home > tour history > 1980 > new york > Media Reviews

Friday, 1st August 1980
Back  

New York, NY - Media Reviews

AC/DC/Def Leppard @ The Palladium By The New York Times

The English rock press has been writing about heavy metal a great deal recently because of a sudden upsurge of young English heavy metal bands.

One of these, Def Leppard, opened the show, and compared to AC/DC, the group positively sparkled.

From what this listener has heard of it, the new English heavy metal has been affected positively by the punk explosion of the late 70s - it isn't as meandering and self-indulgent as the heavy metal of old.

Def Leppard is a case in point.

The playing is crisp and tight, the tempos are varied, the rhythm section rocks instead of lumbering along like a dinosaur, and the macho excess, both vocal and instrumental, is kept to a minimum.

The music certainly isn't profound, but it isn't meant to be.

It is rock-and-roll, and it's likeable.

By The New York Times 1980.


New York, NY - Media Reviews

AC/DC/Def Leppard @ The Palladium By Mike London

AC/DC has established itself as a leader among the new breed of heavy metal rock bands, but the Aug 1 show displayed a definite lack of imagination.

The music failed to live up to the band's recorded sound, and the heavy handed stage theatrics were lifeless and over used.

The 13 song, 90 minute set introduced Brian Johnson as lead singer, replacing the deceased Bon Scott.

Johnson seems to git in comfortably, although he can't quite match Scott's throttled wail which in the past gave this Australian quintet its menacing edge.

The show opened strongly with 'Hells Bells' a hard hitting song from the group's new LP 'Back In Black'.

The band followed up with some past favourites, including the exuberant bad boy anthems 'Problem Child' and 'Highway To Hell'.

With the best songs completed, however, the music turned plodding and dull.

Without Bon Scott, lead guitarist Angus Young carried the burden of entertaining the crowd.

Looking like a rebellious prepschool dropout, Young battered himself and his guitar in a manic spree of acrobatics.

The full house of adolescent AC/DC loyalists showed a generally positive reaction, although by the end many seemed to have tired of Young's long guitar solos and familiar heavy metal poses.

AC/DC's music deserves a better treatment than the band gave it on that occasion.

Much more pleasing was the opening quintet, Def Leppard.

The English band reportedly has an average age of 18, but its trio of guitarists, roping around the stage like shaggy haired poodles, looked far younger.

The band's heavy metal sound was marked by strong melodies, and unusual rhythmic finesse.

The 35 minute, about 5 tune show drew from the band's debut LP 'On Through The Night' including well received songs like 'Wasted' and 'Rock Brigade'.

By Billboard 1980.

Back

share this page:



get def leppard news

Stay in touch with the latest updates.




explore def leppard tour history
All News
Tour News
Album News
All Tours