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Monday, 25th June 2012
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Denver, CO - Media Reviews

Poison & Def Leppard - June 26th - The Pepsi Center By Ty Hyten

The Scene: On Tuesday night the Pepsi Center was home to two legendary monsters of glam metal, Poison and Def Leppard, on the "Rock of Ages" tour. The 20,000 seat arena was filled with a sea of spouses dressed in Levi's and Def Leppard t-shirts fresh from the merch stands. The stage was cloaked in black as 80's rocker Lita Ford shredded and screamed while folks found their seats.

Poison: Shortly after Lita's set the stage transformed in to a gnarly lime green and purple scene from 1988. The boys took the stage and Bret Michaels appeared from the top of a large riser behind the band with a volcanic eruption of bright white smoke. Despite a rocky past, Bret, C.C., Bobby, and Rikki all looked genuinely happy to be playing together and I guess for that amount of money I could forgive my enemies too. Michaels worked the catwalk, and touched the hands of cheering fans, as he belted "Ride the Wind." C.C. Deville's guitar screamed as he pulled and pinched the strings on his Flying V under a head of hair that hasn't changed in two decades. The guys sounded awesome and their over-the-top stage set helped fully fling the crowd into the mood for some wild 80's rock.

Def Leppard: During the set change, a giant Union Jack was lowered in front of the stage as a countdown timer on-screen built anticipation. When the clock stopped, the flag fell and Vivian Campbell, Rick Savage, the one-armed Rick Allen, and a shirtless Phil Collen started in on "Undefeated." Joe Elliott stepped forward from the back to growl "look in these eyes" as the crowd gave an arena sized cheer. The guys moved around the clean stage (no amps or pedals) with enthusiasm, albeit with a bit less hair and speed than 25 years ago.

Elliott prowled the catwalk like a husky super model, cuing fans to sing along by extending his jeweled microphone. The audience swayed and clapped their hands above their heads. After "Gods of War" the band all made their way out to the end of the catwalk with acoustic guitars (and a maraca) to play a cell-phone-raising "Where Does Love Go When It Dies?" followed by several other classics. Before retreating back to the stage Elliott mentioned to great applause that this tour was in celebration of 25 years since Hysteria was released and that some of the audience might remember that the live VHS "Live: In the Round, in Your Face" was recorded in Denver at the now demolished McNichols Sports Arena. The crowd roared and the band started the iconic intro to "Pour Some Sugar on Me." After leaving the stage, the band returned to play the tour’s namesake "Rock of Ages" which capped off an arena show done right.

This concert was just what I came expecting; an elaborate stage, two well-polished acts, and squealing guitars. But what I didn't expect was how well both acts still rock and what a great show they put on for their fans.

By Listen Up Denver! 2012.


Def Leppard, Poison at the Pepsi Center, 6/25/12 By Paige Montgomery

British rock legends Def Leppard filmed their VHS concert video,"Live: In the Round, In Your Face" at Denver's McNichols Sports Arena over 20 years ago. Judging by the crowd Monday night at the Pepsi Center, many in the audience might have been there.

The Rock of Ages Tour, which reunites Def Leppard with former tourmates Poison and opener Lita Ford, is one of several throwback concerts on the summer circuit offering audiences a chance to rock out and reminisce to some of the most recognizable songs of the past few decades. Fans who grew up with the ultra-long haired, bandana-toting versions of Poison and Def Leppard may have known more of the set lists, but when Bret Michaels belted out "Talk Dirty to Me" or when the first chords of "Pour Some Sugar on Me" sounded from Def Leppard's guitarist, there wasn't a single person in the arena who didn't sing along like it was 1988 again.

The concert was everything fans expected it to be. Poison satisfied fans with "Every Rose Has Its Thorn," signature Bret Michaels guitar tosses across the stage, a couple C.C. Deville guitar solos and a fully amped-up version of "Nothin' But A Good Time." Deville's re-entry onto the stage in a Peyton Manning jersey was also a contender for the night's biggest crowd pleasing moment.

Def Leppard's set began at 9:20 p.m. after the dropping of an oversized British flag that led into "Undefeated." The set list, stage design and even the band's attire were almost identical to the band's last set in Denver. But why fix it if it's not broken? The acoustic break in the middle of the set, which featured "Where Does Love Go When It Dies" and "Two Steps Behind" offered some variety, but really just gave concertgoers a chance to rest their feet in anticipation for "Sugar."

The show ended on the night's highest points with a back-to-back offering of "Pour Some Sugar on Me" and "Rock of Ages" - it just took an hour and a half to get there.

By Reverb Music 2012.


By Lorenzo Semple

One thing you can always count on is Def Leppard coming to Denver to play a concert. They've been coming to Colorado to do gigs for 30 years. And you can bet that I'll be there when they do. It's not because I'm a huge fan, but because I used to work for the band, and toured with them for two years of my life. I also toured with Poison for nine months, and I am undisputedly known as the world's worst stage-set carpenter.

