San Bernardino, CA - Media Reviews

Bryan Adams, Def Leppard rock the park in San Bernardino By George A. Paul

The score was close until one of them batted in several runs. Wait a minute. That wasn't an Inland Empire 66ers game held at Arrowhead Credit Union Park on Sunday night; it was a rare headline rock concert in San Bernardino. Judging by the amount of Union Jack concert T-shirts and banners, a majority of people were there to see British pop/metal band Def Leppard. Yet it was Canadian journeyman rocker Bryan Adams who stole the show with excellent sound and lighting, audience participation, humor and some surprises.

The only Southern California stop on this Rock & Roll Doubleheader tour drew nearly 10,000 concertgoers from around the Inland area and beyond (matchbox twenty drummer Paul Doucette and actor-comedian David Spade were among the celebs spotted). Unfortunately, many left before Adams took the stage.

Def Leppard opened their 16-song, 80-minute set with "Action," from the 1993 rarities collection "Retroactive." Singer Joe Elliott sported a black sports coat and leather pants and belted out vocals in front of a blurred screen that projected an old Def Lep cartoon and live group images.

Much to the crowd's delight, the band delved into one raucous, fist-pumping hit after another, mainly culled from 1987's phenomenally successful "Hysteria." A muddy sound mix tended to bury Elliott's lower register, but lead guitarist Phil Collen's shredding solos and the other guys' harmonies made you forget any problems.

Among the standouts were "Photograph," a pile-driving "Foolin'," the sway-inducing, power ballad "Love Bites" and a fun, extended "Armageddon It," led by the sinewy guitar tandem of Collen and Vivian Campbell. "Rocket" lived up to its name when both axemen engaged in a duel, then Rick Allen added tribal beats and Elliott did some Middle Eastern-styled wailing. Come encore time, Def Leppard pulled out the dramatic, early '80s rock radio fave "Bringin' on the Heartbreak." Sexually charged anthem "Pour Some Sugar on Me" finished everything on a high.

By U-Press Telegram 2005.

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Def Leppard, Adams shine in stadium show By Russell Ingold

Fans of powerhouse 1980s-style rock had been waiting a long time for a superb concert to come to the Inland Empire. Last Sunday, it finally arrived.

Def Leppard and Bryan Adams provided stirring performances during a Rock and Roll Double Header concert at Arrowhead Credit Union Park in San Bernardino.

Close to 10,000 fans waited in a long line at the baseball stadium for a chance to hear these multi-platinum selling artists, who are each releasing new albums this year.

The only questionable aspect of this concert was the fact that the audiences for Adams and Def Leppard are rather different. Adams has generally come across as an amiable and romantic pop star (as evidenced by hits like "Heaven"), while Def Leppard has always had a darker and more ferocious undercurrent that was augmented by the band's personal tragedies.

Many people attending the San Bernardino concert apparently decided that it was worth just seeing Def Leppard (the opening act) and then leaving before Adams took the stage. They were right, because vocalist Joe Elliott and his British buddies (pictured above) were fantastic, reeling off a slew of great songs during their outstanding show.

What makes Def Leppard so appealing is that the band plays heavy guitar-driven rock that is accompanied by fine songwriting sensibilities and top-notch vocal harmonies. These characteristics shone through on Sunday night, especially on tunes such as "Foolin'" and "Bringin' on the Heartbreak."

The group played several hits from the smash 1987 album "Hysteria," including "Love Bites" and the title track. It was also good to hear "Women" -- one of the few singles from that splendid album that wasn't a hit (but deserved to be).

Def Leppard even included a sizzling version of "Action," another underappreciated song which was penned by the Sweet in the 1970s.

Let's hope that the success of this show will provide the impetus for bringing many more big-name artists to Inland Empire venues (including the California Speedway in Fontana) in the near future.

By Fontana Herald News 2005.

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