Belfast, Northern Ireland - Media Reviews

Enormously good fun By Neil McKay

There was a time when Def Leppard were the biggest band in the world. Their 15 million selling 1987 album Hysteria set the standard for pop/metal for years to follow, and they were one of the few British bands to truly conquer the States. And while those glory days may be long gone, they remain a potent rock band who know how to put on a show.

one of the few British bands to truly conquer the States. And while those glory days may be long gone, they remain a potent rock band who know how to put on a show. They filled the Waterfront last night with a surprisingly young crowd which showed they have at least partially bridged the generation gap. It was cheesy and predictable and cliched at times, but it was also enormously good fun.

Singer Joe Elliott had the full range of mic posing and crowd baiting moves, Phil Collen and Belfast-born Vivian Campbell are a classic double act on guitar, bass player Rick Savage ligged around as only bass players can, and drummer Rick Allen anchored the sound.

Allen, who overcame the loss of an arm in a car crash, proved the undoubted crowd favourite, receiving a sustained ovation when introduced by Elliott. Live the band are harder and edgier than on the airbrushed perfection of their albums - and all the better for it. You're So Beautiful and Four Letter Word, from new album X, show they haven't lost the knack of writing classic pop/rock anthems stuffed with memorable choruses. But, predictably, it was the old songs that stood out.

Too Late For Love was an early highlight and the hits came thick and fast on a run to the finish that started with Women and included an extended Rocket, Armageddon It, Photograph, Animal, Pour Some Sugar On Me and Rock Of Ages.

Neil McKay @ Belfast Telegraph 2003.

Leppard Bites Back By The Telegraph

ROCK idol Joe Elliott of Def Leppard fame knew the score in Belfast this week when fans bantered him on stage over his beloved England's 3-1 defeat by Australia. Sheffield United fan Joe had the last laugh on a sell-out Waterfront Hall crowd when one of them held up a placard showing the England score. "Are you from Finland," he called back before launching into a number he dedicated 'to both our national teams... called Long Long Way To Go!'.

By The Telegraph 2003.

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