Edinburgh, Scotland - Fan Reviews
Fan Review - By Tanya
What can I say, but incredible, why is it when you book tickets for a gig, no-one seems into going, but in the few days before the event everyone is suddenly interested! Well they missed out on a great show, and I got to hear Slang for the first time, my face must have been a picture when they geared up for that one, the anticipation of knowing what Joe's going to say the split second before he says it, and the crowd going nuts, that's something to savour!
Still love the Hysteria songs, Women and Animal especially, just seems to get the crowd pumping, and the intro to Hysteria itself, just close your eyes and melt away. Didn't seem to be many locals there though, I guess a lot of people, like me, travelled being the only gig in the northern part of the country this time around, but well worth the journey. Haven't got a clue on the setlist, just got lost in the music I guess, but the started with Action, all the regulars, no Long Long Way To Go, But Four Letter Word is still there.
Rick had problems with his drum kit, some poor techie fumbling around on the floor trying to fix the Kick, I believe, Viv on stage with Ricky, not plugged in, and some lucky girl getting a kiss from him later on.
Joe getting a hug and kiss from someone jumping onto stage, and Phil shirtless throughout, just a few of the highlights, i'm sure someone else will fill you in on any I missed. Brilliant, what a way to kick of the second leg, all of the guys sure know how to work their crowd. Can't wait till they get themselves back again!.
Fan Review - By Jonathon Dinnes
So, on to the first night of the second leg of the X tour. It was a strange atmosphere in the run up to the gig, as normally I'm used to travelling to gigs but this one was right on my doorstep. The excitement didn't truly kick in till I arrived at the venue around 7:45, but I got a drink to calm myself. I must admit to having reservations about going to a seated show as I hadn't had seats at a gig since my very first Def Leppard show when I was 12! There was no need to worry as the playhouse was such a great venue and was just oozing with atmosphere, it built up the tension nicely. I missed Ricky Warwick but got down to see Must who I actually thought were pretty good, the singers got a great voice although I'm not too sure about the clockwork orange style get up! After that it was a long 25 minute wait.
At about 8:50 the 'Disintegrate' intro came on and everyone burst out of their seats cheering. They've modified the intro lights since Feb, to the better in my opinion. The band took to the stage with a surprise opening song: 'Action'. The real peach for me though was hearing 'Too Late For Love' which I haven't heard since '92, and missed last time around. It really was a great start to the show, and the sound quality was absolutely amazing. The gig was going great up until 'Hysteria', at which point the crowd suddenly went up a notch and then the atmosphere really kicked in. From this point they were far more vocal and a good gig had become a great one. From around this point there was a lot more banter coming from Joe too, who did a good job of winding the crowd up about Glasgow being louder (they were!). They didn't play too many new songs this time around, only 'Now' and 'Four Letter Word', but they sounded much better than on the previous leg, particularly the latter.
The last third of the show was amazing as always, nice to hear 'Whole Lotta Love' creeping back into 'Rocket' again. The end of the show seemed to just fly in with some standout performances of the older favourites. Towards the end Joe was talking about how Rick's drum kit was getting jealous now that he's married, and talked a bit about the UK tours and by the end of the show there really was an amazing atmosphere - it reminded me of the Brixton Academy show back in February, a similar venue. Definite highlights of the show for me were the totally amazing performance of 'Slang', probably the best I've ever heard it, the really heavy version of 'Pour Some Sugar on Me', and the awesome performance of 'Love Bites', a great surprise to end a really great show. This one surpassed all my expectations, and I hope the rest of the shows can do the same.
Finally big thanks to the band not only for coming to the UK twice, but also for 'taking the show to the people' as Joe put it, and not just playing 'the usual places', its hugely appreciated.
Fan Review - By The Hackster
So, it's official - the album is now called X (ex), and not X (ten). At least thats what Mr Elliott announced on Saturday night.
Anyway, I'll get to the point. The band played really well as you would expect, starting with a blistering rendition of 'Action'. The crowd were on their feet from the off and the Leps kept them there for the duration.
A few points of interest - Sav seems to have dispensed with the radio mic, preferring it would seem not one but two conventional microphones. Viv took on a bit more lead guitar than usual, which was no bad thing. And after all these years Ricks kit is as unreliable as ever, although only the eagle-eyed would have noticed as the kid never missed a beat! (Where would we be without gaffa tape?).
