Luxe Life Blog

Photos: CeeLo Green’s Las Vegas arrival is a first-ever Strip spectacle

Posted February 27, 2013 • 1:27 p.m.

CeeLo Green arrives at his new residency home of Planet Hollywood on Tuesday, Feb. 26, 2013.

Photo: Tom Donoghue/DonoghuePhotography.com

The Las Vegas Strip was on fire Tuesday night -- literally! Superstar CeeLo Green stopped traffic while playing his hits on a flaming piano moving along on a flatbed truck surrounded by dancing showgirls and tuxedoed showboys.

Fans, tourists and onlookers were open-mouthed in amazement as the truck shot flames and fireworks, adding to the outrageous over-the-top sights and sounds of CeeLo’s big hits “Crazy,” “Bright Lights” and “Forget You.”

“I’ve done a lot of things and had some pretty fantastic entrances,” CeeLo told me moments later at Planet Hollywood. “But this is the most amazing of them all.”

David Hoenemeyer, regional president of Planet Hollywood, added: “In all my years on The Strip, this is a first. I’ve never seen an arrival like this. There’s certainly never been a check-in like this one.”

In fact, everybody I talked with Tuesday night said CeeLo’s appearance eclipsed the Nov. 14 publicity stunt for Shania Twain’s arrival on horseback for her residency at Caesars Palace that began Dec. 1. Incidentally, Shania’s back at The Colosseum on March 19 after Celine Dion wraps the second year of her current contract.

Instead of a credit card sign-in at the front desk, CeeLo cemented his handprints and then autographed the block. It will be displayed prominently at Planet Hollywood alongside other iconic celebrity handprints.

It was the official welcome arrival for the Grammy Award-winning artist who starts his residency run of “Loberace” shows there tonight. His residency currently runs until April 13, but he’s hoping that it will be extended and he’ll have a permanent home in Las Vegas.

We’ll have CeeLo’s comments here Thursday from opening night tonight, and then we’ll check out the VIP gala midnight performance and party on Saturday.

CeeLo’s fiery flatbed ride began at Caesars Palace, and Metro Police motorcyclists served as outriders for the procession as it headed south toward Harmon and then U-Turned back north to the front steps of Planet Hollywood. Spectators lined the staircase, and CeeLo glad-handed as many as he could while walking up the stairs lined by even more “Jubilee!” at Bally’s showgirls bedecked and bejeweled to match his sparkly black sequined suit and hoodie.

”I’m really happy with the show,” he told me. “We have one more rehearsal to run through, but we’re there. It’s all come together. I love it, and I just want Las Vegas to love it as much as I do. It’s got everything in it that I’d hoped would happen.”

While here, CeeLo will continue working on his new solo album. My extensive interview with CeeLo was posted on Feb. 20. And compare his grand entrance Tuesday night with the one that Liberace made at the Las Vegas Hilton in 1981.

Editor at Large John Katsilometes also talked with CeeLo about his support for The Liberace Museum and The Liberace Foundation in their interview posted Tuesday. Nicknamed the “Professional Lady Killer,” CeeLo is a singer, songwriter, rapper, producer and all-around entertainer.

In 1995, he burst onto the music scene with Goodie Mob’s debut album “Soul Food.” He also formed Goodie Mob and had the giant 2007 Grammy-winning hit “Crazy.” CeeLo returned to his solo career with “Lady Killer” in 2010, and his hit single “Forget You” received five Grammy nominations in 2011, winning Best Urban/Alternative Performance. He won two more Grammys for “Fool for You” last year.

CeeLo, who also serves as a mentor on NBC’s “The Voice,” plans to showcase those winners in “CeeLo Is Loberace” along with other hits, plus, his salute to Liberace, aka “Mr. Showmanship,” for the years that he lived and performed here in Las Vegas. Our thanks to Denise Truscello of WireImage, Brian Jones of Las Vegas News Bureau and Tom Donoghue for their fabulous photo coverage.

Before heading off to dinner at Strip House in Planet Hollywood, CeeLo summed up for me: “I’ve fallen in love with Las Vegas already. I love everything about it. I love the people, and I hope they love me, too.

“I feel it. And I hope the show gets extended past this original run. I’d like to be here for a very long time. I’ll keep you in the picture on that, but I’d be very happy staying in Las Vegas forever.”

Robin Leach has been a journalist for more than 50 years and has spent the past decade giving readers the inside scoop on Las Vegas, the world’s premier platinum playground.

Follow Robin Leach on Twitter at Twitter.com/Robin_Leach.

Follow Vegas DeLuxe on Twitter at Twitter.com/vegasdeluxe.

Follow VDLX Editor Don Chareunsy on Twitter at Twitter.com/VDLXEditorDon.

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