Birmingham, England - Media Reviews
The Gods Of Rock Show How It Should Be Done By Steve Beebee
Rating - KKKKK out of five -- As little as five years ago, the idea of this co-headline arena tour might have been dismissed as fantasy. Given a taste of what rock bands used to do - the showmanship, the songs, the outrageous talents - it seems that what was once dismissed for firstly being out of fashion, and then simply for being unfamiliar, is back in our face where it should be. In 2008 both Def Leppard and Whitesnake have returned with Top 10 albums, a mere precursor to this sold out, filthy dream of a tour.
Fresh from Download, Black Stone Cherry are an excellent addition to the hard rock fold, playing gritty hook-laden music that many have turned up early for. Whitesnake's David Coverdale strolls on to rapturous applause, grinning, taken aback, and striding immeadiately to the tip of the T-shaped stage to raise the mic stand high. What follows is a set of fire and passion - bluesy Whitesnake rock of old transformed into belting anthems, and songs from new album Good To Be Bad melted into the mix like old friends. Guitarists Doug Aldrich and Reb Beach are up there with the finest of the many personnel to have played for Coverdale, and the stop-start thrust of Still Of The Night is still enough to make you gape, slack-jawed, like a twat.
When the lights go down a third time, huge screens fill with images of Union Jack flags, and the roars of pride, excitement and patriotism - stuff we'd almost forgotten - bounce off the walls. Def Leppard open with Rocket, and if you can block out the resposnse, you realise you're listening to an extraordinary band - one that's comprised of sublime, flexi-talented musicians that include the genuinely heroic Rick Allen who taught himself to play a uniquely designed drum kit having lost an arm in a car crash. Leppard's show reinterprets the word 'anthemic'. Listing the highlights would mean writing out the set list.
There's a nice semi-acoustic intermission in which all but Allen gather at the front to perform a note-perfect Two Steps Behind and dig back to 1981 for power ballad Bringin' On The Heartbreak. When it all ends, amid the daft but glorious party anthem Let's Get Rocked, one thing unites this 11,000-strong crowd - a desire to turn back time and replay the whole thing.
By Kerrang! 2008.
How was it for you? - Joe Elliott Says By Kerrang
"How can you describe a gig in which there's 11,000 people screaming every word back at you? It's an amazing honour. In this online age, it's fantastic to see how live music still brings people together. I've known David Coverdale for years, and while there's no rivalry between us and Whitesnake, coming on after them makes us feel that we're one-nil down at halftime and simply have to raise our game every night."
By Kerrang! 2008.
Def Leppard and Whitesnake, NEC Arena By Andy Colman
TWO of the biggest names in rock squared up in a value for money gig that had a packed NEC calling for more.
After a tasty warm up by Kentucky boys Black Stone Cherry, David Coverdale and Whitesnake were the first into the ring.
Bravely opening with Best Years, the opening track from their new Good To Be Bad album, DC and his merry men soon had the place rockin' as they mixed old and new songs.
Marking their 30th anniversary, the audience were soon singing along to the likes of Fool For Your Loving, Love Ain't No Stranger and Ain't No Love In The Heart Of The City. And newies such as Can You Hear The Wind Blow and Lay Down Your Love received a warm reception.
The concise 80 minute set featured a dozen numbers -but there was still room for a guitar duet from Doug Aldrich and Reb Beach, and a drum solo by Timothy Drury.
Def Leppard found White-snake a hard act to follow, despite having a spectacular video backdrop. They launched into Rocket but frontman Joe Elliott's voice seemed a little muted.
Like the 'Snake, the Leps also have a new album out and they wisely chose to showcase high tempo numbers from Songs From The Sparkle Lounge.
Joe had to work hard to get a reaction from a crowd seemingly exhausted by the Whitesnake set but eventually, after an hour, Pour Some Sugar On Me got people on their feet.
"Now we've got you going," announced the relieved singer. Little time remained so it was all systems go for Rock Of Ages, Bad Actress and Let's Get Rocked.
In the end it was a close run thing but Whitesnake edged it on points. The real winners, however, were the fans who were treated to some classic rock from two bands who showed they can still deliver the goods.
By Birmingham Mail 2008.
Double delight for classic rock fans By Debbie Bennett
No-one can resist a BOGOF offer - and last night it was two for the price of one when rock giants Def Leppard and Whitesnake thundered into Birmingham on the second night of their UK tour.
The bands have joined forces as both celebrate their 30-year anniversaries - and as both have just released new albums.