My only gripe however is with the sound. I'm no expert but the support group "MusT" actually sounded better-surely I'm not the only one to notice this! Anyway, apart from that, best songs were 'Four Letter Word', 'Slang', and 'Hysteria'.
Highlight of the evening though - Joe waving to my six year old daughter who, along with my wife, managed to blag a couple of front row seats (if only for 5 minutes) while Yours truly was safely tucked up in the circle.
was safely tucked up in the circle. Life's not fair. Until the next time.
Fan Review - By 9lives
There are plenty of bands who are effectively discarded by their fan base long before their sell by date has elapsed. One of those bands arguably is Def Leppard. The 25-year veterans have long left behind the glory days of "Hysteria" - an album that sold millions around the world, provided a number 1 US single, 6 top 20 UK singles and a two-year world tour.
Although they have released four albums and a greatest hits since, Joe Elliott and his band have been restricted to decreasingly smaller venues and minor hits. So on 18th October 2003, they kicked off the second leg of their UK tour in support of their latest album, "X", in Edinburgh, Scotland.
2003, they kicked off the second leg of their UK tour in support of their latest album, "X", in Edinburgh, Scotland. It was a sign of the times that in their first visit to Edinburgh in 15 years, the band failed to sell out the 3,000-capacity of the beautifully designed Edinburgh Playhouse. But those who did come were ready to rock, and while some hadn't seen the band in some time, I had seen them perform in Dublin 8 months earlier, so knew what to expect. The stage was set up in a fairly standard fashion with a huge white "X" on the back wall, changing colour and pattern during the songs.
Coming off an extensive American tour, the band had shifted their set-list around a little from the first leg of the "X" tour. They kicked off with 'Action', a cut from their 1993 rarities album, "Retro Active", and went straight into the early-80s metal anthem 'Rock! Rock! (Till You Drop)'. Ludicrous? Of course. Entertaining? Without a doubt.
They made a brief stop off in the 90s with the catchy 'Make Love Like a Man' before returning once again to their early days. Versions of the moderate 'Foolin' and much better 'Too Late for Love' had even this sedate crowd moving around a little bit. The fans knew the early stuff, but it was time for a modern classic.
'Hysteria' was the breakthrough and the fans went crazy as Phil Collen, Rick Savage and Vivian Campbell pumped out the unforgettable rhythm of one of their biggest hits. 'Out of touch, outta reach yeeeahhh', Joe sung with the 3,000 choir members that had signed up for one night only. Keeping the anthemic vibe going, they launched straight into their biggest UK hit, 'When Love & Hate Collide' before increasing the tempo ten-fold with the alternative rocker, 'Slang'.
After a visit to their latest release for the so-so 'Four Letter Word', four-fifths of the band left the stage leaving Joe there to strum an acoustic, trying to get the audience to participate in a sing-along to a well-known local song. The band returned, acoustics in hand for an outstanding rendition of 'Two Steps Behind' (from "The Last Action Hero" soundtrack), getting the best out of the audience by suggesting that they should be able to out-sing the fans in Glasgow.
It was time for another track from "X", this time the much better single 'Now' (a top 30 UK hit). At this point it occurred to you that we were more than half-way through the night, and only one track from their best-selling album, "Hysteria", had been aired. That all changed with stunning renditions of the opening tracks from that album, 'Women' and 'Rocket'. Stretching 'Rocket' out for more than ten minutes, the band entertained with a guitar-based duel between Phil and Viv, both taking turns at playing powerful solos on top of Rick Allen's thumping bass drum. Joe even segued into a brief performance of 'Whole Lotta Love' before polishing off the closing minutes of 'Rocket'.
The workmanlike 'Armageddon It' was a prelude to their early 80s US smash, 'Photograph', before once again returning to "Hysteria" for arguably their best song, 'Animal', and best known song, 'Pour Some Sugar On Me'. It was a great way to send the fans home happy...except it wasn't...
