Montreal, QC, Canada - Media Review Quotes

Def Leppard less than electric By T'cha Dunlevy

The modest crowd of 5,600 - half-full by Bell Centre standards - reflected the music's waning relevance. That the first five songs of the night were from the band's first album, 1981's High 'N' Dry, was a nice nod to the hardcore fans, but doesn't say much about the new material.

Only three songs were played from last years album X. And yes, the biggest hits - Armageddon It, Pour Some Sugar On Me, Rock Of Ages, Love Bites and Let's Get Rocked - were saved for the end.

So of course things finally off the ground. But why try to stretch the power of those songs over two hours? Or rather, isn't it a problem if it takes so long - or feels like it does - to get to them?

Anyway, back to the "nice band" bit. Singer Joe Elliott whooped it up as best he could, leading the crowd in cheers. And guitarist Phil Collen showed off a buff chest by performing the entire show with his shirt off - which drummer Rick Allen matched by playing in bare feet.

And the crowd applauded all the way through.

"Just how we always remember you guys," said Elliott, "always the loudest." He was being nice of course. Or perhaps it was the crowd who was being nice. Either way, the energy level, as giddy and nostalgic as it was, was somewhat less than electric.

By Montreal Gazette 2003.

Read the full review at - montrealgazette.com

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