But there's clearly no stopping these heavy rock stalwarts who are still storming the album charts, with Def Leppard's Songs from the Sparkle Lounge in the US top five and Whitesnake's anniversary CD Good to be Bad in the UK top 10, as frontman David Coverdale boasted at last night's sell-out gig.
Whitesnake took the stage first, after support early on from Kentucky rock band Black Stone Cherry.
Special mention was given during their set to former guitarist Mel Galley, of Cannock, who is terminally ill with cancer.
Coverdale dedicated Love Ain't No Stranger to his "dear friend".
But this was a rare serious moment for Coverdale who, from the outset, enjoyed his trademark flirting with the crowd - even getting one delighted fan a drink.
There was a taste of new material with the album track The Best Years, and a potful of favourites followed, including Fool For Your Lovin' and Is This Love.
The almost 90-minute set finished with the 80s hit Here I Go Again, and Still Of The Night, although time spent on a drum solo and a "duelling guitars" interlude could have been better used on two other songs.
A well co-ordinated set change provided the stage for Def Leppard, who launched into Rocket.
Although several crowd pleasers such as Armageddon It, David Essex's Rock On and new single Nine Lives were among the first songs in the set, singer Joe Elliot had to work hard to get some noise from the fairly staid Birmingham crowd.
But a cracking set list eventually had everyone on their feet, with such classics as Hysteria, Animal, Photograph and Rock of Ages keeping die-hard and new fans enthralled.
Leppard played the same length set as Whitesnake as they shared the bill, and there was something new and something old for the all-too-soon encore, Bad Actress and Let's Get Rocked.
Elliot promised the Leps will be back - let's hope it is sooner rather than later.
By Express And Star 2008.
Def Leppard, Whitesnake and Black Stone Cherry in Brum last night By Geoff Barton
The Clog's spy just reported in from the Def Leppard/Whitesnake/Black Stone Cherry gig at Birmingham NEC last night - and it looks like the Leps and BSC stole the show.
'Whitesnake started off bloody awfully with Into The Light,' we hear. 'Things picked up marginally when they did an excellent acoustic Ain't Gonna Cry No More followed by Ain't No Love In The Heart Of The City.
'Other notable highlights were Fool For Your Loving (second in), Gimme All Your Love and Still Of The Night. But too much new stuff, too many classics missing.
'But Whitesnake were clearly not co-headliners. Very much second of a three-band bill and very much in last place behind an enthusiastic and energetic Black Stone Cherry, who got a great response, and Def Leppard, who were the best I've seen them in years. Even Joooooooe was singing well.'
Were YOU at the Birmingham show - or indeed at Glasgow on the opening night on June 17? If so, what did YOU think?
By Classic Rock 2008.
Def Leppard - Live @ NEC Birmingham 18th June 2008 By James Hope
Def Leppard 'live'
There are headline bands / there are super groups / then there are bands like Def Leppard, who are in class with only the chosen few, they set the standard for live rock acts in the 80s so im looking forward to see what we get tonight, its sold out at the NEC in Birmingham and the line up couldn’t have been better, Black Stone Cherry / Whitesnake / Def Leppard, why was this not the headline at download this year?
It's 9-40 and the house lights go down , then the stage lights up like Vegas , the clever electronic background parades the st Georges cross , ok , its now my kind of gig , then takes you from 1977 to the present with photos and clippings , all very cleverly done , enter Mr. Elliot & co , already its more than obvious that the tag of arena rock band is well titled , its immense , a massive set up , racks of marshals , Rick Allen perched up high with his hi-tec kit , Rick Savage with his patriotic bass , Phil Collen looking like he is still in his 20s , the excellent Vivian Campbell stage right and Joe Elliot taking centre , they once again prove that they have been a serious hit factory over the years , its relentless , although I have to say Joes voice seems to struggle in parts , may be this is due to it only being the second night , either way , I can forgive this as the overall performance is unreal, its almost too perfect.
Lets get rocked / hysteria/ photograph /animal/make love like a man/ the new single “nine lives “ as featured on guitar hero , however “two steps behind” and the unbelievable rendition of “bringing on the heartbreak” done acoustically was sheer perfection , even David Essex’s “rock on “ was a highlight , the stage remains faultless adding video clips whilst the band perform , this has been a highlight of the year so far , it’s a classic band performing classic hits , the kings of stadium rock are most defiantly back !!!!
By Rock3Music 2008.
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