We all got a breather when Joe took the mic to thank the fans for their support and to have a chuckle about Rick's drum kit falling apart during the closing songs, needing some emergency maintenance from the backstage team. The crowd then got an opportunity to give an emotional ovation to a man who endured the very sad loss of his left arm in 1984, but returned to drum for the 80s biggest rock band. With the three guitarists returning after some brief recoup, Rick introduced ("gunter glieben glauchen globen") 'Rock of Ages' from "Pyromania, one of the night's best songs, and once again the band raised the roof with a polished version of a classic rocker.
You could easily predict the inevitable encore. 'Love Bites' sounded better than it had done in the studio over 15 years previous - emotional and soulful - while standard concert-closer 'Let's Get Rocked' is a daft but likeable rock number.
It wasn't an outstanding performance - I thought they were better in Dublin earlier in the year - but it was extremely entertaining and they are still one of the better 80s bands on the circuit. Past their prime? Oh aren't we all.
Fan Review - By DefLep82
The show opened with Ricky Warwick and I have to say that second time around his material sounds better - it grows on you. As has become customary during their gigs in the States, Viv joined him for the second last number.
Next up - MusT. Oh dear. Whilst the music was okay I really feel that I should, nay MUST, give them the following tips:
1. Lose the chamber-pot style hat. 2. Find trousers that fit you. 3. Stop dancing like you have a squad of carnivorous ants in your underwear.
The Leps opened with 'Action' followed by 'Rock! Rock!' and this seemed to set the Pyromania flavour of the night with no less than 5 tracks from that album. Rock! Rock!, Rock of Ages, Photograph, Foolin' and 'Too Late'. A long overdue 'Women' was also part of the show as well as the usual PSSOM, Rocket, Animal, Armageddon It, Love Bites (encore) and 'Hysteria' from the Hysteria album. We also got 'Let's Get Rocked' (encore), 'Promises', 'Slang' and '2 Steps Behind'. They only played 2 songs from X; '4-letter Word' and 'Now'.
Rick had some problems with his kit during the show and his tech was constantly having to tape up the problem area. At one point Joe ended up chatting to while away the moments whilst it was being repaired. He reckoned the kit was jealous over the amount of time Rick was spending getting "jiggy" with his new wife!! Rick had also managed to halt the show earlier by needing the loo.
During '2 Steps' Joe tried to get the crowd to sing a song by the Sensational Alex Harvey Band (as he had done, quite sucessfully, in February at the Glasgow Barrowlands) but, as he was in Edinburgh it got a pathetic response. Sorry Joe - but it's kind of like asking a Canadian to sing the American National Anthem. Edinburgh and Glasgow are big rivals. One very enthusiastic fan jumped onto the stage during 'Rock of Ages' and planted a kiss on (a very obliging) Joe. She then also proceeded to kiss the security guard who came to escort her off the stage.
All in all it was a good show, but (there's always a but) it didn't have the atmosphere of the February show at the Glasgow Barrowlands - primarily due to the seated venue. p.s. To the kiljoys in the balcony that remained seated for the whole show - shame on you!.
Fan Review - By Donnie (sent in Jan 2005)
There was one major problem for lep even before they took to the stage, the venue was never going to attract the same type of crowd as the Glasgow gig earlier in the year. Add to this the gig was very poorly advertised in Scotland resulting in the top tier of stalls being empty. And because it was reserved seating the usual die hards fans didn't all make it to the front.
Ricky started us off again with another great display, and for one song was helped out on electric guitar by Viv. Quite a few rushed in from the bar when word got out about that. Must, well, were simply not a must.
Lep came on and everyone went mad, straight to the standing position apart from the tiered stalls who stayed put. That was to set the tone for the gig, the band were really trying hard but it just wasn't their usual crowd and it was an uphill struggle. Halfway through the gig Joe even said he wasn't going to sing anymore until they stood up. These people were more used to seeing Chicago here than Rock. The best thing to come out of the show was that Rick's kit kept breaking down (due to it had just arrived from US). Joe reckoned it was jet lagged. Which mean't that Joe had, at times to fill the space with some talk time, which was not only entertaining, but informative.
The verdict - not a bad show but far from lep's best show ever. (Which was Glasgow in February earlier in the year).
share this page:
get def leppard news
Stay in touch with the latest updates.
explore def leppard tour history
