Birmingham/Pelham, AL - Media Reviews

History repeats itself By Mary Colurso

Def Leppard, Journey go over familiar turf at Verizon Center. Even when principal players are missing, hits sound dusty with age, trends have passed them by and new songs just don't cut it anymore " well, who would be arrogant enough to proclaim that nostalgia acts need to call it quits?

And why would musicians want to shut down such lucrative time machines?

Hardcore fans still come out to their concerts by the thousands, even if shows are held outdoors on chill, rainy weeknights in November. For evidence, look no further than Wednesday's

About 10,500 people were present " and most of them were cheering wildly " during a 7:45 p.m. set of whirling, swirling, extremely dated prog-rock and a 9:40 p.m. set of clunky, chugging, bombastic hard rock.

If these songs left you cold 20 years ago, they'd have you shivering in misery now, listening amid the bad weather.

Def Leppard, in contrast, has held onto its famous frontman, gritty shouter Joe Elliott. Original bassist Rick Savage. and longtime drummer Rick Allen still are with the group, as well.

As Wednesday's concert demonstrated, Def Leppard's problem isn't personnel. It's freshness and quality.

Elliott's voice, somewhat hidden in the mix, sounded overly gruff and flat, as if reaching for notes he could no longer hit.

Def Leppard's signature tunes " including "Bringin' on the Heartbreak," "Let's Get Rocked" and "Hysteria" " haven't worn well, either.

They slogged along like dinosaur anthems, big and dumb, with repetitive lyrics that rarely challenged the intellect or the imagination.

A few extended instrumental solos sprinkled throughout the set were rife with rock cliches and posing.

One exception to that rule: Allen, a one-armed drummer, remains an interesting focal point for the band. But he couldn't save Def Leppard's set " or this dreary evening of period pieces " all by himself.

Let us state, for the record, that rock bands from the 1980s have a right to exist. performances by Journey and Def Leppard at the Verizon Wireless Music Center in Pelham.

By Alabama News 2006.

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