Derby, England - Media Reviews

Def Leppard By terrybezer

It's very easy to forget just how many astoundingly good songs this band have but playing a complete greatest hits setlist to 70,000 people, Def Leppard roll back the years and provide the perfect end to this year's festival.

A classic rock ending to a phenomenal weekend is something that should definitely be repeated next year. The only problem will be how can you possibly top a performance like the one seen tonight.

By Metal Hammer 2009.

By Nick Ruskell

The headliners last played Donington 23 years ago, celebrating the truly heroic return of drummer Rick Allen following the loss of his arm in a horrific car accident. It was a triumph then and, as Download quakes under the Sheffield quintet's might, tonight is another victory. This is how good you get when you spend literally decades rocking arenas, but this is more than just another gig, and the look on Joe Elliott's face as he salutes his drummer is every bit as powerful as Photograph, Rock Of Ages and Let's Get Rocked. Gentlemen, you did yourselves proud.

By Kerrang! 2009.

Media Review - Download Festival 2009 - Day 3 By Vox Online

The setting sun once again proved to be an excellent backdrop for the headliners of the evening. It also cast a dispirited feeling over the tens of thousands of people patiently waiting for the classic entrance of Def Leppard . It was the last sunset of the weekend and the last performance too, and even though the anticipation of the legendary rockers had us all teetering with excitement, one couldnt help but feel slightly disheartened as the end of the rock behemoth that is Download Festival was just hours away.

It's very easy to forget just how much a part of one's life Def Leppard was back in the days, and how many astoundingly good songs they have in their back catalogue. Once they kicked off, the feeling of nostalgia was over-powering. Providing us with renditions taken from their complete greatest hits setlist, Def Leppard were the perfect end to this year's festival. To the delight of the crowd, they played old favourites such as 'Animal' and 'Photograph' as well as newer material from their 2008's 'Songs From The Sparkle Lounge'. It was truly phenomenal witnessing over 70,000 fans singing 'Love Bites' word for word, and even more so, the fact that I seemed to remember the lyrics to all of their classics.

At one point during the beginning of the set, frontman Joe Elliott spoke about how good it was to be able to play in daylight and asked the crowd to turn around and look back at the tens of thousands of people on the arena. "It's amazing from where I'm standing," he said. And it was an exceptional sight. The sea of heads stretched out to a point where the last ones disappeared from your line of vision. A combination of an exhaustive weekend where most of us had used up all of our energy reserves and a more composed crowd made it possible for one to enjoy the show without having to glue their feet to the ground to avoid being knocked over. The mix was perfect. From the choice of band, to the crowd, to the weather.

The last time Def Leppard played at Donington was in 1986, and after a lively 'Pour Some Sugar on Me' Elliot explained to the crowd how they had first played Donington at the Monsters of Rock festival, and how much that gig had meant to them. Elliot brought Download to an end tonight with a stirring tribute to drummer Rick Allen - he spoke of how their 1986 gig had been his comeback after having had his arm amputated following a serious car accident and of his 'spiritual rebirth' at that point in time. His words were so moving that the Download crowd cheered and applauded Allen who stood up behind his drums, raising his arm before wiping tears from his eyes. It was an extremely emotional and moving tribute. Elliot then went on to accuse Allen of "blubbing all over his cymbals". A touching end to an amazing set and an eventful weekend filled with all kinds of emotion. Yes, Download should certainly consider keeping this 'Classical Sunday' as part of their trademark, because it really does work.

Download Festival truly rocked, and the crowds rolled. Donington Park is definitely the spiritual home of Rock. Spectacular!

By Vox Online 2009.

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