The Las Vegas Strip has a long history of hosting huge rock band residencies. Aerosmith began its Deuces Are Wild residency at Dolby Live at the Park MGM in April 2019 before needing to cancel dates in June and July 2022 when frontman Steven Tyler reentered a substance abuse treatment program. The band resumed the residency in September 2022 but needed to cancel its final two shows of the residency again in December 2022 over concerns for Tyler's health.
The band later kicked off its Peace Out Farewell Tour Sept. 2, 2023, but had to postpone shows after Tyler injured his larynx on Sept. 9. The band on Sept. 29 said that the tour needed to be postponed to sometime later in 2024, since doctors determined that his injury was more severe than initially thought. There's no word if the band will return to Vegas for another residency.
Popular metal band Mötley Crüe in November 2022 said it plans a third Vegas residency in 2024, but no dates have been announced. The band previously performed residencies in 2012 and 2013 at the Hard Rock Hotel & Casino, Casino.org reported.
Legendary superstar band U2 opened the inaugural residency at Sphere Entertainment's (SPHR) -) Sphere at The Venetian Resort on the Las Vegas Strip on Sept. 29 with a spectacular performance reportedly attended by music royalty and a long Hollywood guest list.
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King of Rock and Roll Elvis Presley may not have been in the house, but Sir Paul McCartney was, according to the Las Vegas Review-Journal, which said U2 frontman Bono called out to the Beatles legend, saying "We've stolen a lot of your songs."
Other music superstars reportedly in attendance included Jon Bon Jovi, Metallica's Lars Ulrich, Dr. Dre, Snoop Dogg, and Katy Perry. Hollywood stars in attendance included Matt Damon, Orlando Bloom, Bryan Cranston, Jon Hamm, Neil Patrick Harris, and Luke Wilson.
Billionaire Amazon (AMZN) -) founder Jeff Bezos also attended.
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U2's residency includes 25 shows for U2/UV Achtung Baby Live at the Sphere, which runs through Dec. 16 and are the band's first live shows since it performed before the Covid pandemic in December 2019. Sphere Entertainment is busy lining up its next residencies to to take the stage at the $2.3 billion Sphere once U2 exits.
Back in April 2023, at the time tickets went on sale for U2's Sphere residency, rumors said that former One Direction member and popular solo artist Harry Styles might be the next performer to take residency at The Sphere after U2 departs. British tabloid The Sun reported that Styles has been offered $50 million for a residency at the new venue, the Review-Journal said.
The reason behind this theory was that Styles had sold about 250,000 tickets for several shows at Madison Square Garden. Styles' manager Full Stop Management, which is reportedly involved in lining up performers for The Sphere, also works as a consultant for one of the venue's partners, Madison Square Garden Entertainment.
People familiar with the Sphere's booking plans are saying that the One Direction lead singer will be the next residency at the Sphere beginning in March 2024. After Styles completes his rumored residency, popular jam band Phish is expected to begin a residency in April 2024, reports said. These rumors might be legitimate, as Sphere Entertainment CEO Jim Dolan said on Sept. 29 that the next two acts at the Sphere will be announced soon, the Review-Journal said.
The biggest surprise to come out of U2's first shows at the Sphere was that the band's guitarist The Edge told members of the Irish media that U2 might extend its residency past December, the Review-Journal said. He said that band could return to the Sphere in 2024, along with drummer Larry Mullen Jr. possibly returning to the band. Mullen is on hiatus from the band because of injury.
