Halifax, NS, Canada - Media Review Quotes

By Keith Bonnell

Def Leppard is touring to support its 10th album, aptly named X.

Elliott was battling a bout of strep throat, and his vocals were overwhelmed at times by the throbbing bass and drums. But the crowd, an eclectic mix of the middle-aged, the young and the mullet-wearing faithful, lapped it up. When the band broke into its accoustic hit 'Two Steps Behind', lighters filled the arena in true '80s rock style.

Those in attendance proved that 35- to 45-year-old white men don't make the best dancers.

However, one man did the best air-guitar solo anyone could expect of someone in a yellow golf shirt, dropping to one knee in the aisle to let it all hang out.

Burly newcomer Ricky Warwick of Ireland performed a tight, hard-strumming acoustic set to open the show, and was well-received. But the crowd came to show their spots for Def Leppard.

Def Leppard has been together nearly 25 years, and last night, the group transported an audience back to an era when guitar rock and denim reigned supreme. Clad in a sleeveless black shirt and leather pants, Elliott deftly played to the crowd, carrying his mike stand back and forth across the stage. Beside him, guitarists Viv Campbell and Phil Collen sounded as crisp as ever.

Tunes like 'Photograph', 'Armageddon It' and 'Make Love Like a Man' had the crowd screaming. After a frenzied roll of songs, the band hit its 1987 favourite, 'Pour Some Sugar on Me'. The ovation that followed was surprisingly sincere and uncontrived; even the band seemed taken aback.

"This is why Canada is, per capita, our biggest market in the world," said Elliott, as the applause continued. "Wow." To make the evening complete, one enthused fan even tossed a bra on stage." She's even left her phone number on it," Elliott said with a smile.

By Halifax Daily News 2003.

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