Newcastle, England - Fan Reviews

Fan Review - By Robert O'Connor

Def Leppard and Whitesnake's massively successful 'Lets Get Rocked - In the Still of The Night' tour made it's fifth stop in Newcastle on Tuesday night. After shows in Glasgow, Birmingham, Manchester, Belfast and Def Leppards home town, Sheffield the night before, it was Whitensnake's turn to play their closet thing to a home town gig. Although David Coverdale is the only remaining member from the original line-up this never seems to hamper Whitesnakes success or credibility as most fans and critics alike will tell you, David Coverdale is Whitesnake.

After the success of their last album Good to be Bad, Whitesnake played a nicely varied set containing material from all the ages including new songs Lay Down your Love, Best Years, Can You Hear the Wind Blow and A Fool In Love which proved that Dave and co don't need to rely on a greatest hits set to pull of this show and their new music is just as important to them as their classic hits. Not that these were neglected either as Ain't No Love (In the Heart of the City), Here I Go Again and Love Aint No Stranger all received and an airing to the packed arena. Dave talked a lot during the set mostly repeating much of the banter from the previous shows about 'Whitesnake having furniture' and 'being an old fart'. He didn't happen to mention the 'Nipple show' on this occasion and instead made several remarks about this being a home coming show and dedicating Aint no love.. to the people of Newcastle . They closed the set with a furious rendition of In the Still of the Night and left the people begging for more.

After a nice 40 minute break, the sound of AC/DC's For Those About to Rock opening riff could be heard around the arena as the beating kick drum smashed into action letting us know it was time to stand up and salute one of England's greatest bands of all time. As Brian Johnson's voice fade of with Angus Young's guitar, the arena was plunged into darkness as God Save the Queen (real version, not the Sex Pistols) blared out over the PA with the Union Jack displayed on Leppards massive Full stage video display. Their intro video was a retrospective of all the years gone by since Leppards formation up to 2008 when the words 'Welcome to the Sparkle Lounge' appear up as the band can be seen enter the stage from all angles. The opening chords and beats of Rocket shoot out as Joe takes to the top of their stage ramp and calls for the Guitars, drums.. The lights go up Def leppard appear as a band who couldn't be more used to commanding a stage this grand as they run, jump, pose and show real enthusiasm in their performance after more than 20 years of playing shows of this size. Joe Elliot is still the leader of the band and has been proving it every night on this tour as he barley stands still for a second ensuring he gives his attention to every person in the area no matter where their sitting or standing, all the while delivering Leppard's classics as well anyone can. Hits such as Animal, Armageddon It, Photograph, Hysteria, Bringing on the Heartbreak, Two Steps Behind and When Love and hate Collide pour out of the band who remind us why we are here in the first place, Lappard are animals (no pun intended) when it comes to writing perfect anthem rock music and still manage to give it the attitude which sets them apart from the likes of Bon Jovi and The Scorpions.

Unfortunately Leppard have made the decision not to include many tracks from their new album 'Songs From the Sparkle Lounge' despite it's success in the UK (reaching number 10 in the charts). C'mon, C'mon, Nine Lives and 'Bad Actress' all get an airing but, unlike Whitesnake, Leppard do rely on a greatest hits set to pull of the show. However it can be argued that Leppards back catalogue of Hits puts Whitesnakes in the shade any day. Hysteria alone contains more hit singles than Whitesnake are ever likely to be remembered for by the medium rock fan.

Leppard close their set with old reliables Pour Some Sugar on me and Rock of ages before returning to encore with Bad Actress and Let's Get Rocked. Joe Elliots promises of returning don't go unnoticed as fans trickle out of the arena grinning from ear to ear about an amazing night of music from two of Rocks brightest starts that have just proved they'll be doing this for a long time to come.

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