My unlikely experience as a roadie somehow defines me. I go see them and the crew as a way of paying homage to the heavy metal music gods, and the oddly attractive vagabond lifestyle that the roadies lead. Traveling coast to coast one step ahead of the law; the tour buses like some wayward fleet of pirate ships looking for booty to pillage and plunder.

I was sitting backstage in the production office in the bowels of the Pepsi Center waiting for an omnipotent laminate to be printed out by a buxom brunette production assistant when guitarist Vivian Campbell walked in and asked her a question about the tour itinerary. He looked at me and immediately did a double take. In a thick northern Irish accent he says "We must be in Colorado …" One thing for sure, we're not in Kansas anymore.

Vivian Campbell used to play for the bands Whitesnake and Dio in their heydays, and then joined Def Leppard in the early '90s to replace their legendary guitarist Steve Clark who died a horrible death in an apartment in London. It was the classic rock star passing we've all read about and collectively shook our heads. I know with some certainty what my brief role in Steve's life was - a roadie for one of his band mates, and a 20-year-old kid from Aspen who sometimes partied with him and made his on-stage cocktails. Conversely, what role, if any, I played in his death I'm unsure of, and still often wrestle with.

Later, we were in the catering room feasting on the crew buffet when quintessential badass female veteran rocker Lita Ford stormed in after her set. She was mega pissed. What constitutes a bad day for you - a computer crash, lost cell phone, road rage, a fight with a faceless customer service agent or telemarketer on the other end of a phone? A bad day for her is different. She was furious because she blew no fewer than four amp heads on stage during her set.

Apparently, by the looks of the tattoo on her arm with a large section blacked out, she has other problems in her past as well. Lita is an anomaly in the male-dominated world of heavy metal, nonetheless a female rock goddess in her own right, and she carries herself as such. I'm clearly not worthy.

A quick trip out to the sound board after dinner for the end of Poison's set was well worth the little effort skirting security checkpoints with the all-powerful laminated pass. Brett Michaels walked on stage with an ornate custom-painted acoustic 12-string and played the opening G chord of the romantic power ballad "Every Rose Has its Thorn" and the Pepsi Center went nuts.

Tuning his guitar for that song, then catching it afterward, used to be my job long ago. Only this night I cringed as he threw it 35 feet through the air to a waiting guitar tech on the stage's left wing. The roadie awkwardly caught the guitar by the body, not by the neck as Brett prefers. It looked like he was handling a duffel bag with a bowling ball in it.

I know Brett all too well. One night in upstate Michigan he didn't like the way I performed my duties and let me know in no uncertain terms by smashing his guitar into several pieces right in front of me, but that's another story.

They powered through rousing renditions of “Talk Dirty to Me” and “Nothin’ but a Good Time” to finish their set. One thing is for sure — this music gets women so worked up they are practically ripping their clothes off. Guitarist CC DeVille was aptly wearing a Peyton Manning Bronco’s jersey. It was a nice touch that exemplifies the accessible nature of this fun-loving band, and their refreshingly light-hearted take on music in today’s mega uptight political and social climate. The crowd was eating out of their hands. CC is one of the funniest people I have ever met. I’ll never forget his comedic rants on stage during sound check, in his signature and unexpected whiny New York Jewish accent booming through the house PA.

After their set I had a brief, yet interesting conversation with Ricky Rocket, Poison's drummer. He claims to remember me, but it seems highly unlikely. He then talked with Def Leppard guitarist Phil Collen about his stage clothes, much like two ski bums would talk about skiing, gear and snow conditions. He commented to us on the stylist from Canada and how amazingly fine her ass is. It may seem petty, sophomoric and trivial, but when you put into perspective how much ass this guy has seen it becomes very significant.

Right before show time Joe Elliot, the lead singer of Def Leppard, and the one-armed drummer appeared from the dressing room and we had a chat about the new movie "Rock of Ages" featuring their music. We collectively smelled an Oscar and had a laugh. I came away from the movie realizing what an important part of Americana heavy metal music played and how lucky I was to be an active part of it during the late '80s. Some people must have thought I was crying when I walked out of the Isis, but it was really that I got salty popcorn in both eyes.

After watching the show from the safe confines of the sound board, I was exhausted and my ears were ringing. I reflected back in an instantaneous haze of sound fatigue. My stint as a roadie seems like a distant lifetime of debauchery and proximity to fame. I often wonder how much longer I would’ve lasted, or what it would be like now. Life ultimately presented other paths less glamorous, yet more fulfilling. Regardless, I still wear my old tour jacket like a decadent coat of armor every time Def Leppard comes around.

By Aspen Daily News 2012.

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