Los Angeles/Inglewood, CA - Media Reviews

Def Leppard Loose in The Forum Causes Hysteria By Radchad

I couldn’t believe my eyes and ears when I heard that Def Leppard and Kiss were going to tour together on their Heroes Tour 2014. I just knew I had to check this out and I was not disappointed. Being a long time fan of Def Leppard I just couldn’t wait to see them live and everything I have ever heard about Kiss live came true before my very eyes.

Canadian heavy metal band Kobra and the Lotus was the opening act for the show. Kobra Paige’s vocals remind me of Heavy Metal Doro Pesch and she showed everyone that she wasn’t all metal when they played Heart’s classic “Barracuda”. As good as they are, I just don’t think they really fit the bill for this tour, I see them playing the Mayhem Fest or opening for Judas Priest. All though, their outstanding vocals and guitar riffs made for a head banging opening act.

As I sat there listening to the music playing over the speakers, waiting for Def Leppard to come on, the Who’s ” Won’t Get Fooled Again” started playing. Everyone was surprised when the curtain dropped and Def Leppard started their set off playing the end of the song. They played plenty of their classic hits such as “Foolin”, “Animal”, “Love Bites” and “Pour Some Sugar on Me”. Everyone in the sold out 17,500 seats knew the words and were singing along with all the s ongs, especially when they played “Bringing on the Heartache”, that they played acousticaly. All in the band played to perfection and something has to be said about a one armed drummer, Rick Allen, and a guitarist in the biggest fight of his life against cancer, Vivian Campbell, still out there playing. Now That is Rock’N’Roll!

A portion of the proceeds from this tour is going to the Wounded Warriors organizations. They also have two Roadies that are veterans on this tour. Joe Elliot spoke of their own wounded warrior Rick Allen and of their brother in music Steve Clark who may be gone but they have never forgotten.

As for Kiss, what can I say that hasn’t already been said. Their showmanship is one of a kind, from the costumes and the make-up to the huge mechanical spider and pyrotechnics. It is definitely something you have to see in person as videos just can’t do it jus tice and if you are a Kiss fan, then you know that all this does nothing to distract from their music. They are Rock and Roll Hall of Famers after all.

By Maximum Threshhold Radio 2014.

Kiss and Def Leppard rock all night at The Forum By Alex Kluft

After the first set change the crowd really filled in. The house speakers played a string of rock related tracks and a tease for the audience came when the sound faded down, but was brought back up to the sound of The Who’s Won’t Get Fooled Again. It was a spot on rendition, but halfway through the curtain dropped in the front of the stage and it was revealed that Def Leppard was actually playing the song. Fans were on their feet and iPhones were raised to capture the magic. The band is in the process of recording their tenth studio album, has sold over 100 million albums worldwide and ranks as one of only five bands to achieve album sales over ten million count on two separate releases in the US, and tonight they were reappearing at the newly renovated Forum with immediate stellar response! They moved in to a fan favorite, playing the song Let It Go.

The set list as posted online was a rundown of their greatest hits, more or less, and only deviated from the proposed set by dropping the track Rocket from the play list. Let It Go was finished with a blazing 30 second solo by Phil Collen, leading in to Animal and Foolin’. By this time the venue was closing in on a capacity crowd.

They brought the intensity down for a bit with the song Love Bites, though the crowd was consistently riled and responsive, singing each and every lyric in the song along with the band, then they played Lets Get Rocked, Two Steps Behind and the classic Bringin’ On The Heartbreak. The track began as an acoustic version and halfway through, Vivian Campbell offered a shred session finishing the song in its electric version.

Each member was featured in front of the stage, minus Rick Allen of course, during a long rendition of Switch 625, but ceiling high video screens showcased imagery from behind the kit as Allen’s bare feet knocked out precision timing through each song. As the band moved in to the track Hysteria, the video screens showed documented footage of the band through the years, offering a reminder of former, now passed, guitarist Steamin’ Steve Clarke in a tribute that brought some tears, lots of cheers and plenty of celebratory shouting along with the vocals. Ending the song, and perhaps in a tribute to KISS who would take the stage next, Joe Elliot finished the by singing the line “Mama I hear you callin’, but I can’t come home right now.” (Referencing the lyrics of the KISS hit Beth)

Before the next song, Elliott paid tribute to Vivian Campbell and his current bout with “That bastard of a disease, cancer,” and referred to Campbell as “The man who put fast in Belfast!” The band played Armageddon It, Pour Some Sugar On Me and left the stage.

Returning for the encore, Elliott made mention of theirs and KISS’ dedication to the Wounded Warriors Project and let the crowd know that they’d hired two veterans on the road crew and make every effort to help maintain funding for the charity’s benefit. Elliot shared, “They do what they do so we can do what we do!” This brought a standing ovation and the band finished the set with Rock of Ages and Photograph.

By Examiner 2014.

Back

share this page: