Calgary, AB - Media Reviews
Def Leppard still the cat's meow By Blair S. Watson
Opening act Joan Jett put on a playful show.
You'd have thought it was still the '80's last night at the Max Bell Centre.
Def Leppard turned in a fiery performance as fans packed into the arena for the sold-out performance.
Seats were at a premium with the ratio of about five blue-jean clad butts for every available seat. The majority of concert-goers were forced to pack in shoulder to shoulder on the floor or line the upper perimeter four people deep.
For the most part, those forced to stand didn't seem to be too upset, they were there to rock - and rock they did, with plastic beer cups hoisted to the sky like some weird barley-based offering to the gods.
Opening with Rock Rock (Till You Drop) from their seven million selling albums Pyromania. Def Leppard was quick to the chase, capturing it's audience immediately. Despite the band's tag as a metal outfit, melodic rock band is a more appropriate designation.
Clad in tiger striped trench coat - over a black T-shirt, blue jeans and wearing some very cool retro Allstars's - Joe Elliott looked to be a little dressed down when compared to the band's '80's hey-day.
The lack of glitz did not harm the performance.
When lead singer Elliott sung out "I won't make promises that I can't keep," from his band's latest album Euphoria, it was almost as if he was referring to he and his mates' ability to cut it in the new millennium. Cut it they did.
I have to admit I've never been a big fan of the English rockers, but Lep's trademark monster harmonies and thick as thieves back-up vocals are the match of any band on the concert circuit today. Bands like the Backstreet Boys could only wish to sound that good - and they don't have to concern themselves with actually playing an instrument.
Despite the band's large catalogue of material to choose from, Elliott tipped his hat to his early influences with a smouldering cover of Sweet's Action. However, he couldn't disappoint fans who came in droves to hear their favourite Def Leppard songs.
Lep's set was flush with hits like Women from the band's Diamond award-winning 1987 album Hysteria.
The impact of the band's latest material didn't go unnoticed. Demolition Man, Paper Sun and the aformentioned Promises went over better than the band could have hoped for. It seems there's still room for that kind of thing in the new millennium.
Opening the show was rock and roll's original bad girl Joan Jett who took to the stage before concert goers could make their way past the quick frisk of security.
Hits like I Love Rock & Roll had instant, positive impact,. Jett also utilized her favoutire covers like the theme to the Mary Tyler Moore Show, Love Is All Around, and Iggy Pop's I Want To Be Your Dog.
The latter saw a large percentage of the audience barking like dogs at Jett's request.
A little more playful than usual, Jett - who looked more like 30 years old than almost 40 - was clad in a rubber halter top, leather pants and a beanie, seemed tickled that she could wield such power.
By Calgary Herald 2000.
Def Leppard Delivers, But Joan Jett Soars By Lisa Wilton
At their best, Def Leppard gave the world some of the best hard rock riffs and fist in the air choruses. At their worst, the English five-piece spewed forth unforgivable drivel, mostly heard on their massive selling 1987 album Hysteria. Thankfully, though, the band utilized their entire catalogue - from early releases to their latest album, Euphoria - during last night's sold-out concert at the Max Bell Centre, rather than just concentrating on the big hit albums like Hysteria or 1992's Adrenalize. It certainly wasn't the greatest hits show many were hoping for. While they played several of their hit singles, including Animal, Foolin' and Pour Some Sugar on Me, it was obvious the band's main purpose last night was to sell copies of Euphoria. It proved to be a hard sell, as the crowd was clearly there to hear the older hits.
Def Leppard may have scaled down the stage show - what, no pyrotechnics? - from previous years, but in this stage of their game the Leppard need not show off with crazy stage antics, as the music speaks for itself. Singer Joe Elliott, looking smart in a three quarter length animal print jacket, was in fine form, bounding back and forth across the stage, encouraging fans to sing and clap along to the more upbeat numbers. The rest of the band also performed well, adding in perfectly executed backing harmonies, although they relied a lot on cliched rock moves and poses to get the audience going. Still, despite the lack of flashy stage gimmicks, it was still an entertaining show.
Def Leppard had their work cut out for them following the brilliance that was Joan Jett's opening performance. Clad in a black vinyl halter top and black leather pants, the 5 ft. 5 spitfire grabbed the audience by its proverbial, um, neck and didn't let go until the second she left the stage.
The blistering 45-minute set consisted of The Blackhearts' greatest hits, as well as a few newer ones off her latest album, Pure and Simple. Jett put "rock chicks" like Alanis Morissette and Fiona Apple to shame.
By Calgary Sun 2000.
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