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Sunday, 11th December 2011
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Manchester, England - Media Reviews

Def Leppard, Motley Crue, Steel Panther - Live @ The MEN Arena, Manchester By Mad4it

Tickets There kept the head down majorly last year, but you didn't think we'd miss one of the greatest touring line-ups in living history did you? The heroic conquering heroes Def Leppard, the filthiest grime and sleaze you can scrape off the streets of LA (Steel Panther :p) and the tided up and looking great Motley Crue all under the same roof! Not something to be missed no matter how far you have to travel.

Anyone that's ever been to the MEN arena knows two things. First, it's massive! Entering at the top level and walking down those oh so fun steps in the dark with thousands of people behind you is no fun whatsoever; but if fills you with plenty of adrenaline that can be doused with pints. Second, there's no smoking….officially. What happens in the toilets, stays in the toilets. Aside from that, it's easily one of the greatest venues in the U.K. with plenty of bars, merch stands, standing room and incredible sound. Walking in at the obnoxiously early time of 18:30, it's strange to see the arena so full, but then again Steel Panther are already on stage and nobody wants to miss this.

Opening with 'Supersonic Sex Machine' from their new album, Balls Out, Steel Panther are on fire from the word go. While some felt their tongue in cheek take on metal wouldn't wash with the English crowd (I cannot fathom where that idea came from) it seems Panther know what they're doing no matter where they play. 'Tomorrow Night', 'Asian Hooker' and 'Just Like Tiger Woods' gain them a rapturous response from the crowd and an understood, open invite to return to the UK anytime they choose; but the night's over yet. Their onstage banter, led by guitarist Satchel, and riff heavy tracks are the perfect entertainment to kick off a night of hair metal. The group close with the classic ballad 'Community Property', '17 Girls In A Row' and the almighty giant, 'Death to All but Metal' and it's oh so appropriate line, "Where is Def Leppard, Where is Motley Crue?"…well they're backstage "fucking groupies" according to singer Michael Starr. With the group earning "literally hundreds of pounds" to play this tour and their promotion over Reckless Love in the spandex genre, no doubt they'll come back for more in 2012.

With the novelty side of the night over, it's time for the first of our two headliners to lay the marker, throw the gauntlet and blow our heads off! Motley Crue explodes onstage with all the fire, energy and power they're known for. 'Wild Side' (the greatest drinking song in their repertoire), 'Saints of Los Angeles' (proof they still know how to write bitchin' tracks) and 'Live Wire' open the show. Nikki Sixx, Vince Neil, Tommy Lee and the great Mick Mars all shine on stage with Vince and Nikki covering every inch of the stage, Mick holding his own with the fans and on guitar; and of course, Tommy the legend overshadowing all of them from behind his kit. How does he do it? Well you gotta be blonde to find that out. In every possible way, everyone in attendance tonight knows they're witnessing one of the most iconic bands in rock music at their best.

'Shout At The Devil' boosts a mass sing along from the crows with arms raised, explosions from the stage and pounding on the bass. 'S.O.S.' and the awesome 'Primal Scream' keep the adrenaline going before the band convene around a grand piano for a stripped back rendition of 'Home Sweet Home' before re-launching the action with 'Looks That Kill'. Taking a break, the band retires back stage to let Tommy begin his drum solo and did we mention….. his drum was set up on a rollercoaster track? Oh Yeah! Tommy kicks off his solo as standard before the whole kit starts to roll to the left and right of the track before going into full 360 action without a single beat being missed. Slowing down, Tommy asks for volunteers from the audience to come up, eventually catching one bewildered looking lady who gets strapped in and flown off as Tommy drums the beat from the Chilli Pepper's 'Love Roller-coaster'. And we thought Steel panther were meant to have the theatrics! With that, the band return for Mick Mars apocalyptic-solo before the bands returns for 'Dr. Feelgood'.

As Crue's set comes to an end (still have another band! TT - you're writing too much nonsense - Ed), Leppard singer, Joe Elliott, walks on stage to present Nikki with a birthday cake and rouse the crowd to sing to him. The set's closed with 'Mutherfucker of the Year', 'Girls, Girls, Girls' and 'Smokin' In The Boys Room'. With one encore of 'Kickstart My Heart', the boys are done and the stage is dismantled. While Vince's voice has never been known for its dominating power in the arena, the sheer force of the band's sound and incredible wealth of tunes makes them one of the must see bands on the road today. Anytime ye fancy an auld visit to Ireland lads, Tickets There will be waiting.

Now, time for the true Gods of the live arena. The band that sell sex, love and rockin' out with every note! The one, the only (we're fans - get over it); Def Leppard! While Panther have the comedy, Crue have the edge; Leppard will always be the force that pulls it all together and adds so much more. They overcome every single obstacle in the book of 'Shit things that happen to bands' and still come out on top every time. They've lost members, limbs, fans, popularity and sales and yet here they are, 30+ years after their inception still headlining arenas around the world and breaking new ground with every step. No matter what you say about Def Leppard, they are a true model of how a band stays together, stays successful and comes out 'winning' every time.

