Denver, CO - Media Reviews
Def Leppard struggles back on stage By Todd Caudle
The stage was laid out in the center of the McNichols Arena floor, which has worked in the past for many groups, Yes, Whitney Houston, but was almost more of a distraction than anything else.
With Allen's drums in the middle taking an occasional spin to afford everyone a view of his action, he was an easy visual target.
The rest of the band, Joe Elliott on lead vocals, Rick Savage on bass, and the twin guitar attack of Steve Clark and Phil Collen, spent so much time darting back and forth from one side of the stage to the other that it was difficult to get a fix on them.
The multi-tied stage also prevented the audience on one side from seeing the action on the other.
The striking fluorescent patterns on the stage duplicating the new record's cover were nice, as was the exciting laser show.
Thus making up for the difficulties created by an 'in-the-round' setting.
As for Def Leppard's performance, these boys have not kicked back and gotten fat off royalty checks.
They can still rock hard.
Still, while as hard as nails, the show left a little to be desired.
Everything you expected the band member's to do, they did.
There was little element of surprise.
I felt that once I'd seen the first three of four songs, gotten accustomed to seeing a drummer play with only one arm, and adjusted to the stage setup, I had seen it all.
The two exceptions to this were an excellent acoustic version of 'Bringin' On The Heartbreak' and the video aspect.
The first encore of the night was spent re-doing a couple of songs played earlier in the evening, just to make sure they came out right.
For this, the crowd got involved.
MTV viewers should remember Denver audiences after that.
But take out these two facts and what you're left with is a performance that stayed on one level all night, with two terrible guitar solos somewhere in the middle.
By Colorado Springs Gazette-Telegraph 1988.
share this page:
explore def leppard tour history
