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Saturday, 8th November 2008
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Brisbane, QLD - Media Reviews

Def Leppard / Cheap Trick By Simon Topper

BEC - Sat Nov 8 - It's a shock to see such a generally young crowd in attendance, and as Cheap Trick drag their bones onto the stage, the disparity in years is all the more apparent. Robin Zander's voice is in excellent nick for '70s and '80s classics Surrender, Dream Police and power ballad of the night The Flame. However it's guitarist Rick Nielsen who is the only member to directly address the crowd, and when he does, he's like a used car salesman, throwing literally hundreds of guitar picks to the crowd, and demanding more noise from an audience that's anything but disrespectful. You know something's amiss when even a five neck guitar can't make you feel the love, and so a musically adequate but atmospherically off-putting set leaves the venue lukewarm.

It's been 16 years since Def Leppard last played Australia, but if the unbelievable amount of band t-shirts is anything to go by, time has only made flannie-clad hearts grow fonder. A packed stadium roars as the English rockers launch straight into Rocket, and there are no complaints as best selling album Hysteria provides a good clump of the set. They don't have as many anthems as Bon Jovi. They don't have the same popular longevity of Aerosmith. They don't have the metal cred of Iron Maiden. But Def Leppard, baring their chests, running around with perpetually-changing guitars and belting out Grade 8 style sexual references ("I suppose a rock's out of the question"), even as aging men, are completely likeable. An acoustic set, and even a drum solo (yes, the one armed dude is still belting away) mix things up a little, but these five boy-men know they're at their fun peak when they're ploughing through their silly hard rock hits like highlight Pour Some Sugar On Me, and judging by the extended, heartfelt applause even after the houselights, Brisbane is home to plenty who feel the same. And there's barely a mullet amongst them.

By Rave Magazine 2008.


By Ozmusicscene

Def Leppard, Cheap Trick, and The Galvatrons @ Brisbane Entertainment Centre, 8 November 2008.

All those things that I felt Cheap Trick lacked, Def Leppard had in spades. Like Cheap Trick, they've been around for nearly thirty years. But you wouldn't know it. Joe Elliott strutted out on the catwalk, every inch the rock star, compelling us to clap along to the smash hit "Rocket." Those massive songs just kept coming with such passion and enthusiasm it was almost as if they were being played for the first time. The band is filled with amazing musicians who know how to entertain. And the sounds that Rick Allen gets from his drum kit with just one arm would put most two-armed drummers to shame! A highlight of the set was the acoustic section, where the whole auditorium joined in singing "Two Steps Behind" and were just as excited about "Bringin' on the Heartbreak." Def Leppard haven't played in Australia for 16 years, but were genuinely touched that we haven't forgotten them. When they still play such fun, exciting sets, how could we? When they finished up that last song, a blistering version of "Let's Get Rocked" we all rose to our feet for the longest standing ovation I can remember. They earned it.

It's been a long time since I've travelled interstate for a show, but the brilliance of The Galvatrons and Def Leppard made it worth my while. I only hope Def Leppard keep their promise and return to our shores soon. Until then, I might just have to check out a few more Galvatrons shows!

By Ozmusicscene 2008.

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