Lincoln, NE - Fan Reviews

Fan Review - By Mel

The weather was incredibly hot and humid. Was 90+ degrees with around 70% humidity. The only saving grace was a strong breeze. We managed to make our way to the outfield and get about 10-15 feet from the stage. We didn’t really want to be smashed up against the barriers. The stands and grounds were pretty much filled. Not sure if they sold it out but there weren’t too many empty seats. We saw kids and parents of all ages. Kids perched up on their parents shoulders. Most were enjoying their first concert. Def Leppard opened the show this night. The whole park erupted with a loud roar. People in the stands were up on their feet. They tore into their set like it was the first show of the tour. Joe’s voice was right on the money. The rest of the band sounded tight. You could tell they were having a ball despite the heat and sun. The crowd was signing along with every song they presented. At times you could almost hear the crowd over the top of the band. They played straight through until the song “Rock On.”

They all exited the stage for a moment. Joe came walking back onto stage from over top Rick’s drum riser singing the first lines of the song. The crowd was right with Joe singing along. About halfway through the song the rest of the band exploded back onto the stage making the song very Def Leppard. When they came back on stage for the encore, the crowd would have blown the roof off the place when the first line of “Rock of Ages” came across the speakers. They crowd whipped into a frenzy of people singing and thrusting their fists in the air. During “Pour Some Sugar”, someone in the crowd had a huge box of sugar and started throwing it on the crowd. Heard several people not very happy about that.

After the encore, we met up with Karen from Raven Drum Foundation. I had been lucky enough to have a winning bid on a set of meet and greet passes. We also met a gentleman with Jam productions. I am still kicking myself for not getting his name. This gentlemen took care of getting all of is to where we needed to be to meet Rick. The Leppard/Raven Drum staff were incredibly accommodating. They brought us water and chairs while we waited. They really wanted us to feel comfortable while we waited. While waiting to meet Rick, Phil came out of the dressing room. He was incredibly gracious and signed items for the group of us there. He commented how the weather had been incredibly hot.

A short time later, Rick came out with Malvin in tow. Malvin was standing with a stop watch telling Rick he had exactly 28 minutes before he had to be on the bus. They were leaving for Kansas City right away. Rick greeted all of us with a hearty hand shake and asked our names. He sat down with all of us and asked how we liked the show. We of course all said it was fantastic. He also asked about the heat of the Midwest. We all told him it was like this most of the summer. He asked how we deal with it. He commented that the show for him had pretty much been head down and every man for himself. Once Rick signed items and posed for pictures, we had some time left to visit one on one with him. My husband Jerry and I talked about the comments we had on the Raven Drum shirts we had purchased from the foundation. I was telling Rick that we had been trying to spread the word on the foundation whenever anyone asked us about the shirts. He was thrilled to hear that. We talked about the programs they have. The outreach programs with battered women and at risk children are what brought our support to the foundation. After our conversation we were asked to be ready to let Rick go on his way. We said our good byes and told Rick it was a pleasure and honor to meet him.

To wrap this up, I would like to tell Karen from Raven Drum; thanks for giving us the second chance at the passes. A thanks to the gentleman with Jam Productions for taking care of us while waiting. I am kicking myself for not getting your name. Thanks to all of the back stage staff for being so accommodating while we waited. And last but not least, HUGE thanks to Mr. Rick Allen for taking the time to come and meet with us after such a brutal show. I know the heat about did all of us in.

---

Fan Review - By Frank

It was a really sunny and hot day in Lincoln Nebraska. Def Leppard appeared at the HayMarket Park home of the Husker Baseball team. Concert was to start at 6:30PM Tuesday Aug 2nd, 2005. My wife and I arrived at 5:15pm and there was a very long line waiting to get into the stadium. The started letting the people in at 5:30. Even though we were far in the end rank of the line we were about to get to the stage with 30 feet or so in the center stage.

The people around us were great and everyone was ready to see Def Leppard! I was even surprised how many kids were on the lawn waiting for the concert to start. Def Leppard being my favoirte band and my first time to ever see them live was thrilling.

Def Leppard started with Action and the crowd went crazy. People looking around like they saw lights turn on for the first time. There were so many hands in the air waving, fists during Women and Rocket. Seemed like everyone knew every single word for every single song they did. Drums and Guitars were so clear and Joe's was voice Rocketed lifting Nebraska to meet the Discovery Shuttle. The band looks great for being in their 40's now and sound better than ever LIVE! They Rocked!!!! Thanks Guys! See you in Sioux Falls, SD.

---

Fan Review - By RocketMelp/Melinda

I could hardly stand the excitement I felt the day of the Def Leppard concert. Partly because I was going to see Def Lep for the 3rd time, and partly because I was taking my 14 year old brother to his first ever rock concert. I couldn't wait to see his face when the best band in the world took the stage. We arrived at Haymarket Park later than we wanted around 5:00. The gates were to open at 5:30. The line was already at least 2000 strong by the time my brother and I got in line. Once inside the stadium, my brother found us a good place to see the stage, while I went off to buy two 2005 tour T-shirts. After a half hour set by some relatively unknown band, we saw some of the Lep crew making some last minute preparations.

The radio station then played "We Will Rock You" by Queen. The crowd was singing loudly to this, and when it was over Def Lep ran onto the stage and launched into "Action". The crowd sprang to their feet and was singing, dancing, and clapping along. Song finished, Joe addressed the crowd; "Hello Lincoln! Do Ya Wanna Get Rocked?" Followed of course by "Let's Get Rocked." "Women", Foolin'", "Hysteria", "Promises" and "No Matter What" followed.

Then Joe spoke to the crowd again asking us the question; "So, Why are we here." Someone close to the stage mentioned that Joe's birthday was the day before. And Joe responded by saying that he had a great birthday party here in Lincoln, as the band had August 1st off. And because it was about 95 degrees with high humidity that night, Joe said he was sweating it out at that point. But vowed to plunge on if the band and audience would sweat together, drawing a huge cheer from the fans. The rest of the set list gets a bit fuzzy from here on out because all of my favorites played from this point on. Rocket, Armageddon It, Love Bites, Animal, Photograph, and a cover of the the song Rock On. After that, was Rock of Ages. Then Joe thanked us for having them, and said see you soon. Then all the band waved, smiled, and bowed to the fans, Then left the stage. Everyone was cheering very loud, so we could get them back on stage for more. And my section stared chanting "Pour Some Sugar, Pour Some Sugar."

After what seemed like forever, Lep came back on stage and played Bringin' On The Heartbreak, and Pour Some Sugar On Me for the encore. Joe then asked us to do them a favor. "Don't forget about us, and we won't forget about you." So hopefully they will be back in Lincoln soon. Because of the heat and humidity mentioned before, I was sooo sweaty that I had to rush to the consession stands for a bottle of water and a soda. I also noticed that my left palm was hurting. Upon further inspection, I saw that I had cracked my palm in several places. I must have clapped extreamly hard. I'm proud to say that Def Lep caused me to get "Concert Wounds" All in all it was great to see and hear our guys, looking and sounding AWESOME!!! My brother in the car on the way back to my apartment, kept telling me that he couldn't thank me enough for taking him. I hooked him for life on being a brand new Def Leppard fan. :).

Back

share this page:

---

---