Raleigh, NC - Media Reviews

Rockers Def Leppard, Adams close Walnut Creek season By Stacy Peterson

Like a soundtrack to 1980s bad behavior, rockers Def Leppard and Bryan Adams helped the Alltel Pavilion at Walnut Creek close the 2005 concert season Saturday night under a clear and cool autumn sky.

The night marked the first time Adams has played at Walnut Creek since May 2, 1993. And fans of his classic hits loved every minute of it.

For Def Leppard, it was a return to full pop-metal 1980s glory with the crowd of nearly 10,000 people singing every chorus, sometimes louder than the band.

Packaged together, both delivered decades of hits for an audience of mostly 30- and 40-somethings who loved reliving the moments that made the songs special. The fact that both artists became stars in the same year (1983) also made those memories gel into the music.

Following Adams' classic set came a thunder of glam rock courtesy of Def Leppard.

Much like Adams, Def Leppard stuck to the hits and to the songs that made them the blueprint of 1980s pop metal. The band played seven songs from the pivotal 1987 album "Hysteria," and a few from the 1983 classic "Pyromania" as well.

Listening to the crystal-clear sound quality and the crowd reaction, it was hard to remember the same band playing at the Raeford Road Wal-Mart grand opening in 2002. But man do those songs bring back memories.

From "Foolin'" to "Rocket," Def Leppard's playing chops have never sounded better. And as a precursor to the band's 2006 album filled with covers of 1970s glam rock, the highlight of the night was a cover song, "No Matter What," by the band Bad Finger.

While the music sounded incredible, it was obvious that singer Joe Elliot can no longer hit those insane high register vocals of his early days. He sounded great on classics like "Rock of Ages," but his voice is not the same one that gave us the high-pitched "Hysteria" and "Photograph."

One thing that continues to amaze is drummer Rick Allen's ability to pound his kit with just one arm. His left foot is so powerful and his fills are just as well-executed as his early days before a car crash claimed one of his arms.

The hands-down climax of the night came with the one-two punch of "Bringin' On The Heartbreak" and "Pour Some Sugar On Me" to help close the night. "Bringin' On The Heartbreak," from way back in 1982, sounded massive with the chorus of fans singing along.

For one night, this night, it was 1984 all over again. It was back to a time when a gathering in a parking lot led to new discoveries by the car cassette player and the "dashboard lights."

By Fayetteville Online 2005.

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