Salt Lake City, UT - Media Reviews

Monsters of rock deliver By Pat Reavy

Joe Elliott asked the question, "What do you want?" The E Center crowd responded in unison, "I want rock 'n' roll." And Def Leppard met the demand.

Monday night, Def Leppard showed why they are still one of the monsters of rock, delivering a pounding two-hour set that featured songs stretching across their entire two-decade career.

For those who complain the band never plays enough of its "old" stuff, Def Leppard opened the show as if it was the 1980s with "Ring of Fire," originally the B-side of "Pour Some Sugar on Me," The Leppards kept the adrenaline rushing with "Action" and "Rock! Rock! (Till You Drop)," featuring blistering guitar solos from Phil Collen.

The Bic lighters were out for "Bringing on the Heartbreak/Switch 625." The stage itself was a vast array of lights, and enough Marshall amps that the folks at the Hale Centre Theatre across the street could probably hear the classic chords of "Foolin' " before Vivian Campbell took his turn at lead guitar on "Too Late For Love."

The show picked up steam as the band was visibly enthused about playing its new material, launching into "You're So Beautiful" off "X." After "Hysteria" and "Long Long Way To Go," the song Elliott said would be the next single off the new album, the show picked up a notch again with "Four Letter Word" and a passionate version of "Promises."

Strapping on an acoustic guitar for "Now," Elliott reminisced about past shows in Salt Lake City. Throughout the evening, Elliott was constantly moving to every corner of the stage and waving his arms like the ultimate cheerleader.

The show kicked into overdrive as the backbone rhythm section of Rick Savage and his Union Jack bass guitar, and Rick Allen on drums, dove into side one of the multi-platinum "Hysteria" album, playing "Women," "Rocket," "Animal," "Armageddon It," "Pour Some Sugar On Me," and tossing in "Photograph" and "Rock of Ages" off "Pyromania" for good measure.

Def Lep slowed things down for the first song of the encore, finishing off with "Love Bites." The show ended with "Let's Get Rocked" and the Elliott asking the crowd, "Do you wanna get rocked?" Again, questioned answered, demand met. Def Leppard rocked the house Monday night.

By Desert News 2002.

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