Salem, OR - Media Reviews

Joe Elliott - 4th September 2000 Online Message

To the good people who came to see Def Leppard in Salem, Oregon, on the 2nd of September, I would like to further explain the bizarre situation the band were put in.

We turned up for soundcheck as usual, to what is a fine venue. Great facilities, cool staff, the works. As we ran through "Promises", we were informed that we were over the sound limit. This was one of those gigs where the "Sound Police" were there to enforce a most ludicrous rule. It appears that after an MC Hammer gig a few years ago, a law was passed limiting the volume of any artist playing this particular venue. It gets worse: we hadn't even turned the P.A. on!!!

These guys were serious:
1. Verbal warning
2. Written warning
3. Fine
4. Jail for tour manager Malvin

So the choices were as follows; turn down so low that it actually affects the sound, not just the volume of the instruments. Or, walk out & refuse to play under such restricting circumstances. Tesla did just that in 1992 (in the same building!). So it was, for a while, a very serious consideration. The big difference though, was that this show was sold out in advance & Def Leppard has never chosen to back out of anything in it's 20-something-year career. So you can imagine what we had to go through to reach the decision we finally did reach.

We hated the fact that we would disappoint people who had waited so long (and maybe travelled far) to see us live if we just canceled & left. At the same time, we hated the fact that we would just not sound as we should. Guitars, more than any other instrument in rock 'n' roll, rely on a certain level of volume. The distortion simply cannot be achieved at the volume we were limited to. We're not used to compromising our sound in any way, and to play as we did was a major compromise. But that's the choice we made.

It wasn't easy, and in truth it wasn't a unanimous decision to go on, it was a majority vote. But what was unanimous, was that we wouldn't do the show without letting everybody in the crowd know that we weren't happy with the situation and that if anybody wanted the opportunity to leave with a refund, they could. It seemed the only way around this ridiculous problem.

So we went on with the show. Yes, there were mixed feelings afterwards. Some people asked for their money back & I can't say that I blame them. Other people came up to us & said that what we did was the coolest thing they had ever seen. It's a subjective point. There is no right or wrong, it's personal choice.

We did the extra encore and if ever an audience deserved more than usual, this was it. Quite honestly the crowd in Salem will live long in our memories, for making us feel like we had made the right decision. I'm sure that other audiences will forgive us for being slightly biased towards Salem as they were the show on this particular evening, so when we update the up-and-coming "Song of the month", look for a rousing version of one of our songs from this strangest of gigs.

I think it goes without saying that we will never do this again and I would warn all other artists thinking of playing this particular venue to think twice before doing so. For Def Leppard to play Salem again, there will have to be a different venue offered to us, or the law will have to be changed. I strongly advise everybody who cares as passionately about their music as I do, to lobby your council to change the way they limit the volume at shows. Sadly, I was told by some local people that it is only this way because some of the councilors live close by. If this is the case, it sounds like the typical abuse of power that politicians are so famous for. Stupid, idiotic, crazy and bullsh*t are just some of the terms that were being thrown around backstage by locals and visitors alike, I'll leave it to your imagination what we think and said...

Peace, xx

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Def Leppard Told To Turn Down The Sound In Oregon, Offers Refunds By Live Daily

After learning upon its arrival at the L.B. Day Amphitheater in Salem, Ore., that a county ordinance wouldn't allow the band to play at its normal volume--offered refunds to a sold-out crowd of 8,000 before playing a note on Saturday (9/2). About 700 fans took the group up on its offer, according to Malvin Mortimer, Def Leppard's tour manager.

Singer Joe Elliott explained the situation in a posting on Def Leppard's official website. "We turned up for soundcheck as usual, to what is a fine venue. Great facilities, cool staff, the works. As we ran through 'Promises,' we were informed that we were over the sound limit. This was one of those gigs where the 'Sound Police' were there to enforce a most ludicrous rule. It appears that after an MC Hammer gig a few years ago, a law was passed limiting the volume of any artist playing this particular venue. It gets worse: we hadn't even turned the P.A. on!!! These guys were serious: 1. Verbal warning 2. Written warning 3. Fine 4. Jail for Malvin."