Leppard kick of their set on a stage that suddenly looks twice as large with 'Undefeated' from their new live album, Mirrorball. The band looks every bit in shape and together as they ever have and they waste no time displaying those traits that help them outshine all others in their class. 'Rocket', 'Action', 'Make Love Like A Man' and 'When Love and Hate Collide' all lead the traditional route into the heart of their set with Joe Elliott's voice literally decimating the sound system with its power. Despite the Crue fans bickering about the true headliners tonight, no-one in the arena can deny that Elliott is knocking Vince Neil out of the park with every note. And it's not like the rest of the band are taking a break either. 'Gods of War', a rare inclusion, sets the night on fire with its powerful riffs, courtesy of Phil and Viv. It's pounding, yet starkly placed drums (aka - Mr. Rick 'Thunder God' Allen) and its incredible wall of backing vocals and heaving bas lines. Step up Mr. Sav. If this isn't everything you want from a Leppard concert, I don't know what is!

'Two Steps Behind', 'Bringin' on the Heartbreak' and the mega 'Switch 625' really lay it home how good the band are sounding these days. It's obvious the lads are delighted to be playing their first proper UK shows in four years (not including their 2009 and 2011 headlining shows at Download - ahem - Ed) and they're basking in every minute of it. 'Hysteria' and 'Animal' follow before the pile drive the set home with the classics 'Armageddon It', 'Photograph' and 'Pour Some Sugar On me'. The band sacrificed 'Rock of Ages' for Gods of War, but who's complaining? Leppard return to the stage to round of an incredibly long but mind-blowing night with 'Love Bites' and the always classic, 'Let's Get Rocked'. Band happy, Lepp fans happy and Motley Crue begrudgingly tipping their hats - it's a wrap. After eight shows in five years, TT doesn't know when we'll get to see the mighty Lepp again, but one's things for sure; there will be a next time...

By Ticket's There 2011.


Gig Review: Def Leppard, Motley Crue & Steel Panther - MEN Arena - 11/12/11 By Martin Hutchinson

THOSE entering the MEN Arena without ear-plugs on Sunday evening certainly did so at their own peril as three of the loudest bands you could ever wish (?) to hear broke every conceivable noise level.

Steel Panther played a 40-minute set of eight songs which put me in mind of Spinal Tap. Are they for real?

They seemed to tick off every heavy metal cliche going, and to be honest the language was a bit too much even for my worldly ears.

The hour and a half we spent in the company of Motley Crue was spectacular to say the least.

Over a dozen of their finest, including their biggest hits such as: Primal Scream, Home Sweet Home (with drummer Tommy Lee playing the piano), Dr Feelgood, Smokin' In The Boys Room and Girls Girls Girls were played at full volume, pummelling our senses into submission.

The pyrotechnics were loud and frequent also.

During the set, Joe Elliott of Def Leppard came on to lead the 10000 crowd in singing 'Happy Birthday' to Crue's Nikki Sixx.

The highlight of their set however was the rollercoaster drum solo where the aforementioned Lee was strapped in his seat and played his solo while going around their bespoke rollercoaster - at one point playing upside-down.

Not content with that, they bolted another seat to the rig and took a member of the audience on the ride of her life!

The main event - Def Leppard - had to follow that - and naturally they did.

To describe Def Leppard as 'melodic' is perhaps an unusual choice of words, but compared to what had gone before, they were.

Ninety-five minutes of full-on British Metal from the Sheffield group confirmed the fact that, where rock is concerned, British is best.

Seventeen numbers thundered from the stage as Joe, Phil Collen, Viv Campbell, Rick Savage and Ric Allen showed that things get better with age.

Staring with Undefeated and then the classic Rocket, the band played the other bands off the stage.

Their cover of The Sweet's Action was a sure-fire show-stopper and so it continued.

There waas even time for a couple of acoustic songs with Two Steps Behind and Bringin' On The Heartache.

Their best-selling album Hysteria was well represented with seven of the discs' 11 songs being played to a rabid audience of metalheads.

Make Love Like A Man, When Love And Hate Collide and Animal were particularly well-received, as was the anthemic Armageddon It.

The set finished with three of their very best: Pour Some Sugar On Me, Love Bites and Let's Get Rocked.

Loud it certainly was, the guitars were soundly thrashed and vocal chords shredded.

But for sheer excellence, it was hard to take your eyes off the powerhouse of Ric Allen.

Maybe in a few days my hearing will return, but what a way to lose it!

By The Bolton News 2011.


