Sydney, NSW, Australia - Media Reviews
Def Leppard + Baby Animals + Live By Alexandra Houle
Playing one of the venue’s last shows ever. English rock band Def Leppard hit the Qantas Credit Union Arena this Tuesday, accompanied by openers Baby Animals and Live.
Aussie rock outfit Baby Animals kicked off the night, starting off with limited energy that picked up as more and more fans trickled in for their early set. The band played their 90’s hits to great reception, with talented singer Suze DeMarchi looking most comfortable as a front woman with a guitar in her hand. Baby Animals were followed by American rock group, Live. The band started off their set to dubious audience interaction, the crowd seeming somewhat bored at the beginning, but warming up by the time what were clearly the two most popular singles were played. I can’t say much in either direction for this arguably misplaced band, other than that if you’re not a fan of Creed or Hinder, or a suburban white dad, they might not be for you.
Before the end of the night, Def Leppard came on stage to show their openers exactly how to captivate a middle-aged, primarily Caucasian audience. The band opened with their new track, “Let’s Go” priming their fans for the 80’s classics they came there to hear. As a front man, Joe Elliott was commanding and high-energy the entire show, delivering on most high-notes without flaw, though occasionally choosing to drop an octave lower, particularly during second track, “Animal”. The singer joked about playing an ACDC song before setting into a solo acoustic performance of “Two Steps Behind”.
The rest of the band, including guitarist Vivian Campbell, bassist Rick Savage, and perpetually shirtless and glistening guitarist Phil Collen, had their chance to shine during relentless instrumental track, “Switch 625” bringing the hard and fast guitar solos that the 80’s were known for to the stage. The highlight of the night belonged to drummer Rick Allen, who, if you were sleeping during 80’s Rock 101, lost his arm to a Corvette accident in 1984. This hasn’t slowed him down in the slightest, as Allen performed a solo that would still put the twice-limbed Tommy Lee to shame. Playing what would usually be hit with his left arm instead with his foot, The Thunder God lived up to his name to truly remarkable audience reception, with the crowd roaring in a response greater than any of the entire night.
Throughout the set, Def Leppard offered up their greatest hits such as “Armageddon It,” “When Love And Hate Collide,” “Rocket,” and of course, the provocative “Pour Some Sugar On Me” before performing a two song encore of “Rock of Ages” and “Photograph”. Overall, the band delivered exactly what the eager audience came there for: an entertaining, nostalgic, balls-to-the-wall 80’s hair metal performance, in a way that only Def Leppard can.
By The AU Review 2015.
We Get "Rocked" With Def Leppard By Sidey
Def Leppard played live in Sydney last night at Qantas Credit 'Onion' Arena. And 'onion' is just the right word, because I was close to tears a few times as the memories flooded back.
The hashtag #bestnightever gets thrown around a lot, but last night, once I added some awesome Chinese food in Chinatown, it was completely legit. No seriously but, it WAS pretty f***ing cool.
I was 13 when the album Hysteria came out, so it was like a religious experience travelling back in time.
Goose bump moments came when they played "Animal" and "Hysteria".
All the bigs hits were great too. "Rocket" rocked, "Pour Some Sugar On Me" was sweet as, "Love Bites" was epic.
And OMG, what the f*** was going on with the oiled up abs of guitarist Phil Collen? I mean, he looks good for 60... BUT that was a lot of coconut oil!
When Joe Elliot said to the crowd 'Sydney, I've got a question for you', we knew what was coming, and yes 'we did wanna get rocked'.
The amazing backing vocals provided by three guys in the row behind me just helped push the night into the stratosphere!
Only downside was Jacqui Kassulke, Triple M supposed Queen of rock sitting down the whole night because her high heels were hurting her feet. It was an embarrassment to everyone at Triple M.
We apologise if you witnessed it. So anyway, Def Leppard. First Australian show, F*** YES.
I give it 4 1/2 one-armed drummers out of 5.
By Triple M 2015.
Media Review - Def Leppard Sydney By Roger Killjoy
I have a holy trinity of bands/artists that I worship, any music I’m likely to enjoy will live somewhere within the realms of the kinds of music created by Black Sabbath, Neil Young and Pearl Jam. Before there was any of that in my life however, there was Def Leppard. There used to be a restaurant at Maitland called Shakers, and Shakers had the coolest thing the twelve year old me had ever seen, a video jukebox you could play while you ate your dinner. Every single visit, I’d roll a coin in and select ‘Do You Wanna Get Rocked’. Every. Single. Visit.
