Las Vegas Weekly

January 5, 2010 · 11:07 AM

Photo Gallery: Darling Stilettos on the road to residency

By Robin Leach

Darling Stilettos perform at the Las Vegas Hilton on Jan. 2, 2010.

Photo: Tom Donoghue/www.donoghuephotography.com

One moment, the Las Vegas Hilton showroom was saying a fond farewell to the smooth pop sounds of Barry Manilow, and the next, it was welcoming the rock- and sex-fueled manic music of drummer Matt Sorum’s Darling Stilettos.

(Now that his five-year Hilton contract has expired, Barry is moving to the Strip and starts a new headline residency run at the Paris in early March.)

It was the second Las Vegas concert in 10 days for the legendary member of Velvet Revolver, Guns ’n’ Roses and The Cult, among others, but this time around, Matt’s not the star attraction: He’s the manager and backup musician.

“We’re looking for a regular home in Vegas,” Matt told our contributing photographer Tom Donoghue, who shot this fiery photo gallery over the weekend. “This is rock ’n’ roll a go-go, and it belongs in Vegas. The two were meant for each other.”

I’d talked previously with Matt, at the recent Lady Gaga concert in The Pearl Concert Theater in the Palms, about his plans for his girlfriend Ace Harper’s group. Darling Stilettos played the Palms Lounge showroom the same weekend in their first Las Vegas showcase while Matt Goss was on a short break from the lounge.

Now with the second successful showcase wrapped up, Matt is confident that they’ll have a permanent weekend home here soon. “The crowds were great, and their enthusiasm for what we’re doing was fantastic,” he said. “They love the girls, and they love the music.”

Former Dallas Cowboys cheerleader Ace, who has been dating Matt for five years, is the lead singer of the group of four of the sexiest singer-dancers you’ve ever seen or heard. Ace, Gina, Lindsey and Allie take their audiences on a very sexy journey through 1970s and ’80s rock classics.

Matt plays backup drums for the shows, and guitarist Nick Perri of Shinedown, Perry Ferrell and Silvertide fame completes the lineup.

Matt told me: “It’s a nonstop, high-energy show, with the girls taking a breath only when they change outfits. I love what they’re doing. Some people will immediately think Pussycat Dolls, but when they actually see the show, it’s completely different because we’re focused on the journey of classic rock with ’70s and ’80s music.

“Yes, it’s four gorgeous girls singing and dancing, but in never-ending costume changes, and these are real rock stars in their own right.”

Tom told me: “They had the crowd smiling, screaming and shouting. It was a rockin’ good show.”

Vegas DeLuxe will follow the progress of Darling Stilettos and post the news when they land their residency.

Robin Leach has been a journalist for more than 50 years and has spent the past decade giving readers the inside scoop on Las Vegas, the world’s premier platinum playground.

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