Kevin Cronin, Ian Anderson, Ted Lange
Sept. 18, 2014- 6-7pm PST 1230AM KLAV in LV & The Web
Audio of interviews posted below (Scroll down)
Iconic Lead Singer of REO Speedwagon Kevin Cronin guests on Las Vegas Backstage Talk with Comedian Michele LaFong.
“Keep On Loving You” rockers REO Speedwagon will bring nearly 40 years of hits to the Orleans Showroom September 19-20.
Loosely formed in 1967 playing frat parties at the University of Illinois, REO Speedwagon signed with Epic Records in 1971. The band released nine albums throughout the ‘70s, culminating with the twice-platinum “You Can Tune a Piano but You Can’t Tuna Fish” in 1978.
REO Speedwagon exploded to the top of the charts, setting the bar for other rock bands with their 1980 release “Hi Infidelity.” The colossal hit spent 15 weeks at #1 on the Billboard 200, selling more than 10 million copies. The group’s most commercially successful album, it remained on the charts for 65 weeks and spawned the #1 single “Keep On Loving You” as well as hits “Take It on the Run,” “In Your Letter” and “Don’t Let Him Go.”
The band continued releasing hit albums into the ‘80s, including 1984’s “Wheels Are Turnin’” and its #1 single “Can’t Fight This Feeling.” REO Speedwagon released “Find Your Own Way Home,” their 15th studio album, in 2007. Two years later, they teamed up with fellow Midwestern rockers Styx for the single “Can’t Stop Rockin’,” which became the title track for the groups’ hit summer tour with .38 Special.
The current lineup includes founding member Neal Doughty, iconic lead singer Kevin Cronin, longtime bass player Bruce Hall, former Ted Nugent guitarist Dave Amato and former Wang Chung drummer Bryan Hitt.
Ian Anderson (Jethro Tull)
Legendary Prog Pioneer Ian Anderson guests on Las Vegas Backstage Talk.
A sequel to Thick as a Brick (1972), entitled Thick as a Brick 2, was released on 3 April 2012. It is billed as being performed by Jethro Tull’s Ian Anderson instead of being a Tull album proper. Anderson is currently on tour performing both albums in their entirety. A trailer for the newer TAAB album is posted on YouTube.
Anderson played the flute on the track “Cannonball” by The Darkness on their 2012 album, Hot Cakes.
Congratulations on your new album release Homo Erraticus.-a concept album blending rock, folk, and metal music.
Ian Anderson at at Palms Sept. 19.
Ted Lange
Actor/Director Ted Lange guests on LVBST with Comedian Michele LaFong.
Comedian Jeff Wayne, will be performing his one-man show, “Big Daddy’s Barbeque,” for one day only at the Starbright Theater, 2215 Thomas Ryan Blvd., Summerlin, Sunday, Sept. 21.
The Los Angeles Times says this show is “Ferociously funny.” Variety dubbed the show “a one-man riot.” NPR says, “Jeff Wayne has an attitude like Al Bundy, this guy is laughs plus!” Wayne spent many hours researching barbeques, as he began writing the show. Once it was on paper he went to his friend, Ted Lange, who is best remembered as, Isaac (the bartender) on the television series, “The Love Boat,” and asked him if he would direct the show. Lange has kept busy since the “Boat” years directing movies. He just completed filming 26 episodes of “Mr. Box Office,” starring Jon Lovitz, and will be on the “Love Boat” float in the annual Rose Bowl Parade.
The plot of the show is simple: Jeff plays a letter carrier on his day off. He has his weekly barbeque, where he invites his friends over (the audience), and as he cooks Wayne pontificates and opines. “They say you should cut down on red meat, I stopped using Ketchup.” And he tells his audience about the lady we never see but her presence permeates, his XX-wife Phyllis. “Yes we were married, divorced and then I remarried, I wanted my house back!” There is a problem at today’s barbeque, Phyllis has been given tickets to the opera, and she wants to go. Big Daddy doesn’t. Many critics have had the same response, “it’s like watching Ralph and Alice Kramden in the “Honeymooners,” as Big Daddy tries to laugh, sing and dance his way out of going to the opera.