In an interview at the Guitar Center in Hollywood, bassist-vocalist Rick Savage said the band weighed several options before ultimately deciding to go forward with the show at the prescribed lower volume.

"There were three things we could do: Go onstage, tough it out, do the show, take the money and get out of town. We could on a matter of principle not play the show because we didn't want to compromise what we do to such an extent. What we chose to say to people was, "This is how it is. We're really, really sorry. We're going to put the show on for anyone who still wants to see it. But if you want to you're more than welcome to get your money refunded because we don't feel we can give you a proper show.'"

According to the Salem Statesman Journal, the band shared the cost of the $14,000 in refunds with the Oregon State Fair, which presented the concert. Refunds reportedly were offered during the show's first 55 minutes.

By Live Daily 2000.

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Officials Say Concert Fiasco Not Their Fault By Salem Statesman Journal

Refunds for a Def Leppard show revive debate on Salem's noise law. Oregon State Fair officials say they're not to blame for last weekend's Def Leppard concert fiasco that forced $14,000 in ticket refunds.

About 800 fans sought refunds after the '80s-era band told the crowd it couldn't play at its normal hard-rocking volume because of a city noise ordinance, which they had learned about only during pre-show sound checks.

The incident also has rekindled the debate whether the noise levels allowed by the city are adequate for fair concerts.

Fair officials say they told the band's management months ago and even put it in their contract, but apparently word never reached band members.

"We're bearing the brunt of angry fans, but the band's management assured us they could work within that (volume) range," said Lin Wolfe, a fair spokeswoman.

The band and its loyal fans - who have dubbed the incident the "decibel debacle" - spent last week heaping scorn on either the fair or the city over the incident via phone, letter and on the band's Web site.

"I think it goes without saying that we will never do this again," wrote Def Leppard lead singer Joe Elliott on the band's Web site.

"And I would want other artists thinking of playing this venue to think twice before doing so."

Since the night of the show, about 100 more concert-goers have called the fair asking for their money back.

"It's a ridiculous law," said Ramona Clawson, 35, who came from Lebanon to see the band. "I've been waiting for this for 10 years, and in some places (in the amphitheater) it was distorted and you could barely hear."

Others at the concert say that's an exaggeration: "It was plenty loud. If people can't hear that, they're already deaf," said Barbara Dixon, a fair worker.

Def Leppard says when it learned of the sound limit during a run-through of their song "Promises," the band members debated among themselves about whether to go on at all.

"We're not used to compromising our sound in any way, and to play as we did was a major compromise," Elliott wrote online.

The band told the audience about the limitation and said refunds could be had.

By Salem Statesman Journal 2000.

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Def Leppard Hit Back - Quietly By NME

Def Leppard singer JOE ELLIOTT has blamed former rapper MC HAMMER for the sound problems at the hard rockers' recent show in SALEM, OREGON that led disgruntled fans to flock for a refund.

As revealed last week by nme.com, the band's September 2 show at the L.B. Day Amphitheatre, part of the Oregon State Fair, was hampered because in accordance with city noise ordinance they had to play at a very low volume. Elliott says the law came into effect "after a particularly loud MC Hammer show".

In a statement addressing the incident, the frontman said: "We were told to turn down our PA system. Just the one little problem with that - we hadn't even turned it on yet!!! It has to be said, this is the most stupid situation this band has ever had to deal with."

Elliott added that despite the problems, the band never considered pulling the show. However, he did concede that some of the 9,000 crowd weren't happy with the decision.

He added: "Yes, it was very quiet and yes, some people did indeed ask for refunds (I would have!!) I know how we should sound and this wasn't it. But loads of people stayed and it has to be said that they were one of the best crowds we ever played in front of and deserved much more (volume!) than they got."

The singer revealed that those who remained received an extra Def Leppard treat. "We did them an extra encore," he said. "They really deserved that at least."

However, in the statement, which included some stinging attacks on the local council and their bylaws, Elliott made no mention of some of the other attractions that fans leaving the Def Leppard show may have run to. According to the official Fair programme these included: "a crepe-off, a Spam recipe competition, the Hermiston Watermelon Seed Spitting Contest, a chowder cook-off, best cheese recipes, best five-vegetable casserole and a "milk moustache" contest".

By NME 2000.

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