Fast forward twenty years and thirty two year old me is growing increasingly worried as I approach Allphones Arena, noting the complete absence of anything resembling the Def Leppard concert I’ve driven 2+ hours to get to, or a crowd that would attend such an event. After some (admittedly last minute) fact checking, and two trains later I roll into Sydney Entertainment Centre to the final applause for second support act Live. Given Ed Kowalczyk isn’t out front anymore, and the fact I am here in time for Def Lep, I’m not too crushed. The venue is packed to the rafters and there’s a buzz going around the room as the anticipation builds, AC/DC’s ‘Shoot To Thrill’ finishes over the PA and the lights go down…
I’m sure over the course of the next hour and a half there were some songs from albums that came after 1996’s Slang album, but I don’t know them. 1996 was when I started digging into the afore mentioned holy trinity, and Def Lep were left behind. Once the opening track (a post-96 one, a light weight rocker with honey sweet harmonies ironically about being welcomed to “the edge of your seat”) is done, Joe Elliot and the boys dragg me grinning maniacally back to the fold. Nearly every hit you would want to hear is played; ‘Animal’, ‘Rocket’, ‘Photograph’, ‘When Love’ and ‘Hate Collide’, the set read like a greatest hits album.
Joe’s voice is rich and familiar, maybe not quite hitting some of the old higher notes but still doing above and beyond a serviceable job. Phil Collin and Vivian Campbell wail on guitar, trading solos and licks back and forth all night, strutting the walkway out into the adoring crowd, Rick ‘Sav’ Savage rolling out dependable bottom end, and Rick Allen putting many two armed drummers to shame with his prowess.
About halfway through the set, as the crowd cheers yet another hit song just played, it hits me like a bolt of lightning; a feeling, a premonition, he’s going to ask us the question now, “Do ya wanna get rocked?” Fucking oath I do Joe. I don’t remember too many little details from the rest of the set, other than to say it was packed with more hits (‘Pour Some Sugar On Me’, ‘Rock of Ages’, ‘Armageddon It’ among the litany of chart hits). Joe Elliot was charming and genial between songs, the band were as tight as you’d expect after a good 13 years with the line up remaining intact, and both twelve year old me and thirty two year old me left with huge smiles, and a new love for some classic tunes and performers.
By Reverb Street Press 2015.
Def Leppard @ Sydney Qantas Arena 2015 Review By Carl Neumann
After a week of rain, rain and more rain Sydney’s heavens finally cleared, setting the scene for a balmy summer evening (17 November).
Punters took their seats early for the night's kickoff, Aussie rock quartet, Baby Animals.
As always, Baby Animals were professional and entertaining. Suze DeMarchi is still hot as and effortlessly belts out the classics: 'Rush You', 'One Word', 'Early Warning' and 'Painless'. Although the crowd remained seated, you could look around the cramped rows and see many people mouthing the words like it was karaoke.
Next on stage were Pennsylvanian (US) imports, Live. While talking to a number o f people around the venue before they came on, it was apparent the idea of Live having a new singer didn't sit right. Ed Kowalczyk left in 2012; he was not only the voice but the brains of the outfit. One person stated: “It’s more like a tribute band than an actual band."
However, the new singer, Chris Shinn delivered the goods and appeased the sceptical crowd with his honest intensity and perfect pitch. He works well with Chad Taylor (lead guitar), Patrick Dahlheimer (bass), Chad Gracey (drums) – all is forgiven. Carry on.
But it was Def Leppard's night to shine and shine they did. My god, what a show these guys put on. The lights, the clarity of sound, the rock! Def Leppard has it all. Rick Savage's rolling bass. Rick Allen’s thundering drums. The duel, harmonic guitars by Phil Collen and Vivian Campbell. And the rough, rock & roll vibrations of Joe Elliott make a perfect band. Oh, and not to forget the silky smooth, backing vocal harmonies.
The thing about Def Leppard is the diversity of the fans. Young, teen, adults, and even the elderly! The teens and young adults weren’t escorted by an obsessive parent; they were there under their own steam.
No matter the type of fan, everyone, and I mean everyone, LOVED Def Leppard. I can not wait until next time they tour so I can revisit last night. Hope it’s real soon.
By Scenestr 2015.
Media Review - Def Leppard Live Review/Photo Gallery By Peter Zaluzny
The Def Leppard setup in Sydney was one of the more interesting layouts that had rolled through the Qantas Credit Union Arena. The place could pack thousands in the seats and on the floor, but instead of shoving people in like sardines, the venue had put down chairs in the standing section, all the way to the front. It was the first time most people had been ushered to their seats at a metal show.
