Calgary, AB - Media Reviews

Rock, Rock, Till You Drop By Jason Clevett

It was 20 years ago that Def Leppard played their first show in Canada. Since then three mega-hit records followed by 3 less then mega hits records have taken the band to the point where one would consider them a band that is enjoyed purely for it's retro value.

That isn't the case, as the bands show in Calgary was slick straight ahead rock show that brought the 10'500 bic-flicking, fist thrusting rock fans that packed the amphitheatre setup to the rafters.

What really amazed me was the broad age range. I was worried that at 24 I may feel a little out of place among an older rock crowd, but the reality was that so many of us grew up on the band and remember their classic Pyromania and Hysteria records that to revisit our youth, dress as hair bands (as many did!) and sing along at the top of our lungs to the 21 song set of hit after hit after hit.

Part of what made an already great show amazing was the crowd. Although Calgary is always appreciative of the concerts that come to town, the last time I have ever experienced a crowd that loud and vocal was the WWF Canadian Stampede Pay Per View show in 1997. Regularly running 105 minutes, the concert went nearly two and a half hours thanks to lengthy and insanely loud ovations that gave me goosebumps and legitimately seemed to floor the band.

"Next time, we start the tour in Calgary and with a reception like that we will be back again and again and again!" Joe Elliott told the crowd, which of course caused us to cheer even louder.

Although the tour was supporting their current "X" CD the band was smart in giving the crowd what amounted to a greatest hits show. Tracks from their last three albums were few. "Now" and Four Letter Word were the only tracks from "X", 1999's Euphoria was represented only by the single "Promises" while the title track from 1996's "Slang" was the only song from that disc.

Kicking things off with "Let It Go" off of "High and Dry," Rock! Rock! (Till You Drop) off of Pyromania, and Adrenalize's "Make Love Like A Man" the crowd jumped to their feet and never sat down, lighting up the dome with little flames for Leppard's first big hit "Bringin' On The Heartbreak." From there the night was a blur as they raced through the hits. Nearly every big hit the band has had we heard.

As for the group itself, all of whom are now in their 40's, they looked and sounded great. Lead singer Joe Elliott's voice was in fine form as he belted out the songs and danced around the stage like a man possessed. Backed up by former Whitesnake guitarist Vivian Campbell (Who replaced Steve Clark in 1992 when Clark died of a combination of drugs and alcohol overdose), Rick Savage, the always shirtless Phil Collen and the infamous "One Armed Drummer" Rick Allen they proved that they can still, well, rock.

The crowd was into the entire show but came even more alive during the second half as the band blasted out sing along anthems like “Pour Some Sugar On Me,” “Rock of Ages,” and encores “Love Bites” and “Let’s Get Rocked.”

"I'm at a loss for words. This has been a fucking incredible evening" said Elliott before the final song of the night.

I couldn't have said it better myself. (9 out of 10)

By Calgary Herald 2003.

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Def Lep neutered at packed 'Dome show By Mike Bell

The mind is a wonderful thing. It can, for example, shield us from traumatic past experiences by burying them so deep inside the memory banks that only a face-to-face encounter can reawaken them.

Case in point, those hideous, sleeveless Union Jack T-shirts made famous by candy-coated, hairspray-scented British metal band Def Leppard. So much for the joy of repressed memories.

But for the 10,500 or so fans Sept. 15 at the 'Dome, it was all about remembering - some came for a goofy retro giggle, others for the serious reconnection with their party-hard past.

There would be nothing wrong with that if the veteran quintet delivered the goods.

Sure, the songs themselves were there - Let It Go, Bringin' On the Heartbreak, Rocket, Hysteria, and 20 or more from Def Lep's waning 25-year career, including tracks from their tepid latest release, X - but the performances were hardly inspiring.

Compared to other throwback acts, such as Aerosmith and AC/DC, the band's on-stage energy level and showmanship has dipped incredibly.

Of course, the members are older, but for the most part they carried themselves so - well, so old.

Lumbering frontman Joe Elliott was the epitome of that problem. While vocally sounding pretty good, Elliott executed half-moves with all of the dexterity of Brando’s chain-smoking older brother. Even the light show and stage setup were pale reminders of an excessive past the arena rock equivalent of minimalist. All of which goes to undermine the whole idea of a Def Lep concert. It's supposed to remind you of how good things were, not flaunt the sad reality of the way they are now.

By The Calgary Sun.

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