Wayne was always a funny kid, and as soon as he was able to leave Kentucky, Jeff traveled west to learn how to make people laugh, eventually landing at the world famous Comedy Store in Hollywood. A seasoned veteran today, Wayne continues to perform his stand-up comedy at clubs, colleges, cruise lines, and on all the top television shows such as HBO, Showtime, A&E, Fox, and Comedy Central. The late Joe Delaney, of The Las Vegas Sun, tagged him as a “blue collar Lenny Bruce.”
Show time will be at 3:00 p.m., Sunday Sept. 21.call the theater box-office at 702-240-1301.
Rod Man, Al Bernstein, The Lennon Sisters
Sept. 11, 2014- 6-7pm PST 1230AM KLAV in LV & The Web
Audio of interviews posted below (Scroll down)
NBC’s Last Comic Standing winner Rod Man guests on Las Vegas Backstage Talk with Comedian Michele LaFong.
Rod’s television appearances include “Def Comedy Jam”, “Bet’s Comic View” and “Showtime at the Apollo”. Most recently, Rod appeared on “Premium Blend” on Comedy Central as well as the dvd’s “Big Black Comedy Show vol. 2” with Monique and “P. Diddy’s Bad Boys of Comedy”. He has been featured in the films “Love Chronicles” and “Player’s Ball”.
Rod has become an award-winning, quintessential entertainer. He has graced the stage at Caesar’s Place, The Gibson Amphitheater, and The Apollo Theater. Comedy Central gave him his own half hour special. And he has made many other television appearances, among them “The Bad Boys of Comedy” for HBO, Martin Lawrence’s “First Amendment” for Starz, Nick Cannon’s “Wild ‘N Out” for MTV, “One Mic Stand” for BET, “The Funny Spot” for TV One, and “The World Stands Up” for BBC America and The Monique Show. Rod can be seen on the big screen in Judd Apatow’s “Funny People” starring Adam Sandler and Seth Rogen for Universal Pictures.He even co-hosted a morning drive-time show in Los Angeles on Stevie Wonder owned KJLH Radio 102.3 FM
Rod Man is headlining at The Aliante Casino in The Comedians from “Last Comic Standing” with runner-up Lachlan Patterson, and Mark Normand on Sept. 13, 8pm & 10:30pm.
Al Bernstein
2012 International Boxing Hall of Fame Inductee Al Bernstein returns on LVBST. He will be covering the Mayweather vs. Maidana fight for Showtime at MGM on Sept. 13.
For just over 30 years, Al Bernstein has been one of the most recognizable and respected sportscasters in America. In those three decades, the “voice of boxing” reported the funny, poignant, and bizarre events that helped shape sports television, ESPN, boxing, Las Vegas, and Showtime. With an eclectic cast of characters that includes every big name in boxing, including Marvin Hagler, Mike Tyson, Floyd Mayweather and Manny Pacquiao, as well as such names in the entertainment world as Rodney Dangerfield, Sylvester Stallone, Russell Crowe, and Jerry Lewis, Bernstein’s memoir will have you in stitches.
Al Bernstein’s book, 30 Years, 30 Undeniable Truths about Sports, Boxing and TV,” and has already received a great reception. People from the sports, entertainment and media world are talking about this book. Talks about female broadcasters, tells his “Mike Tyson story,”
The Lennon Sisters
Kathy Lennon, of The Lennon Sisters, guests on LV backstage Talk with Comedian Michele LaFong.
The Lennon Sisters made their TV debut on Christmas Eve 1955 on “The Lawrence Welk Show” when youngest member Janet was just nine years old. Following their successful debut, Welk professionally adopted the girls and The Lennon Sisters became regulars on the program every Saturday night for the next 13 years.
Later, the sisters entered the music scene with their first hit, “Tonight, You Belong to Me” reaching #15 on the charts in 1956. Labeled “America’s Sweethearts of Song,” they recorded their first album, “Let’s Get Acquainted,” in May of 1957.
In 1961, the group’s single “Sad Movies (Make Me Cry)” reached #1, becoming their highest charting record. Other popular recordings include “Scarlet Ribbons,” “Greensleeves,” and Schubert’s “Ave Maria.”
