Def Leppard News - 40 Years Ago DEF LEPPARD Rock LONDON's Lyceum (Concert Reviews)

Monday, 13th April 2020

40 Years Ago DEF LEPPARD Rock LONDON's Lyceum (Concert Reviews)

London 1980

Def Leppard played a show on the On Through The Night tour in London, England on 13th April 1980 and two archive concert reviews are available to read.

Record Mirror and Circus Magazine reviewed the show which took place at the Lyceum Theatre.

The fourth shows in the capital city in 1980.

They would return to play their first ever headline show at Hammersmith Odeon in July 1981 on the 'High 'n' Dry' tour.

This show followed club shows at the Music Machine and two nights at the Marquee Club in January/February on the club tour.

At this show the band were supported by Tygers Of Pan Tang alongside regular support act Magnum.

The setlist consisted of 15 songs with all 11 from 'On Through The Night' included.

The album had been released on 14th March 1980 and was currently at Number 20 in the charts having spent two weeks at Number 15.

Three new songs were 9ncluded with early versions of 'Let It Go' and Rock! Rock! in the form of 'When the Rain Falls' and 'Medicine Man' as well as the then unreleased version of 'Lady Strange'.

One of two media reviews was written by David Fricke who would go on to write the band's 1987 'Animal Instinct' biography book in 1987.

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Def Leppard 1980.

Record Mirror - Concert Review Quotes

"Lights dim, dry ice billows and the taped intro to 'When The Walls Came Tumblin' Down' kicks off the set."

"I've always found this opening ridiculously pompous but in the atmosphere of a live event it works rather well."

"Then it's into the song proper with vocalist, Joe Elliott, well in control and all the right noises coming from behind."

"'It Could Be You' is next up but it's only with the third number, a pounding 'Rock Brigade', that things really start to move."

Circus - Concert Review Quotes

"As headlining band Def Leppard hit the stage with the first nerve-shattering powerchord of 'When The Walls Came Tumblin' Down', the first row of HM fanatics make for the stage and practically band their heads against the floorboards, shaking their wolly uncombed gourds in time to the music."

"This chorus line of hard-Rockettes gives the signal for most of the predominantly make audience to trot out their imaginary guitars - a preciously hip few whip out carefully cut-out cardboard axes and riff out in a violent physical mime of their heroes on stage."

Read the full review the full reviews from this show.

This and other archive concert reviews can be found on the show pages in the Tour History.

Fan photos and reviews from any past tour can be submitted - Here

Def Leppard 2020.