[ Def Leppard UK - London ENGLAND | Wembley Arena 2008 Page 2 ]
Media Review - by Mike Elliott - Review Link | 16 Pics
Def Leppard @ Wembley Arena, London ::
Def Leppard are a British Institution there's no denying it, and when they walked onto their specially designed Sparkle Lounge stage at Wembley Stadium in London to an explosive crowd, you knew that the band were slap bang in the middle of their element.
Recent comments in the media had suggested that Def Leppard were a band touring a greatest hits package with another outdated band in Whitesnake, but to the sold out Arena, nothing could be further from the truth. Naturally the band riffled through all of their big hits, 'Pour Some Sugar', 'Photograph', Armageddon It' and the like, but there was also a huge reaction to new tracks from 'Songs From The Sparkle Lounge' like the first single 'Nine Lives'. Of course the best thing about the new material, is that live, it stands shoulder to shoulder with their classic well known material. The band are obviously proud of it, the fans love it, and it doesn't sound like a band going through the motions.
That being the real point that is clear from this concert. Def Leppard are not a band going through the motions, touring for the money. They're out there because they want to be. The band hardly stand still the entire set, zipping all over the place like rabid wolverines, no one trying to dominate the spot light, each letting the band as a whole shine.
When the dust settles, and the final chords of 'Let's Get Rocked' ring out around the arena, and the band depart for the final time, pausing first for a photograph with the crowd behind them, you're left with the feeling that Def Leppard can still rock like hell, and all in all, this didn't even come across as the band at their best.
Mike Elliott © Komodorock 2008 - (Links include 16 pics by Moonshayde Photography).
Media Review - by Planet Rock - [ Link Back ]
REVIEW: Whitesnake & Def Lep at Wembley ::
For Def Leppard, you may wonder how they could follow that, but follow it they did. Sheffield's greatest rock export displayed the charms of a band at ease with big audiences and big expectations.
From the opening drum beats of 'Rocket', Joe Elliot picked up where Coverdale left off. With a new album to promote, the Lep weren't afraid to play new material from Songs From The Sparkle Lounge alongside their standard classics. Tracks like new single 'C'mon C'mon' were lapped up by an eager crowd alongside anthems 'Animal' and 'Hysteria'.
Most surprising track of the night was their cover of David Essex's 'Rock On'. Unashamedly fabulous, Rick Savage's bass solo atop the drum riser was a real rock moment and reminded us all what Def Leppard were put on this earth to do.
Rock fans were given what they deserved last night. And Whitesnake and Def leppard proved that if you get it right, true rock still reigns supreme.
© Planet Rock 2008.
Media Review - by Dave Ling - [ Link Back ]
Thursday 26th June ::
For my money, despite Joe Elliott's own vocal irregularities, Leppard were by far the superior band. Just like Whitesnake they sent the sold-out Arena into waves of warm-waving, shout-it-out-loud delirium. The best part came with an acoustic 'Two Steps Behind', followed by 'Bringin' On The Heartbreak' and a bristling electric conclusion. In a consummate display of arena rock showmanship, their success was sealed with exquisite versions of 'Hysteria' and 'Armageddon It'.
Dave Ling © 2008.
Fan Review - by Chinners - [ Link Back ]
DEF LEPPARD/ WHITESNAKE/ BLACK STONE CHERRY ::
A warm summer evening in June sees me at Wembley Arena, a very prestigious venue just out side London with a capacity of around 12,000 people. Rock is defiantly on the menu with three superb rock acts billed. Tonight's 1st act "Black Stone Cherry" a no nonsense loud rock band from Kentucky, Virginia in the USA. Wembley is plunged in to darkness and the four long haired band members stroll on stage. Their sound is pure classic rock with apparent influences from likes Led Zeppelin, Black Sabbath and Lynyrd Skynyrd. The drummer John Fred Young with his very large mop of hair reminded me of "Animal" from the kids TV show the "Muppets', he hit the skins like a man possessed, the 3 guitarists showed the London crowd just why we need another American rock band to follow, with some great guitar solo's they put in a very impressive performance. Lead singer Chris Robertson told the crowd that it had always been the bands dream to play Wembley Arena and they felt very privileged to have the chance of supporting these two great rock acts. Great tracks such as "Hell or High Water" and "Lonely Train" from the bands forthcoming self titled album due for release in August, went down extremely well with tonight's audience.