Throughout the ‘70s, The Lennon Sisters toured extensively and made regular performances on “The Andy Williams Show.” The group also appeared on “Family Feud,” “Hollywood Squares” and “Tattletales.”
The Lennon Sisters are comprised of original members Janet and Kathy and younger sister Mimi.
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Susie Essman, Lachlan Patterson
Sept. 4, 2014- 6-7pm PST 1230AM KLAV in LV & The Web
Audio of interviews posted below (Scroll down)
Susie Essman guests on Las Vegas Backstage Talk radio show with Comedian Michele LaFong.
Susie Essman has played the sassy Susie Greene for all eight seasons of the critically-acclaimed HBO comedy series, Curb Your Enthusiasm. The Los Angeles Times calls Susie, “The most lyrical purveyor of profanity on television.” She has appeared in her own half-hour HBO comedy special, made numerous appearances on Late Night with Conan O’Brien, The View, and Crank Yankers.
Susie Essman is appearing at the Sands Showroom at The Venetian as part of the Lipshtick series: Saturday, Sept. 6: 7:30pm
For more about Susie go to www.susieessman.com
Lachlan Patterson
Recently Lachlan was on NBC’s hit competition show “Last Comic Standing”. Patterson’s signature style moved him through to the finals and was announced the runner up. While on the show he received high praises from this season’s celebrity judges Keenan Wayans, Russell Peters, and Roseanne Barr. “So funny. So great. Your writing is fantastic and your delivery is one of a kind. I think you could take this whole show” says LCS judge Rosanne Barr. Even Russell Peters mentioned he’d love to go on tour with Lachlan.
This hilarious stand out comedian other television appearances include “The Tonight Show with Jay Leno,” Comedy Central’s “Live at Gotham,” “Tosh.O.,” the FX comedy “Legit” and VH1’s “Sexiest Artists.”
Lachlan will be appearing at The Aliante Casino on Sept. 13, at 8pm, & 10:30pm in Last Comic Standing with winner Rodman.
For more go to Lachlanpatterson.com
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Rickey Smiley, Jay Siegel’s Tokens
Aug. 21, 2014- 6-7pm PST 1230AM KLAV in LV & The Web
Audio of interviews posted below (Scroll down)
Comedian Rickey Smiley, and Jay Siegel of Jay Siegel’s Tokens guests on Las Vegas Backstage Talk radio show with Comedian Michele LaFong.
A notable “clean” comic, Smiley finds comedy in everyday observations. He brings his cast of beloved original characters with him to Las Vegas, including church lady “Mrs. Bernice Jenkins,” “Lil’ Daryl,” “Joe Willie” and redneck “Beauford.”
Smiley is perhaps most famous for his prank calls, in which he presents absurd situations and cases of mistaken identity in the voices of one or more of his original characters. His six comedy albums of prank calls have garnered favorable reviews.
Star of his own top-rated, nationally syndicated radio show, “The Rickey Smiley Morning Show” is heard on urban radio stations across the country. It features Smiley’s signature prank phone calls, news and music, as well as interviews with entertainers including Kevin Hart, Ne-Yo, Ice Cube and Nicki Minaj.
Taking his comedy talents to the silver screen, Smiley has appeared in films such as “Friday After Next,” “First Sunday,” and “Baggage Claim.” He has also hosted and appeared on “BET’s Comic View” and appeared on “Comedy Central Presents,” as well as HBO’s “Def Comedy Jam” and “Def Comedy Jam: All Stars.” The third season of Smiley’s sitcom “The Rickey Smiley Show” recently aired on TV One.
Jay Siegel’s Tokens
Jay Siegel guests on LVBST. “An Evening of Pop and Doo Wop” Features Jay Siegel’s Tokens, Joey Dee & The Starliters and The Angels.
Jay Seigel’s Tokens are best known for their doo wop hits, “The Lion Sleeps Tonight” and “Tonight I Fell in Love.” The group later expanded into being the first vocal group to help produce singles for other artists, contributing to huge hits like 1962’s “He’s So Fine” by the Chiffons. Later productions include Tony Orlando and Dawn, The Happenings, Randy and The Rainbows, and Robert John. In addition to their contributions to pop music, members of the group have worked on advertising jingles for Clairol, General Foods, Wrigley’s gum, Sunkist, Wendy’s and more.
