Tulsa, OK - Fan Reviews
Fan Review - By Chris
My review of last night's show. I got there just in time to hear the sound check. They were switching back and forth between Let It Go, Slang and other songs. I didn't hear them do any complete songs, it's like they'd just do a verse of something here and there. I was in the convention center lobby and it was so loud that the lights hanging from the ceiling were moving back and forth and the doors were vibrating.
The show was supposed to start at 7:30, but opening act Ricky Warwick got started about 7:15 so they kicked it off early. He was very good, doing almost half an hour of acoustic Irish rock. I will probably get his album when it comes out in September. After he was done I actually got a chance to meet him because he came out and sat down by the sound man which is right by where my seat was. I shook his hand and got his autograph, he seems like a friendly guy. I think I started a trend because I went up there and 5 more people went up there after me, and 2 of them asked if they could borrow my pen!! Vivian came on during and did one song with him (3 sides to every story), which I thought was very cool.
Def Leppard came on about 8:20, they started out playing We will rock you and rock and roll part 2 and then the lights went dark and they played "disintegrate" over the speakers as the band came out and the curtain dropped, revealing Rick's drums and the backdrop, a giant black and white X which of course is the cover of the new album. With a bunch of blinking blue lights and stuff going off they started off with Let It go, and went all the way through the first 5 tracks of the high and dry album!!! The overload during Another Hit and Run almost gave me a heart attack. I headbanged so hard I got dizzy and fell down during High 'N' Dry (Saturday Night) it was funny!!!!!!!! Of course all the lighters were flying for bringing on the heartbreak, very well performed, done "as is" rather than half acoustic as they've done many times on past tours. The lighting during "Switch 625" was extremely psychedelic and I was very impressed with it.
They then went through Foolin', Make Love Like A Man, and Hysteria. After all that they started with stuff from the new album. They dedicated long long way to go to the families of people serving in Iraq which I thought was very cool. It was a good tasteful way to acknowledge the troops while still keeping their real political opinions to themselves, and Joe even said when he introduced it that the song was "not a commentary on whether the war is right or wrong, but it's just for the families of people over there." They did Long Long Way to Go and the whole arena jumped up and down at once!!!! They did promises after that and I had to sit down and rest but the crowd responded really well to it and they kept jumping up and down.
Joe got out his acoustic guitar and sang the first verse of "Sweet Home Alabama" which I thought was totally awesome and then went into Two Steps Behind. Of course they did Now, the first single from the album, which came across much better as a live song than I expected to. It's not my favorite track from the new album but performed live it came across extremely well.
They did Women after that and during the first verse Joe dropped the microphone and it made a loud pop but the audience kept the song going. I had worked my way to about 4 rows back by then and I was close enough by then to see their facial expressions. Poor Phil was trying hard to keep playing without busting out laughing, it was FUNNY!!!!!!!! They sang Rocket after that and they had the long psychedelic guitar solo, and Joe sang a verse of "My generation" before the song was over. They did Photograph and Animal back to back, and they sound really good together I think!!! They did Armageddon it and Pour Some Sugar on Me of course. He introduced Rick Allen and he got a standing ovation, and he introduced Rock of Ages, which they ended with. A couple minutes later they came back out and did the encore.
In the encore they did Love Bites and Lets Get Rocked, both of which sound really good live. The lighters flew all the way through Love Bites, and they ended the show with Lets Get Rocked.
Overall I was really happy to see a good mix of old stuff as well as plenty of stuff from the new album. They did 3 X songs and they did the entire "first side" of the high and dry record. It's well worth the fairly steep 40 dollar price tag, I highly recommend you catch them if you can!! That was my big complaint on the Euphoria tour, it was an awesome performance in Columbia MD (9/22/2000) but the only song they did from the Euphoria album was Promises and I wanted to hear more stuff from it!! I mean that's the POINT of touring, to promote the NEW RECORD!!!!!
I was also a bit upset that I paid 30 dollars for a baseball cap, but on the same token it's a REALLY NICE CAP!!!! All elastic all the way around, embroidered design, the works!!!.
Fan Review - By Angel
First up, of course, was Ricky Warwick. He's a fellow Irishman of Viv's and I personally thought, not only was he cute, but I think he sings great. Unfortunately for me, I was not far from a loud-mouthed Bitch who was booing him, and I'm sure half the arena heard her. Whenever we would clap for an end to one of his songs, she would go and yell out "WHOO, YOU SUCK!!!" God, Missie and I finally had enough of her.
"Someone needs to tell her if she thinks she can sing better, she should get onstage and sing." Missie whispered to me.
So, being the 'Adrenalized' Def Leppard Junkie that I am, the next time she opened her fat-assed mouth, I turned and shouted at her, "IF YOU THINK YOU CAN SING BETTER, WHY DON'T YOU GO ONSTAGE AND SING IT YOURSELF???" Some people just don't realize how hard it can be to sing, by yourself, in front of 5,000+ fans all the time, y'know. Well, she shut up after that and never said anything bad about Ricky again! Go me!!
