AEG Live president stands by star policy

He didn't offer Barbra Streisand $100 million. And The Who still need coaxing.

But the president of AEG Live has faith in the "resident headliners" that brought star policy back to the Strip in the 2000s.

"We believe in our model," John Meglen says of the concept relaunched with Celine Dion in the Colosseum at Caesars Palace. It reaches back to '70s-era Vegas, when each casino had its own roster of stars, guaranteeing each several weeks per year.

The Colosseum ran full tilt when Dion and Elton John were in rotation but has proved trickier of late. Dion returns next year, but only for 70 annual shows. Meglen is trying to find another anchor act to join Cher and Jerry Seinfeld.

The Web recently spread a report of Streisand turning down $100 million. By referencing Cher and Bette Midler, bloggers implied AEG made the offer.

Nevermind that $100 million isn't off the chart for Streisand, if scaled to enough shows in a long run. "We didn't make any $100 million offer. Didn't come from us," Meglen says.

"Would I love to see Barbra Streisand do something like this in Las Vegas? Absolutely. I think the world of her," he adds. "And if (her manager) Marty Erlichman wants to have those conversations, I'm more than happy to. But to date I haven't been able to get Marty there."

The Colosseum has been a piece of cake compared with launching a harder-rocking version of the model at the Hard Rock Hotel. Meglen says he will stay the course with Carlos Santana, though the new concert hall opened after the economy hit the wall.

"When the conventions and meetings and all of that got nailed so hard, it just really knocked down that weekday business," Meglen notes. "It's hard to lock in residencies when you lose those weekdays."

For now, he says the Hard Rock plan is to "hand-pick" the dates instead of randomly spreading them through the calendar year.

Meglen attended the Super Bowl and witnessed The Who's mixed-review performance in person. "I have made them offers," he says, including one that would have capitalized on the Super Bowl excitement. "They weren't there yet.

"We need the stars there. I don't want to do the Kiss show without Kiss," Meglen adds, referencing an announced Cirque-style Kiss revue called "Carnival of Souls."

"We can't give up, is my point," Meglen says. "I tell my people, 'We're either going to blow our brains out or we're going to be in the right here. ... Vegas is not going away, it's gonna get better. Let's get geared up now (instead of waiting)."

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