But it was also a Tuesday, people weren’t there to go wild, they wanted to kick back, tap their feet and have a good time. Rather than fill the bill with a bunch of wild youngsters intent on tearing the arena to shreds, Def Leppard brought along two other veteran acts in the rock ‘n’ roll scene who knew how to warm up a crowd without wearing them out.
Aus-rock stalwarts Baby Animals were the perfect act to ease people into the evening, with their blend of 90s-era alternative edge and that classic Aussie bar band sound that makes you want to dance and play the air-drums. Sounding just as good in 2015 as they did on their debut in 1991, and more than capable of putting on a show, anyone that walked in thinking “Baby Animals? Oh yeah I remember them,” left saying “man, Baby Animals were fantastic!” They’re not some nostalgia act riding the coattails of the past, they’re a goddamn rock band, and a great one at that.
Pennsylvania rockers Live had a bit more stage space, given that they were the main supports, and singer/guitarist Chris Shinn made use of it. Once he was free from the axe after the first song, Shinn grabbed the mic then jumped on top of the monitors and clambered up the speaker stacks. The rest of the band matched his enthusiasm, although they couldn’t beat his facial expressions, while putting in just the right amount of energy to get the crowd on their feet without showing up the headliners – and they did it all without missing a beat.
Not that anyone can really outdo a full-scale Def Leppard show. Sydney’s Qantas Credit Union Arena isn’t a small venue by any means, but the hard rock heroes elevated the show to a stadium-sized spectacular right from the start. Everything from the gigantic screens to the gargantuan sound was so damn huge, it was impossible to deny, and within seconds of kicking into opening number “Let’s Go” almost everyone leaped to their feet.
From there, it was nothing but 90 mins of good old fashioned hard rock with more 80s vocal harmonies, guitar solos and reverb-laden shred than you could shake a pair of spandex at (even though these guys were of the denim and leather variety). Frontman Joe Elliot was the undisputed king of strut, as he swagged his way up and down the runway every few songs, much to the delight of front-row fans.
Most of the set came from 1987’s Hysteria, but the 16 song set plucked plenty of tunes from their large discography, including cuts from the new record – “Let’s Go” and “Dangerous” – which were the perfect fit for big, arena shows. Everyone had their individual moment in the spotlight, however Rick Allen’s one-armed drum solo scored the biggest cheer of the night from everyone, including the band who even after all these years, still seem to be blown away by his talent.
But of course, when a long-standing band comes to town, everyone wants to hear the hits, and Def Leppard delivered in spades. During “Hysteria,” vintage Leppard videos and photographs adorned the screen, “Rock of Ages” was just downright epic and “Pour Some Sugar on Me” was… well look, if you have the vaguest understanding of heavy metal history then you probably know how it went. (It was amazing!)
Musically, Def Leppard are still absolutely flawless, almost. Elliot’s falsetto did start to give out towards the end, but the band commands a powerful presence with pitch perfect harmonies and unbelievable musicianship that’s been honed down over the last 35 years. But when you put all that aside, they’re a phenomenally good band to watch because even after almost four decades, they still enjoy what they do. Guitarist Vivian Campbell’s permanent childlike grin was particularly infectious.
And that’s what makes a good show. Yeah you can enjoy the songs, the delightfully cheesy banter and the musical prowess of it all, but when a band is up on stage, pouring their hearts into the performance, you can’t help but get sucked into the pure, unabashed love that rock ‘n’ roll addicts feel every day.
By Australian Guitar Mag 2015.
Live Review + Photos: Def Leppard 2015 By Peter Zaluzny
The Def Leppard setup in Sydney was one of the more interesting layouts that had rolled through the Qantas Credit Union Arena. The place could pack thousands in the seats and on the floor, but instead of shoving people in like sardines, the venue had put down chairs in the standing section, all the way to the front. It was the first time most people had been ushered to their seats at a metal show.
But it was also a Tuesday, people weren’t there to go wild, they wanted to kick back, tap their feet and have a good time. Rather than fill the bill with a bunch of wild youngsters intent on tearing the arena to shreds, Def Leppard brought along two other veteran acts in the rock ‘n’ roll scene who knew how to warm up a crowd without wearing them out.
Aus-rock stalwarts Baby Animals were the perfect act to ease people into the evening, with their blend of 90s-era alternative edge and that classic Aussie bar band sound that makes you want to dance and play the air-drums. Sounding just as good in 2015 as they did on their debut in 1991, and more than capable of putting on a show, anyone that walked in thinking “Baby Animals? Oh yeah I remember them,” left saying “man, Baby Animals were fantastic!” They’re not some nostalgia act riding the coattails of the past, they’re a goddamn rock band, and a great one at that.
