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Fan Review (Add One)
[ Def Leppard UK - YEAH! Tour London 2006 Page 3 ]
SUN 18th Jun 2006: Hammersmith Apollo, London, ENGLAND.
Fan Review - Planet Queen - [ Add Yours ]
Seeing the guys at Hammersmith completes a personal circle: first time was in 1986/7 when Steve was still alive. I don't remember much of that night, other than it being so loud my then boyfriend (now hubby) got a headache and we left as soon as the gig ended. Steve's shape throwing was inspirational and I don't know how he managed to play his guitar was so low. The Carling Apollo, as it is now mistakenly called is not huge, being overshadowed by the Hammersmith flyover, but it is legendary due to the bands that have played there. Most would have played it on their way up the greasy fame ladder on the way to playing Wembley and conquering the USA.
Anyway, here we are in 2006 again, this time with two teenage kids in tow and boy is it hot inside. We briefly caught TSAHB on our way outside, I never got into Alex Harvey and apologise to anyone expecting a review of their set. To be honest there seems little point now Alex Harvey is gone but I suppose you could say that about a lot of bands. With seats up in the circle we decide to stay in the cool breeze and also miss most of Cheap Trick. (Despite encouragement that we should go in and watch- next time, when it's cooler!) Just catch the last two songs which seem ok, lead singer is a friendly and laid back kind of a guy. If it wasn't for the kids I'd sit in on the support but they get bored waiting for Def Lep and prefer to stand outside posing.
Up in the circle it is so hot we could be in a sauna and my daughter and I wonder briefly as 'We Will Rock You' comes on what the hell we are going to look like post gig when we are meant to be at our most fragrant and attractive.
The crowd erupts as the guys come on and in our part of the circle, everyone gets up pronto. This is quite simply the LOUDEST gig I've been to in a long time to the point where Joe just lets the audience carry the vocals on some of the better known songs. The sound is good, sometimes the mix is a little off compared to Sheffield but the acoustics in the venue are superb and as Darren said, it's all crystal clear. Having the screen with real-time video increases the rapport and it's great to see the guys having as much fun as we are. The things you never get to see like Ricks' feet on the drums and close-ups of guitar work give an appreciation of just how skilled these guys are. The support acts were good but Leppard are in a class of their own.
Opening with Hellraiser is spot on, it was meant to blow your socks off even when Sweet did it. I was worried about 20th Century Boy as T. Rex is very close to my heart. I don't know how Joe manages to sound like Marc coz God knows it ain't easy, but he does and the git has me in tears: there I am back in 1972 aged 11 at a T.Rex gig on the 22nd of December at the Sundown in Edmonton. Gives me the shakes just thinking about it. I would have liked to see Viv doing the solo on Thin Lizzy's 'Don't Beleive a Word' or Bowie grace the stage once more at the Hammy to do 'Drive In Saturday' but I could wallow in nostalgia forever.
The important thing for the ladies is that there are no backing vocalists to spoil the view. All the guys look luvly, Phil came on with something barely covering his top half and a bit of bling or it could have been his Auntie's best beads. Auntie must've nicked them back as it all comes off as usual (the tart); Joe has a good tan from somewhere but how the hell he keeps the leather trousers on in the melting heat I don't know.
Phil got an extra mention as London is his home town, Joe did a crap take-off of a London accent: A few miles away from Walt'amsteow' (not Memphis a la Mott). Rick looks touched again with the enormous cheer he gets and his usual grin gets wider. Despite the crowd getting louder as the night went on, there are still no extra encores. Hammersmith is quite residential so I guess they're limited. Dick Decent taking a while to set up: wobbly stool, leads not plugged in correctly, etc. gives one of those opportunities for ad lib entertainment I love. The guy with the punchline for Joe's joke must've been pleased with himself for leaving Joe speechless for a record half a second. We would've happily listened to rubbish jokes all night but the show goes on. Leaving PSSOM til later is a good move: although not as big in the UK as in the States it's brilliant live.
Getting out of the heat is wonderful, other people spotted are Paul Cook and Simon Laffy from Man-Raze, Paul left early as he was tired(!), various family, Malvin who's quiet after his drunken evening on Saturday and WOLFIE who looks serious when he's dressed. One of the best nights by far, let's hope they come back for some more later in the year.
