Son singing as dad in tribute act

Neil Wharton isn't usually confused with his dad, unless he wants to be. And he wants to be this weekend, when he sings as Vince Neil in a Motley Crue tribute band.

Generation Swine plays in the bar area next to the Vince Neil Ink tattoo parlor at O'Sheas casino Friday and Saturday, in free 7 p.m. warm-up parties -- or substitutes, if you don't have tickets -- for the weekend Crue concerts at the Hard Rock Hotel.

"I'm kind of like the Everyman's rock 'n' roll kid," says the 30-year-old Wharton, who works full time as a warehouse manager in Los Angeles. "I've never asked my dad for anything in my life. I like the fact that I'm not dependent on him. I don't like the (image of the) stereotypical rock star's kid. ... I've got bills like everybody else."

One thing Wharton didn't stay away from was music, though his interests lean more toward punk rock than the Crue's brand of '80s pop metal. But when Swine frontman Rob Gebhard was sidelined by a heart attack last summer, Wharton answered the call to follow in his dad's footsteps.

Wharton says he does it "just to raise money for charity," specifically the Skylar Neil Foundation that honors his sister, who died of cancer in 1995. Wharton says he sees his dad five to 10 times a year. Does he get pointers on how to do the act?

"We have talked about it a few times, but it's not really a big thing. He knows I'm doing it for the charity and he supports it," Wharton says. But, he adds, since he started doing the tribute act, "it's not fun for me to go see him anymore. When I go to their shows it's like I'm doing homework."

Wharton was born when his dad was a teenager, before the Crue hit it big. That means he wasn't around much, but "I can't blame the guy," he says. "If you were 18 years old and you had the keys to the world handed to you, you could stay home and be a proper dad, or you can go out and live your dream that you know is the one chance you have. What are you going to do? You can't blame people for that. I would do it in a second." ...

And speaking of hair metal, the Las Vegas Hilton goes all in to celebrate the era with "Monster Circus," a new revue combining a house band of seasoned '80s metal vets with dancers, circus acts and visiting guest stars.

It all sounds a lot like the old Beacher's Madhouse at the Hard Rock Hotel, substituting rockers for comedians. Especially when you consider that the plan is to have it run in three-night stints twice each month. It starts March 19, with regular tickets $36-$66 and VIP tickets at $86. The co-producer is Tim Molyneux, whose "Bite" at the Stratosphere betrays a distinct hair-metal influence. ...

Tickets for Disney's "The Lion King" go on sale Feb. 28, with a special event from 7 to 10 a.m. to stir up excitement by offering soundtrack CDs and other prizes to those who line up early at Mandalay Bay.

Regular ticket prices are $53, $86 and $113.50, including tax and service fees. There is a VIP ticket for $168.50 that includes souvenirs and other perks. The previous musical, "Mamma Mia!" sold tickets in the similar range of $49.50 to $110, and made routine use of same-day discount outlets. ...

Elton John slams the lid down on "The Red Piano" with a final show April 22 at Caesars Palace. Tickets for all April shows go on sale today.

The pop legend, who also is here this weekend, committed himself to 75 shows over 18 months when he opened in February 2004. But he kept going and will have done 241 by the time he bows out. ...

There is an option that falls between losing money and flat giving up: the long vacation. The "Ice" revue returns to the Riviera on Monday, and "Crazy Girls" on Wednesday after choosing to sit out the ugly battle that was called January. The "Crazy Girls" used some of that time to spruce up their promotional Web site with new video. ...

Marie Osmond is closer to a goal she has had since moving to the Las Vegas Valley: Doing a syndicated talk show from the Strip by day and her live Flamingo show with brother, Donny, by night.

During a recent convention of television executives, Program Partners announced the simply titled "Marie" had signed up enough stations to go on the air in 70 percent of U.S. markets next fall. However, the announcement didn't go so far as to say absolutely the show would originate from Las Vegas.

A spokeswoman for the producers says that will "most likely" be the case, but logistics still are being worked out.

What's the hang-up? Probably the guests.

Past talk shows that tried to spend more than a week here discovered it's easy to seat a wildly enthusiastic audience, but tougher to consistently shuttle guests to the Strip. So unless Osmond is content to have Danny Gans (who co-produces her live show) drop in to imitate a new celebrity every week, it's a hurdle.

Contact reporter Mike Weatherford at mweatherford@reviewjournal.com or 702-383-0288.