The Chicago-based hard-rock outfit The Last Vegas earned a spot on Motley Crue’s current tour thanks to a “battle of the bands” competition sponsored by musical instrument retailer Guitar Center. Since then, the band has been produced by Crue bassist Nikki Sixx and famed producer Marty Frederiksen (Aerosmith, Metallica). The band’s single, “I’m Bad,” is already creating an online buzz as the band prepares for it’s full-length release later this spring. Known for a sound that harkens back to classic rock’s no-frills golden days, you’ll get to see The Last Vegas perform at The BJCC Arena on Sunday, February 22. The show is a quadruple-bill featuring Motley Crue, The Last Vegas, Hinder and Theory Of A Deadman. Recently, the Weekly’s Brent Thompson spoke to Vegas frontman Chad Cherry by phone.\
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BT: Chad, thanks for your time today. If you will, talk about the process that landed The Last Vegas on the current Motley Crue tour.\
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CC: Actually, Guitar Center hooked it up. It was something we got through them – it was pretty sweet. We did a couple of shows with some other bands and Motley Crue hand-picked us to go on the road with them. I’ve been listening to those guys since I was a little kid and I still listen to them. We’re going to do a two-month tour with them.\
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BT: If you will, talk about the recording process for your upcoming album.\
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CC: We’re doing a full-on record – let me tell you, it’s rock & roll. It’s going to kick you in the teeth. We’re recording at Marty Frederiksen’s house – he’s worked with Aerosmith, Metallica – you name it. We’re all on the same page – it’s brilliant.\
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BT: If you will, talk about building your career in the age of iTunes, satellite radio and the Internet.\
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CC: It’s beneficial for any band that wants to get their name out there, even if you’re just starting out or if you’ve been at it for years. Rock & roll is a really hard business and it’s hard to get your foot in the door. If you can use the Internet to promote yourself and get your name out there, then more power to you. We’ve been called a throwback to classic rock & roll, but that doesn’t mean that we don’t want to use technology to let people know we’re out there. You’ve got to change with the times or you’ll become a dinosaur.\
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BT: What are your plans following the tour with Motley Crue?\
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CC: We’re going to take a 30-second break (laughs) and the record’s coming out hopefully in mid-April. We’ll hit the road again to support that. We’ll probably be touring for the rest of 2009.\
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BT: Nikki Sixx has produced some of your songs. Have you been awestruck working so closely with him?\
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CC: I’ve had that question asked to me a couple of times, but Nikki doesn’t really put it out there that way. We just get down to it and started working. He is larger than life, but it’s like he’s in the band. He and I are on the same page – we’re both freaks – and it works out really well.\
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Tickets to the 6:30 p.m. show are $25-$89.50 and can be purchased at www.ticketmaster.com.