Fan Review - Vishnu - [ Add Yours ]
Def Leppard are the first rock band I started listening to, eight years back, and Vault, my first album. Ever since, they've been my favourites and seeing my heroes live, my dream. And it all came true last Sunday at Hammersmith. Mikes put in place for the boys by the technicians, before they were on stage I could see them behind the mikes!!
The sure "raised hell" when they came on stage...and we "rocked on till we dropped"!! "Promises" sounded as good as it always does on the cd; my favourite part of the show was the "Photograph", "Armageddon It", "Animal" medley...always thought that the songs had something in common. Had the greatest moment of my life when Viv, after a superb solo waved at us and threw his pluctrum at me...couldnt believe it for a while and all I could say was "***** Hell"!! I wish they played "Have You Ever Needed Someone So Bad" too...well, maybe next time...Def Leppard rocks!!! Long live Rock N' Roll and Def Leppard!!.
Fan Review - Richard "Rick B" Borowski - [ Add Yours ]
Another Great Gig At The Hammersmith Appolo, The Guitar Dual Was Great On "Rocket", The New Songs from "YEAH" Was Really Thudery Such Heavy Bass From "Rick Sav". The Animation Was Brilliant For The Hysteria Song, And The Marching Guitar's Was Excellent For "Let's Get Rocked" It Was Like Pink Floyd, The Way How It Was Done.
I Really Hope That They Get To Play In The round Again Like The Adrenalize Tour From 1992, So That I would Like To Attend, Viv, Phil and the Thundergod On Drums "Rick Allen" Don't Really Change That Much and they Still Look Great On Stage.
Media Review - by Sam Wallace - [ Link Back ]
Live Report - Def Leppard ::
This week, our gig-going geezer Sam Wallace has been 'avin' it large in 'Ammersmiff - the Hammersmith Apollo, to be precise. The notorious venue was packed to the rafters with devotees of the Sheffield rockers, but bovver-boy Wallace managed to pogo his way down to the front. Here's the reportage from Row A...
"It's Monday morning, I've just got into work and my head is pounding, but in a good way - like when you know you've had a good time the night before - and last night I went to see Def Leppard. That's right, Sheffield's finest came to London's Hammersmith Apollo and rocked the roof off, and I'm so glad I was there. Their latest album - called Yeah! - is a collection of covers. It's just been released, so here they are to play a few shows in support of said disc... I'm a live Leppard virgin (ha! Can I get away with saying that?!), so I didn't know what to expect. Needless to say, they didn't disappoint."
"The first thing that becomes apparent when they walk on stage to cheers only rock legends receive, is they have a GIANT screen behind them and a camera crew filming as they play. This means that EVERYONE in Hammersmith's legendary Apollo can see what's going on. For me, this is great because I'm only a tad taller than a hobbit! Anyways, they pull tracks from their latest album throughout the set, but it’s the old classics that really get everyone going. "Lets Get Rocked" brings everyone in unison so much, that we all feel like starting our own clan. The atmosphere is amazing and by God, I've never seen so much denim OR mullets in one room! (Saying that, I haven't seen Saxon live yet)."
"Jackson endorsee Phil Collen is an amazing guitarist and in front of a live audience, he shows just how good he is. When "Rocket" is played, not only is that song worth the entry fee alone, but halfway through, we are presented with a guitar solo duel between Phil & Vivian; the battle back and forth is so brutal they'd make the Vikings proud! Phil throws every single "Rock Star" shape in the book throughout the night as he plays on his very own signature Jackson, but without looking cheesy or clichéd with it, which not a lot people can do. "Animal" simply rules, and then "When Love And Hate Collide" and "Pour Some Sugar On Me" are played as an encore; it dawns on us that the night is sadly drawing to a close."
"So, after playing for little over an hour and a half, we’re on our way home with songs of the mighty 'Leppard ringing in our ears. I have the utmost respect for these guys, they're proud to be English, there were no egos on stage, they put on a great rock show (which seems to be a dying art as of late), and they've been doing this literally since I was born. Here's to another 25+ years!"
Sam Wallace © Fender UK 2006.