Sarnia, ON - Media Reviews

Def Leppard caps off Bayfest 2007 By Tara Hagan

To anyone who thought Def Leppard's high energy, rock-your-socks-off performance days were over - think again.

The '80s may be long gone, but the British quintet proved to a crowd of 18,000 that they're still red hot and going strong at Sarnia's Bayfest Saturday night.

The enduring rockers hit the stage with full force, kicking off their 16-song set with an electric performance of "Rocket."

Frontman Joe Elliott exploded onto the catwalk, backed by bare chested guitarists Phil Collen and Vivian Campbell, Rick Savage's signature feathered hair, and a knockout performance by one-armed drummer Rick Allen.

Not one of the band members, all pushing age 50, lost an ounce of momentum during the 90-minute show.

They focused heavily on classic crowd pleasers like "Foolin', Photograph," and "Rock of Ages" from their breakthrough 1983 album Pyromania, and "Animal," "Love Bites," and "Hysteria" from their massive 1987 follow-up, Hysteria.

Fans overpowered Elliott's voice as just about everyone in Centennial Park sang along to the band's popular tune "Pour some sugar on me."

Diehard fans Kim Miller and Joanne Meaney joined a group of women in line as early as 8 a.m. Saturday. Clad in Def Leppard tattoos, the women were travelling the continent for the band's summer tour.

Miller, from California, said er favourite band member is Vivian Campbell.

"The way he plays on stage, it just melts my heart," she said. "And his hair - oh my god, his hair!"

"I don't even know how to describe it," Meaney said. "If I didn't have their music, I don't know what I would do. They just touch a part of my life."

But the American women didn't travel nearly as far as the Daly family. Lynnette, David and their eight-year-old daughter, Lynnette, embarked on a two-day trek to Sarnia from Barcelonato, Puerto Rico, winding up at their first-ever Def Leppard concert.

"They're just incredible," said Lynnette. "And they're different from other bands. They've struggled with many things, but they still have an excellent attitude."

The couple says daughter Lynnette is an even bigger fan than the two of them combined.

"She's our little rock-and-roll girl," said David. "She sings along to every word, and knows more lyrics than we do."

Just as Bayfest's fourth and final show wrapped up, Elliott addressed his Sarnia audience, referring to local artists and friends Kim MItchell and Emm Gryner.

"They said Sarnia would be a good show," he told the crowd. "But we didn't think it would be this good."

"Until next time," he added. "And there will be a next time."

By The Sarnia Observer 2007.

Back

share this page:

---

---