TweetRudy Ruettiger-LV Backstage Talk w-Michele LaFong
Aug. 7, 2014- 6-7pm PST 1230AM KLAV in LV & The Web
Audio of interviews posted below (Scroll down)
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Rudy Ruettiger guests on Las Vegas Backstage Talk with Comedian Michele LaFong in-studio.
VOICES OF RUDY: THE JOURNEY TO THE MOVIE’ MAKES WORLD PREMIERE AT TROESH STUDIO THEATER IN THE SMITH CENTER
One-Man Show Starring Rudy Ruettiger Shares Inspiring Life Story
TWEET: “Voices of Rudy:The Journey To The Movie” starring Rudy Ruettiger debuts
@TroeshStudioTheater – Smith Center Aug. 9-7 p.m. Tickets $34-$39.
One of the most inspiring movies of our time, “Rudy,” is now a one-man show starring Rudy Ruettiger and will make its world premiere at the Troesh Studio Theater in The Smith Center Saturday, Aug. 9 at 7 p.m.
Ruettiger will entertain and inspire as he shares his life story of how he accomplished his dream of going to Notre Dame and how he convinced Hollywood to make a movie of his life, which earned him an invitation to the White House.
“I am so excited to be a part of such an inspirational project,” said the show’s producer/director Tony Sacca. “Rudy has touched the world with his movie and now he will again touch and inspire people with his one-man play.”
The play will include a multi-media presentation with scenes from the blockbuster movie as well as personnel photos of his family of 14 brothers and sisters. As Ruettiger tells his story, he will share many voices of people who influenced his life as well as naysayers that he confronted on his journey.
Comic impressionist Rich Natole will create some of the celebrity voices such as Bill Clinton when Rudy was invited to the White House and Sylvester Stallone who was among the first to see the screen play and regretted passing on the project after he saw the film and met Ruettiger.
Carnie Wilson, Willie Tyler-Las Vegas Backstage Talk
June 5, 2013- 6-7pm PST 1230AM in LV & The Web
Audio of interviews posted below (Scroll down)
Singer, Talk Show Host- Carnie Wilson, Reality Star, and one of the original founding members of Wilson Phillips returns on Las Vegas Backstage Talk radio show with Comedian Michele LaFong.
Carnie is promoting her upcoming show with Wilson Phillips at The Eastside Cannery on June 7. She updated us on her guest hosting The Talk, her relationship past and present with her father Brian Wilson, her weight struggles, and future career plans.
The daughter of American 1960s pop icon Brian Wilson of The Beach Boys, and his first wife, former singer Marilyn Rovell of The Honeys, she co-founded Wilson Phillips with her younger sister Wendy and childhood friend Chynna Phillips when they were in their teens. They released two albums, Wilson Phillips and Shadows and Light, sold 12 million albums, and charted three No. 1 singles and six top 20 hits before breaking up in 1993. For more:wilsonphillips.com
Wilson Phillips appearing at The Eastside Cannery on Sat., Oct. 5
Willie Tyler & Lester
Willie Tyler and Lester guests live in-studio.
Willie Tyler has appeared in many television commercials, sitcoms, and movies. He got his first big break in 1972 on Rowan & Martin’s Laugh-In.
Tyler has had guest roles in The Parent ‘Hood, Pacific Blue, What’s Happening Now!!, The White Shadow and The Jeffersons, as well as serving as host of the popular Saturday morning children’s anthology series The ABC Weekend Special throughout the early 1980s. He appeared in the 1978 film Coming Home. In addition, he has appeared in television commercials in the 1980s for McDonald’s and Toyota.
He appeared as himself in the 2004 BET Comedy Awards, Frank McKlusky, C.I., For Da Love of Money, In the House, the 4th Annual Black Gold Awards, The 1st Annual Soul Train Music Awards, Motown Returns to the Apollo, Lou Rawls Parade of Stars, Powerhouse, The White Shadow, American Bandstand, Vegetable Soup, The Flip Wilson Show, The Statler Brothers Show, The Hollywood Palace and Match Game. On September 18, 2006, Tyler was the first ventriloquist to appear on the Late Show with David Letterman’s Ventriloquist Week.
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