"Whitesnake" are a band I have admired from afar for many years, however this was the very first time that I have had the opportunity at seeing them live, David Cloverdale walked to the front of the stage and got an amazing reaction from the audience. I was lucky enough to be positioned right at the front of the central stage walkway and had a perfect view of the whole stage. The set was made up with tracks from the new album "Good to be Bad" as well as many classics, they played for about ninety minutes and wow what a 90 minutes it was. David Cloverdale maybe 56 years old , however he is every bit the showman, he knows just what the audience wants , singing his heart out to every person in the hall. The showmanship includes various facial expressions, pointing at individual members of the audience and various simulated sexual actions with the microphone stand. Songs such as "Fool for your Loving", "Love Ain't No Stranger" and "Is this love" had the audience eating out for Coverdale's hands.This was a very emotional performance as at one stage you could see a tears in David Coverdale's eyes , he stated this was a special show as his wife and daughter were in tonight's audience. This one thing that will stay with me for a very long time is the crowd reaction during "Here I Go Again" , as I looked around, every member of the audience were stood up with their arms in the air singing every word, to see 12,000 people all doing this in unison was something really special. The rest of that band made up of some really excellent musicians "Dog Aldrich" (Guitar), "Rob Beach" (Guitar), Uriah Duffy(Bass), Timothy Drury(Keyboards) and Chris Frazier(Drums) all put in some great performances, looking as though they were really enjoying playing together. The whole band finished the last song of the set and all came to the front of the stage to take their bows and a massive standing ovation from the very appreciative audience. All in all a brilliant set, could Def Leppard follow such a power charged emotional performance ?
After nearly three hours of bands, I felt quite drained, however after the lights of the arena dimmed once again I felt a surge of energy as Def Leppard hit the stage. three huge video screens light up, with the two outside screens showing live footage of the band and the centre screen showing the English Union Jack flag and playing the British national anthem, images of Def Leppard throughout the years from 1979 to 2008 stating "That was Then This is Now". The band then took to the stage, Joe Elliott called out "Guitar", "Drums" and launched in to "Rocket" with live images and animation on the rear screen of rockets flying through the air. All around you could hear the excited crowd singing along, this was just an amazing entrance. Promoting their new album "Songs From the Sparkle Lounge" the band performed newer songs "C'mon C'mon" and "Nine Lives" early on in the set with the rest of the set mainly made up of classics, which was just what the audience wanted. Rick Savage appeared high up on one of the platforms and proceeded to perform a bass solo with the band arriving to perform a cover of David Essex's "Rock On" taken from their covers album "Yeah" . The whole band arrived at the front of the stage with acoustic guitars and performed a couple of stripped down tracks "Two steps Behind" and "Bring' on the heartbreak" both fully accompanied by the crowd who seemed to be word perfect. The night continued with the anthems "Hysteria", Armageddon it" and "Pour some Sugar on Me" which all were accompanied with further video and live footage creating some amazingly awesome effects. Another track from the new album "Bad Actress" and "Lets Get Rocked" ended the nights proceedings with the whole of the crowd on their feet with their arms in the air..The band all then came to the end of the middle walkway to thank the crowd and take their final bows, once again the crowd showed their appreciation. As everyone filtered out of the arena into the wet London evening, I can't imagine that anyone has gone home less than totally satisfied with the evenings entertainment.
© Chinners 2008 - (Thanks for the links-see Fan Videos section).
Fan Review - by Marty Dodge - [ Link Back ]
Whitesnake & Def Leppard Live ::
First thing that struck about the gig, besides the fact that the opening band were just lame - as one wag put it, "They need a bit more practice methinks" - was the sheer enthusiasm of the crowd. This was a bit of a co-headline tour of the UK. Although Def Leppard have a bigger set; it was clear to all that Whitesnake were there equals. Tonight saw the end of their full "Songs from the Sparkle Lounge" set with the videos and the whole nine yards. They head off with Whitesnake and Thunder for a few more dates in July. That will be a pretty awesome night of bluesy rock. Every single song was a sing-along; it was that sort of night.
