard Leese, check here
