LAS VEGAS – It’s easy to miss Bruce Rickerd during the “Mystere” show at Treasure Island, especially when there’s a man balancing upside-down on the foot of another, or a giant inflatable snail emerging from the massive moving stage, or the gasp-inducing drops from acrobats above.
But he’s there – up high on the right, or rather, stage left – playing guitar in just about the same place he’s been for every one of the 10,000 shows come Saturday in the 21-year history of “Mystere,” as he and the rest of the band tie the music and sound effects to action on stage.
That’s right. He’s never missed a day of work.
It never occurred to the 62-year-old musician to do otherwise.
“This is not work for me,” he said days before he would be feted Saturday with confetti cannons and an onstage finale bow where a Guinness Book of World Records judge was expected to say Rickerd has broken the record for most theatrical performances by a male musician. Granted, it’ll be for having performed in 9,958 shows – still the most – as the record-keeping body continues to pour through timesheets and employee records that might backup Rickerd’s involvement in the remaining 42 shows. Copious stage manager notes from each performance over the years helped to confirm quite a bit, with Rickerd’s name never listed on the “out” list.
The musician is down to earth about his accolade. A member of the show joked that he’s got Cal Ripken Jr. – who played 2,632 consecutive baseball games for the Baltimore Orioles – beat.
How does he do it?
“It’s very simple: You show up,” he said.
