Classic rock bands have regularly booked residencies in Las Vegas Strip casino theaters for decades.
Among the popular rock bands that have regularly returned to the Strip in recent years are Chicago, Foreigner, and REO Speedwagon.
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These annual visits provide some variety on the Strip compared to the residencies that continue year-round, including Mr. Las Vegas Wayne Newton who performs at Flamingo’s Bugsy’s Cabaret Showroom through the end of the year, 1970s teen idol Donny Osmond at Harrah’s Showroom through Nov. 16, and 1970s star Barry Manilow who performs at the Westgate off the Strip through September 2025.
Some bands appearing annually are also signaling an end to their regular residency gigs.
Foreigner will bring its “Feels Like the Last Time Farewell” residency to the Venetian Theater at the Venetian Las Vegas for eight shows Oct. 25 through Nov. 9. The band claims it will be their final residency performances.
Another huge band from the 1980s and 90s, REO Speedwagon, might be playing its final Vegas residency this year, or maybe next year, as the band on Sept. 16 said they would retire from touring in 2025 because of “irreconcilable differences.”
REO Speedwagon is scheduled to perform its “An Evening of Hi Infidelity…And More” residency at the Venetian Oct. 2, 4, and 5. No word yet if the band will return to Vegas in 2025 for a farewell residency.
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Legendary rock band Chicago, which has not revealed any plans to retire anytime soon, returned to the Venetian Theater on the Strip for the seventh straight year for a 10-show residency in February and March 2024.
Superstar R&B group Earth Wind & Fire has toured regularly for decades with Chicago, including in 2024, and has also headlined many residencies on the Las Vegas Strip. Its next residency is set for the Venetian for five shows between Oct. 9 and 16, and they, too, have no plans to retire.
Finally, superstar rock band Styx has a long history of performing residencies on the Las Vegas Strip in late January and early February each year.
Back in January 2017, former guitarist for The Eagles Don Felder joined Styx on stage at the Venetian Theater at The Venetian for a five-show residency, “Renegades in the Fast Lane,” which Styx and Felder repeated for five more shows in January and February 2018, also at the Venetian.
Styx, without Felder, returned to Vegas off the Strip at The Palms Las Vegas for single shows in January 2019 and 2020, before returning to the Venetian for two shows on Sept. 25-26, 2021, after the Covid-19 pandemic subsided.
The “Blue Collar Man” singers adopted their regular January/February residency schedule at the Venetian on the Strip with five shows scheduled in those two months each year in 2022, 2023, and 2024. The 2022 shows featured Heart’s Nancy Wilson on stage with the band.
Terry Gowan, Will Evankovich, and Tommy Shaw of Styx perform in concert at Ameris Bank Amphitheater on July 17, 2024, in Alpharetta, Ga. (Photo by R. Diamond/Getty Images)
R. Diamond/Getty Images
Styx returns to Venetian for another residency
Styx on Sept. 17 revealed on social media another return to the Venetian with its “The Grand Illusion + Hits” residency with the band performing “The Grand Illusion” album in full, plus its greatest hits, on Jan. 24, 25, 29, 31, and Feb. 1, 2025. The band also has no plans to retire anytime soon.
Citi Cardmember, Official Platinum, VIP Package, and Aisle Seating presales are currently underway until Sept. 19 at 10 p.m. Pacific time at Ticketmaster.com.
Artist presale begins Sept. 18 at 10 a.m. Pacific, with Ticketmaster, Live Nation and Venetian presales beginning Sept. 19 at 10 a.m. Pacific. Tickets go on sale to the general public on Sept. 20 at 10 a.m. Pacific.
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