The questions, and the answers, from ‘Sgt. Pepper Live’ at Paris Las Vegas

By John Katsilometes

Sunday, June 13, 2010 | 12:18 p.m.

Questions you might have, and I know I did, as Cheap Trick's "Sgt. Pepper Live" returns to Las Vegas at Paris Theatre:

Where's Bun E.? At the hop! (That is a joke ripped off from John Lennon, actually, when he recorded "I'm Losing You" with Cheap Trick.) In fact, the most noticeable change in the production from its previous incarnation at the Las Vegas Hilton is that Bun E. Carlos is not playing drums. This is remarkable because he has been Cheap Trick's drummer for, well, ever. Rick Nielsen's son Daxx played Saturday, and Daxx is a genuine rocker, so no dip in musicianship there. But it begs the question, "Eh?"

The explanation is that Carlos is off with Taylor Hanson (long of Hanson), Smashing Pumpkins guitarist James Iha and Fountains of Wayne bass player Adam Schlesinger in Tinted Windows. It was announced last year that Carlos no longer was Cheap Trick's touring drummer, and this does count as a touring effort, as it is onstage. I'm told Carlos might rotate into the show in Vegas, but he's not listed anywhere in the show's program.

White is to Robin Zander as black was to ... Johnny Cash. Zander even wears white leather pants. He is the white spy from Mad magazine.

How many guitar picks did Rick Nielsen toss into the audience or about the stage? Easily 100.

Is he still about the coolest guy ever? Oh yeah.

This orange Cheap Trick pick — did I actually catch that? No, Ron Futrell gave it to me. He caught two.

They played several Cheap Trick songs, right? Please tell me "Surrender" was among them. Yes, as were "I Want You to Want Me," "Dream Police" and "Smile."

What was the best non-vocal musical moment? "The Flame?" All orchestra. Even so, that was the song in my head when I walked out.

Was that the irrepressible Beth Lano on French horn? And the equally irrepressible Lisa Viscuglia on violin? Yes indeedy.

Will naming those musicians specifically lead to requests from other musicians and backing vocalists to also be named? Yes, and we'll do that sporadically.

Did the sitarists find their way back to the production? Yes, for "Within You Without You," and I did learn something — there are different styles of sitars. Some have many knobs, others have but three knobs.

What goes through your head as Zander sings, "When I'm 64?" That Paul McCartney, who wrote the song at age 16 and recorded it at age 24, turns 68 on Friday.

What was the best treatment of a "Sgt. Pepper" song? "A Day in the Life," with the orchestra roaring to the song's conclusion.

What was the best treatment of a non-"Sgt. Pepper" song? "All You Need Is Love," under a blizzard of white paper hearts. You know it's a high-caliber production when you get home and you have white hearts in your shoes.

What did producer Bill Edwards say when I asked, "Are you bringing this show back next year?" "I hope so!"

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