Jimmy Page and Ritchie Sambora were in attendance for this gig and so were quite a few other industry types (inc. ole Cov's wife and daughter). It was quite a show. What first struck those of us who are veterans of London-based gigging was the fact that London Arena has been completely revamped. It stuck us that the new competition from the O2 and it several venues has forced them to up their game. The sound is excellent and the facilities are what you would expect from a major venue these days; even clean toilets and cleaners constantly making the rounds.
Then after quite a quick change-over came Def Leppard in full voice. We were treated to quite an amusing retrospect of their entire career warts and all. Joe Elliot has upped his game having to follow David Coverdale. He was the consummate showman; playing to the crowd. He made sure to let us know that this was no farewell tour. As with Whitesnake it was a good mixture of songs from their latest album and their myriad of hits. The only one that was notably absent was "Love Bites". It was Def Lep. returned to their prime; with the lads delivering every ounce they could. Overall Def Lep probably gave a better performance by a smidgen.
The near sell-out crowd were treated to hard rock at its barn-storming best. Considering people had travelled from the North of England (our hotel was packed with ageing rockers) it was a damn good thing. The standing audience were a whole new generation of blues-rock fans while the more demure contented themselves with the seated area.
Marty Dodge © blogcritics 2008 - (See link for full review).
Media Review - by Nick Hasted - [ Link Back ]
Def Leppard, Wembley Arena, London ::
Led Zeppelin chose the relative glitz of the O2 Arena for their comeback. But in Wembley Arena's shed of a rock venue, where old-fashioned fans feel more comfortable, Def Leppard are carrying on regardless.
The band have been on hard rock's cutting edge twice in their careers. Thirty years ago, as part of the new wave of heavy metal, they took a punk-like axe to the blowsy solos of Jimmy Page's generation. Then, with producer Mutt Lange, they took rock into the 1980s' techno-pop heart with Pyromania (1983), a massive-selling monster that duked it out with Michael Jackson in the US, and gave lessons in studio sheen and shag haircuts to Bon Jovi and Spinal Tap. The latter also spoofed Leppard's one-armed drummer, Rick Allen. His retention after the car crash that cost him a limb shows their fortitude. But, never taken seriously even by rock fans in the UK, the cutting edges that Def Leppard found led them nowhere special.
They open here with their biggest 1980s hits, "Rocket" and "Animal", spliced with material from redundant new album Songs from the Sparkle Lounge. The soggy 1995 power ballad "When Love & Hate Collide" makes Westlife look hardcore, the acoustic guitars for "Two Steps Behind" only making things worse.
The idea that Leppard connect to rock'n'roll's primal source, suggested on "Blue Suede Shoes"-quoting "Rock On" and others, meanwhile, seems sacrilegious. But it is not wholly wrong, as they prove when they hit this show's heart.
Singer Joe Elliott tosses the acoustic guitar to a roadie, as if to signal, "Enough of that". Then "Hysteria" begins. Elliott and bassist Rick Savage bend towards the crowd, and topless guitarists take soloing turns, to authenticate the music's layered harmonies and undodgeable 1980s synthetic punch. "Pour Some Sugar On Me" has a metallic smack shared with Sheffield contemporaries ABC, more than tonight's harder co-headliners, Whitesnake.
"We got something to say," goes "Rock of Ages". But they don't. There's no poetry, meaning or rebellion here. Just a sledgeham-mering to success from working-class roots. Carrying middle-aged heft in a tossed-on T-shirt, Elliott is barely a rock star. But, prancing round the stage and hitting high notes technology lets hang in the air, he does enough. Sheer volume and drive get even my cynical feet dancing.
All Def Leppard have, really, is a tricked-up version of rock's original beat, and the tenacity to keep playing it when most people think they're a joke. For their fans, that's admirable.
Nick Hasted © The Indepedent 2008 - (See link for full review).