Pennsylvania rockers Live had a bit more stage space, and singer/guitarist Chris Shinn made use of it. Once he was free from the axe after the first song, Shinn grabbed the mic then jumped on top of the monitors and clambered up the speaker stacks. The rest of the band matched his enthusiasm, although they couldn’t beat his facial expressions, while putting in just the right amount of energy to get the crowd on their feet without showing up the headliners – and they did it all without missing a beat.
Not that anyone can really outdo a full-scale Def Leppard show. Sydney’s Qantas Credit Union Arena isn’t a small venue by any means, but the hard rock heroes elevated the show to a stadium-sized spectacular right from the start. Everything from the gigantic screens to the gargantuan sound was so damn huge, it was impossible to deny, and within seconds of kicking into opening number “Let’s Go” almost everyone leaped to their feet.
From there, it was nothing but 90 mins of good old fashioned hard rock with more 80s vocal harmonies, guitar solos and reverb-laden shred than you could shake a pair of spandex at (even though these guys were of the denim and leather variety). Frontman Joe Elliot was the undisputed king of strut, as he swagged his way up and down the runway every few songs, much to the delight of front-row fans.
Most of the set came from 1987’s Hysteria, but the 16 song set plucked plenty of tunes from their large discography, including cuts from the new record – “Let’s Go” and “Dangerous” – which were the perfect fit for big, arena shows. Everyone had their individual moment in the spotlight, however Rick Allen’s one-armed drum solo scored the biggest cheer of the night from everyone, including the band who even after all these years, still seem to be blown away by his talent.
But of course, when a long-standing band comes to town, everyone wants to hear the hits, and Def Leppard delivered in spades. During “Hysteria,” vintage Leppard videos and photographs adorned the screen, “Rock of Ages” was just downright epic and “Pour Some Sugar on Me” was… well look, if you have the vaguest understanding of heavy metal history then you probably know how it went. (It was amazing!)
Musically, Def Leppard are still absolutely flawless, almost. Elliot’s falsetto did start to give out towards the end, but the band commands a powerful presence with pitch perfect harmonies and unbelievable musicianship that’s been honed down over the last 35 years. But when you put all that aside, they’re a phenomenally good band to watch because even after almost four decades, they still enjoy what they do. Guitarist Vivian Campbell’s permanent childlike grin was particularly infectious.
And that’s what makes a good show. Yeah you can enjoy the songs, the delightfully cheesy banter and the musical prowess of it all, but when a band is up on stage, pouring their hearts into the performance, you can’t help but get sucked into the pure, unabashed love that rock ‘n’ roll addicts feel every day.
By Blunt Mag 2015.
Def Leppard + Live at Sydney QANTAS Credit Union Arena - November 17, 2015 By Natasha Wyborn
On a hot sweaty Tuesday night in Sydney two bands each responsible for some of the biggest hits in music in the past twenty years joined forces to put on one hell of a show.
First up was Pennsylvanian band, Live. Sure the band was missing lead singer Ed Kowalczyk who left the outfit in 2012 to pursue solo ventures. Enter Chris Shinn who provided the audience with a strong presence and powerful vocals. Shinn moved comfortably around the stage standing on speakers and receiving a strong response from the now growing crowd. His relationship with fellow band members appeared natural and unrehearsed this was particular evident with Chad Taylor lead guitar who shared the mike with Shinn on several occasions. Highlight, how could you go past, ‘I Alone’ or ‘Lightning Crashes’ bringing back some fantastic memories.
Enter Def Leppard with all the lights and glamor of a true 80’s rock band. With a diverse crowd on their feet from the start it was evident this band the audience have history. I first caught this band on a rainy night at Narara in 1984. Back then they showed promise but who could predict what was to come.
From the time front man Joe Elliot put a foot on the catwalk stage he effectively paid out the mortgage and owned it. Opening with ‘Let’s Go’ the band moved into full swing immediately. The band was on fire. Rick Savage on bass moved seamlessly around the stage. The combination of bare chest and pure guitar brilliance of Phil Collen and Vivian Campbell was faultless. Rick Allen on drums surely must rank in the world’s best.
“Are you ready to have a good time Sydney?” shouted Elliot in his distinctive English accent. The 17 song set list was a mixture of old and new. For me there were two key highlights. Joe Elliott leading the crowd solo and acoustic with the song ‘Two Steps Behind’. The second was hearing the band play ‘Hysteria’ and watching the historical moments of this band from over thirty years on the road.
From what I witnessed on Tuesday night with a packed house, sold out tour and fans of all ages there is room for a lot more tour history to come. Great show, excellent sound and lighting.
By Lifemusicmedia 2015.
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