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Matt Goss Takes Over Palms Casino Resort

He has sold more than 17 million records, written a best-selling autobiography and lived the life of an international sex symbol for two decades. And even with all that experience, newly minted Vegas headliner Matt Goss admits that his latest gig at Palms Casino Resort has put him on edge. “After years and years of performing, this is the first time in a long time I really feel nerves like I did back in the day,” he says.

Goss shouldn’t worry so much. With the Palms rebranding The Lounge as the Gossy Room and Pussycat Dolls creator Robin Antin handpicking the four sirens who make up his dancers and backup singers, the man referred to by the LA Times as “the hottest act you haven’t heard of” should finally land on the map in the one market that has eluded him: America.

“My ego isn’t invested in this show, it’s my heart,” said Goss from under one of his signature Mr. Green hats weeks before the September 4 debut of his weekly Friday and Saturday 10 p.m. shows, titled Matt Goss Live. He plans to change the musical lineup for each show, a revue of his own compositions and standards. “I am genuinely interested in connecting with Americans. I love this place. It’s not about me wanting to be famous in America; I just want to sing to America.”

The London-born crooner was lead vocalist for the 1980s British megagroup Bros, burning up the pop charts in Europe and Australia and selling out Wembley Stadium when he was just 20. Yet sustained solo success has been largely elusive in the subsequent decades — he’s had a few minor hits here and there — so he’s hopeful that visibility of a Vegas gig can help him as his latest album, Gossy, hits stores in mid September.

Goss remains ambitious but has grown more contemplative. He wrote a bestselling memoir, More Than You Know, and has cheered the acting career of his twin brother, former bandmate and Hellboy 2 star, Luke. His arms are a mosaic of tattoos — some highly personal, for example, the one with a tear dripping from birth date of his late grandfather — but piercing blue eyes radiate an old-soul intensity.

“After you’ve ridden the rollercoaster of life, the next time these amazing things come your way you have it in your mind to not take yourself too seriously. Do what you do from the right place, which is your heart,” he says. “Your ego will never look after you.”

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