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NEIL DIAMOND OUTLIVES ENEMIES
Neil Diamond
The Las Vegas mob boys didn't kill him off, but a Las Vegas engagement made Neil Diamond's life so miserable that he put himself on ice for over 20 years.
The problems began in l976 when Diamond was contracted to open the Aladdin Hotel's new 7,500 seat Theatre for the Performing Arts. Diamond, who had done a one man show on Broadway in 1972, would be paid a record $650,000 for five performances. Things got off-key before Diamond could even attempt Beautiful Noise.
James Tammer, the Aladdin entertainment director, ran the Theatre for the Performing Arts. He was later denied licensing as a key employee by the Nevada Gaming Control Board and was eventually added to the board's list of people excluded from casinos for alleged connections to the Detroit mob.
Rumors swirled around the upcoming performance. It was alleged that Diamond was being muscled to kick back part of his then record salary. It was also alleged that the Vegas Musicians Union wanted him to use only Las Vegas musicians. It was in the wind that Diamond would have trouble if he didn't play ball. Unfortunately, nobody had taught Diamond that Vegas not only owned the ball, but had their own rule book.
Union officials informed the Aladdin that Diamond's performance didn't comply with local union requirements.
Al Fast, the regional director of the then Variety Entertainment Guild of America (VEGAS) contended that Diamond had to join the guild at a cost of $480 for initiation and $150. for dues. The guild spokesman said that there wouldn't be any pickets this time, but that Diamond would run into trouble the next time he showed up in Vegas.
Then there was that unusual drug bust.
Diamond arrived in Las Vegas July 1, 1976 to rehearse, only a few hours after 20 police officers, armed with a search warrant, entered his home in the exclusive Bel Air area of Los Angeles, and conducted a three hour long search for narcotics.
Police admitted they acted on an anonymous tip.
Police confiscated less than a gram of marijuana, which was no longer a felony under California's new drug law. Therefore, there was no arrest. The police raid ended with Diamond presenting each of the officers with an autographed copy of his Beautiful Noise album.
Los Angeles authorities said investigative information was turned over to the Los Angeles city attorney, who would decide what to do with the case. They decided to charge him with a misdemeanor charge of marijuana possession. The city attorney's office filed a complaint against Diamond on July 2, 1976 - his opening night at the Aladdin in Las Vegas.
Diamond's attorney entered an innocent plea in Municipal Court on Wednesday, Aug 12, 1997, and a jury trial was set for that Sept. 27.
While lawyers were taking center stage in Los Angeles, Diamond was showing his metal and performing on schedule in Vegas. With his parents in the audience, the sold out 7,500 concert-goers had no idea that people were out to get the star.
Invitations featured a large "diamond" stone affixed to the black card imprinted in white with; "The first of many jewels to come..."
In the lobby booths were set up selling ice cream cones and alcoholic beverages. Ushers is silver jumpsuits, with a silver "A" hanging around each neck, led people to their seats.
A neon lit treble clef was on one wall of the glass enclosed, domed ceiling theater. Piped in chamber music soothed the crowd waiting for Diamond to ascend the stage. Scantly clad girls roamed the aisles selling long stemmed roses and white gardenias for $3.
For a hot July night it was chilly with the air conditioning on full blast. Disdained faces with outstretched arms offered offenders of the no-smoking policy ashtrays to place their weeds.
Backstage Diamond lit up a Marlboro. Five minutes before showtime Neil applied his own make-up, soothed his throat with humidified air and sipped tea as he took his final drag on the cigarette.
His performance was awesome. So was his acting ability. Nobody in the audience suspected what Diamond was experiencing.
Following the show there was a party. Following the engagement the singer left town - vowing never to return. He didn't retaliate. He didn't talk. He simply moved on with his career and life. It was Las Vegas that lost.
Every year for 20 years, Diamond was asked to return, and every year Diamond declined. With the passing of time those involved in the earlier problems died. Diamond had outlived his enemies.
"It's probably a different town, eh?" was his only answer when asked what made him decide to perform in the 14,500 seat Grand Garden Arena of the MGM Hotel, December 27-29, 1996. Ticket prices ranged from $50 to $200.
His sold out return was triumphant. As with the engagement 20 years earlier I was enthralled with his entire performance. Since then Diamond has visited Las Vegas several times to see other performers. In December he'll again perform at the MGM-Grand. Tickets around New Year's Eve go fast and are expensive. Save your pennies and get your reservations early.