Steel Panther, Motley Crue and Def Leppard review from MEN Arena By TheRearViewMirror

Three band bill at the Manchester Evening News Arena (MEN Arena). Those names are GIANTS when it comes to live-performances, definitely among the best in the business. Without a doubt always worth a trip to anywhere!

STEEL PANTHER

When we were standing outside the arena, waiting for the doors to open, I admitted that I had never listened to Steel Panther. The clown-thing works in a movie but I didn't think I would like it in a "real band". So my expectations were down to zero. When you've got no expectations whatsoever, it's usually a good thing. You can't get disappointed.

I've heard about these guys a lot from a good friend who really digs them, and he's sent me plenty of links to their videos on Youtube, even from back when they were Metal Skool.

As I was watching the arena fill up, it was crystal clear that a LOT of people had come to see Steel Panther. One silly bad wig after another and lots of tiger- and leopard-spandex everywhere.

Lights went out, intro voice started, crowd screaming...and out came Steel Panther - looking just as ridiculously 80's as I imagined they would. But they were freaking great.

Even if the whole point of this band is celebrating, or doing a parody of the 80's glam and sleaze-scene, they are doing it damn well. Not that it's surprising that the musicianship is top notch - after all it's a bunch of former session musicians. They know their business and the songs were surprisingly good.

The band had a fantastic energy on stage that was really contageous. Most of all, I was laughing so hard at their silliness, they were too fuckin' funny! I swear, my FACE was aching from the constant laughing and smiling - so I give Steel Panther a big, fat 10 out of 10 for entertainment value!

Can't wait to see them again, and next time not from the seated section, but from the front row!

MÖTLEY CRÛE

I've seen Motley Crue many, many times over the years - but I've never seen them do such an unexpected entry ever...! First there's a bunch of roadies preparing the stage for the band, the arena is lit and music is playing, people out there buying merch and beer.... When out of the blue, we're talking seconds, lights go out and the Crue runs in on stage - BAM!!

There's Vince Neil! Uhm.... and yeah. That was pretty much the only person you really noticed throughout Motley Crues entire set. Vince was all over the place. He might not be a Pavarotti and he never was - at times his voice sucked really bad. BUT - I salute him for his showmanship.

He is the only one on the stage, except for Tommy Lee, who genuinely seems to be enjoying himself and gives everything he's got.

I was always a Nikki Sixx-fan, I guess the whole world is... Or was. But I don't see him enjoying himself really. If he is, he hides it pretty well. There were times when I had to really look hard to find him on the stage from where I was. Even when I'm reading his posts on Facebook, he sounds more like a management than a musician with a true love for rock'n'roll. It shows on stage too.

Yet he is the star and the icon of the band - probably more because he is cool. And he's hot. I'll give him that. :)

The entertainers in Mötley are Vince and Tommy.

The drum-solo was WICKEDDDDDD!! It's just so over the top insane. It's what makes Motley Crue a band worth seeing - you can be sure that they will bring something new, something crazy, something wild, something that's just nuts. If you want a SHOW, this is the band to go see. No expenses are spared.

Super cool lightshow, good sound, the classic songs that we can all sing along to. I can't say I was bored, but I didn't get a huge kick either - except for maybe when they played my favorite songs.

I'm impressed Mick Mars can do what he does, against all odds - that's just amazing.

But basically - the stars of the LIVE-band Mötley Crë were Vince and Tommy, for working their asses off on stage. Can't wait to see them again at Sweden Rock Festival next year!

DEF LEPPARD

Def Leppard did everything right. Yet it didn't go all the way. I've been trying to figure out why, because I can't point out any particular reason. It was just that "THAT" was lacking. The magic wasn't there - although everything else was.

Impressive stage production. Flawless sound. And Joe Elliott. He's always impressed me, cause he's a one-of-a-kind frontman who always OWNS his stage.

He still had the same presence, very confident, very intense. But it didn't do anything for me. It felt like watching a Las Vegas-show. Everything picture perfect, yet it was just another day at the office for Def Leppard.

The only time they felt human and close to the crowd, was when they stripped down and performed an acoustic version of "Two Steps Behind". Suddenly they made Europe's largest indoor arena, with a 21,000 capacity, feel like an intimate evening at the local pub. That was impressive.

The songs are there and the Leps have done this shit since they were kids. They sure as hell know what they're doing. It's just that there always comes a time in every artist's and every band's career when they lose their magic - or when it temporarily disappears.

I'd say that this evening should have been reversed - Def Leppard should have opened, followed by Motley Crue and then wrapped up by the high-energy hungry Steel Panther. If performance ruled those things and not record sales, that would have been a lot more interesting. ;P

We left the show before it was over, had a night-bus to catch. When we walked out, it didn't feel like I was missing out on a whole lot.

BUT - it was still worth the trip, no doubt about it.

Nothing was BAD it just didn't quite go all the way up to eleven. :-)

Or maybe I'm just getting picky. :-D

By TheRearViewMirror 2011.

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