So, the next thing that happened, was the piss-poor job from security. A girl 'somehow' got on the stage, brushing past Phil, who was on stage right (from the audience's perspective) and grabbed Joe, trying to kiss him. Naturally, just having surgery on his right arm just a few weeks ago (He didn't have the sling on during the show, but afterwards he did), he got pissed. Wouldn't you? She must have hit it or something because he took the mike out of the stand and threw the stand down. I believe it was during Women, but I may be wrong. As soon as she 'leeched' onto Joe, Sav and Viv backed up quite quickly to the drum riser, hoping that they wouldn't be attacked as well. Lucky them, they weren't. So, needless to say, after that stunt, the band promptly decided "NO AUTOGRAPHS!" after the show. Unlucky for me. And I can imagine how pissed they all were about security not doing their jobs. Next time boys, don't use the arena's security, and make sure they're not being paid to 'look the other way' about a fan getting onstage! Just a suggestion. (I know it's entirely possible that nothing like that went on, but a breach of security like that! I mean, who wouldn't think that security deliberately did something for that to happen??)
Now, on to my finale, the best part yet!
We were waiting around the busses, hoping to get a few shots of the band and talk to them. Well, one by one they come out. Rick, then Sav, then Viv, then Joe in his sling, and lastly Phil. Lucky us, the Veggie bus pulled out first. Unlucky for them, just before Phil came out, and after Joe was in the bus, it started raining, and the road crew didn't have the lights in the last semi yet. Hopefully there was not too much damage to the lights and they got them in as quickly as they could before it really started pouring. They did, so that was good. So, the big finale. A few of you know that I make beaded bracelets and I was making them for the guys as well. Well, I was nearly in hysterics, trying to figure out how I was gonna get the bag with their gifts in it to them, when Lo and Behold, the front window of the Veggie bus opened and Phil popped his head out. "Thanks for coming out girls. We'll see you next time," and he waved to us! He opened his window at just the spot where me and my two friends were! *THUD* And last but most certainly not least, the back window opens, and there he is, the most wonderful Vegan Drummer to live on this earth! Rick Allen (by the way, his girlfriend Lauren was there laughing at how fanatic his fans are). Of course, we all shouted "We love you Rick!!" and I shit you not, his grin got so big, and so wide, I thought his face would split right open! LOL. So, there was my chance. I took the bag and ran to where the bus was turning out of the lot. I shouted to Rick that I had something for the band. I understood his hesitation because of the that damn fiasco onstage with Joe. But, I insisted and smiled big, and he leaned out (nearly falling out the window!) and I, being so short he had to do that, I reach as far as I could and handed the bag to him. These words will be (hopefully) imprinted on my brain forever. "Thanks Luv, I appreciate it." and he blew me a kiss. *DOUBLE THUD* Lepp Love for All.
Fan Review - By Diana
We drove from Oklahoma City early for our Pre-show gathering! We hit the goodie stand and were terribly dismayed that there were no programs (or cd’s) to be found. For all of you Texans that bought them all, somebody feel sorry for me and put one up on eBay! LOL! Our pre-show gathering was great but intimate! We got into the venue without a hitch (camera, etc.) because we weren’t searched.
Ricky Warwick was great! He went on early and gave it his all. On to the main event! I will try not to repeat other comments, but if I do, forgive me. The guys had on the same attire basically that they have been wearing for this tour. And yes, Phil’s shirt doesn’t stay on long. There were a couple of small glitches in the sound, but overall, the sound quality was unbelievable. The lighting was incredible.
LLWTG came off really great electrically. When Joe started in talking about the shows in Texas he got loud “boos” from the crowd! Sorry guys, I’m just the messenger! The lighting for Now was indescribable! Ok, I have just a couple of negative comments and they don’t have a thing to do with Def Leppard.
The venue was 2/3 full. For those people who have spent more on the price of a movie and dinner than the price of Lep tickets and missed this concert, then I’m sorry that you missed out on the second best concert I have seen. (my first Lep concert was the best!) Remember, I am biased because I have been a die-hard Lep fan since 1982.
For the lucky 20 or 30 people that had floor seats 4 and 5 rows back from the stage and sat on your butts through the whole concert, I do hope your arthritis gets better soon! Secondly, where the hell was security when Joe was moving around the stage trying to get away from that deranged woman?
Joe did say that their first concert in Tulsa was in 1980. They were opening for Ted Nugent and he said that he was grateful for the 30 minutes they were allowed on stage. He also added that they were in the bar by 8:30!!!!
I, as a fan, could not have been more pleased with the whole concert. I found it hard to believe that Joe had just had surgery. Personally, I thought the guys had never looked better. They were very gracious and appreciative of the crowd.
We did get pictures. It was hard to believe that we did. My husband took them by hiding behind me. We had 4 security people within 15-20 feet from us. We waited by the buses (we were above the loading area) and caught glimpses of the guys as they boarded. They took off as soon as everyone got settled. There was a massive thunderstorm coming in, so they wanted to get going quickly.
I had so much fun I can’t describe it in words and I am so grateful to have had the experience. I like the eye-candy, of course (G), but I love Def Leppard’s music. I can only say that attending a Def Leppard concert gives me an overwhelming sense of “happy”. Thanks to the crew, and everybody who made the concert possible. Thanks to my husband who took me and got great pics, thanks to Christy and Michael for the fun, and most of all, thanks to Def Leppard for giving me an overwhelming sense of Euphoria!.
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