Madison, WI - Media Reviews

Def Leppard @ Dane County Coliseum By Madison Capital Times

Though Def Leppard is capable of producing some reasonably catchy the majority of its music is just as unmelodic, just as uninspired, and just as bad as that of most of its counterparts.

The concert was an example of everything that is bad about heavy metal, and very little of what is good.

Def Leppard made the mistake of substituting style of substance, figuring that with enough volume and flashy lights, people won't realize just how bad most of the songs are.

Wrong.

No laser show could cover up the plodding monotony of songs like 'Women' or 'Let It Go'.

Bo amount of volume could disguise the fact that the musicianship in the band is just not that impressive.

The staple of any heavy metal band is the guitarist and Def Leppard is unlucky enough to have two who manage to use every cliche in the book.

Instead of their solos being passionate musical expressions of emotion, they are just onanistic displays of speed and technical prowess.

Lead singer Joe Elliott seems to think that he's Robert Plant, and his high pitched voice does bear some resemblance to the ex-Led Zeppelin vocalist.

But where someone like Plant is capable of singing with some degree of melodic subtlety, Elliott can only scream out these tuneless songs.

Believe it or not there were some bright spots in Sunday evening's concert, foremost being the drumming of Rick Allen.

By most his drum work was merely above average, but considering he lost his left arm in an auto crash four years ago, his playing was downright phenomenal.

By Madison Capital Times 1987.

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