Phoenix, AZ - Media Reviews

Def Leppard, Journey rock at Cricket Pavilion By Chris Hansen Orf

If Tuesday night at the Cricket Pavilion is any indication, old school arena rock is back, and back with a vengeance. With cars backed up on the I-10 freeway and traffic on both 83rd and 75th Avenues slowed to a crawl well after opening act Stoll Vaughn started his short set, and lines of fans waiting to buy tickets and enter the arena (where only lawn seats were still available at the box office) it was clear that both Def Leppard and Journey are suddenly back in vogue. The two bands that only a few years ago were thought of as also-rans as alternative rock eclipsed the hair bands of the '80s, were greeteed by 20,000-plus fans crammed into the arena on a steambath of an August night.

Tucson couple Tanner Duran, 37, and Tammy Tafoya, 36, made the 100-plus mile trip to the Valley to catch the bill, which bypassed the Old Pueblo.

"I've seen both bands a bunch of times," said Duran. "But I mostly want to see Def Leppard again - I've seen them on every one of their tours since 1983, when they opened for Billy Squier on the 'Pyromania' tour."

As the lights dimmed and the crowd roared in anticipation, the members of longtime British rockers Def Leppard (singer Joe Elliott, guitarists Phil Collen and Vivian Campbell, bassist Rick Savage and drummer Rick Allen) appeared in spotlights before tearing into "Rock Rock (Til You Drop)" from the band's American breakthrough album "Pyromania" from 1983.

They barely paused to take a breath before hammering out a slew of hits, the highlights of which included "Let's Get Rocked" (from 1992's "Adrenalize"), "Bringin' on the Heartbreak" (off 1981's "High 'n' Dry") "Foolin'" and "Photograph (which drew the biggest crowd response), both from "Pyromania" and the encore closer "Pour Some Sugar on Me" from 1988's "Hysteria."

Elliott is still the very picture of a rock frontman, stalking the stage in his black leather pants (which had to have been uncomfortable given the August heat -- the Brit asked for water to be thrown onstage from fans because "It's (expletive) hot up here too!"). The singer could still hit the high notes, and his mates rocked, like it was 1983.

By East Valley Tribune 2006.

Back

share this page: