Sheffield, England - Media Reviews

Def Leppard At Sheffield Poly By Keith Strong

According to Artery, Leppard are "positively the worst group ever to have graced this city with it's presence". That view, which was reported in an alternative publication, shows a certain bias towards bands that have been electronically tested.

Leppard are more your Thin Lizzy (well, they squeezed in 'Emerald' and Bob Seger's 'Rosalie' (covered by Thin Lizzy). But, dominantly, they're original material, heavy rock with more than just a touch of melody.

Time is on their side. With a drummer who looks as though he's about ready to sit O-Levels, they have plenty to learn. While there's no doubting their musicianship, they have some swotting up to do on stagecraft, though that will grow as they play more concerts. Cries of "rip-off" from the drunker sections of a mainly favourable audience were unfair. Leppard aren't that derivative. Blooding a new number showed that they're still creating. If they want to be tomorrow's band today, they could be disappointed. By the seat of singer Joe Elliott's shiny pants they're young enough to wait until the day after.

By The Sheffield Star 1979.

Def Leppard At Sheffield City Polytechnic By Steve Drury

Their first major gig was the Polytechnic in February '79, secured by the EP's success, which was by now selling extremely well by word of mouth around the city. This prestigious date (previous Wednesday night offerings that month had included Ian Gillan and Cheap Trick) was well attended, partly because of the fairly cheap student bar, but mainly due to the large crowd at the front waiting in anticipation.

They came onstage at 11 pm opening up with the thunderous 'Glad I'm Alive'. Joe, seemingly relaxed, was strutting around in his skin tight black PVC trousers and raising 'Casual jacket rock' from its grave! Although in his quieter moments when his confidence faltered, amongst the sea of familiar faces, he clung to the band for support.

For their part the band initially hid behind their tight sound, and only with growing confidence did they relax enough to come forward, throwing themselves into guitar hero poses (which would later become the staple fodder of their stage show). Def Leppard were unconcerned by the wrath they were incurring from the local New Wave bands. They were here to play Rock at its most vibrant, displaying a heady mix of originals alongside Thin Lizzy songs to great effect.

Although the drunken element of the crowd was shouting rip-off, they'd proved that the EP was only a starting point and by the end of the gig, many new converts were left wanting more. After their previous sporadic gigs, they had now arrived as a tour-de- force, which they would continue to build on.

By Steve Drury 1992.

Back

share this page: