Derby/Donington, England - Media Reviews
Media Review - By Howard Johnson
So this was it huh? This is what we waited three years for? This was the act which Phonogram had billed as 'simply the world's greatest rock band'? This was the all-conquering return? Well, I'm sorry to be a party pooper, but Def Leppard were absolutely, thoroughly average.
Now there's no denying the power and prowess of 'Pyromania', there's no denying the band's extraordinary stateside success, there's no denying that Def Leppard have made a hell of a lot of dough out of this business (which at the end of the day is what it's all about!). What I am questioning is whether Def Leppard are actually a band that is worth seeing live. On the evidence of Donington, hardly the best place to make a judgement, the answer would have to be no.
Take away the horrendous sound problems, take away the obvious problems of Rick Allen having to play with one arm (a helluva brave guy!), and you're still left with the fact that Def Leppard are really rather ordinary these days.
The Leps have got a problem. The superlative Mutt Lange production on 'Pyromania' necessarily results in those songs sounding lame in comparison when viewed live and naked. Even the classic 'Photograph' sounded as if it were limping rather than sprinting majestically.
Problematical to be sure, but not as worrying as the two new songs bestowed upon us. 'Don't give me Love and Affection' and 'Run Riot'. Well it says it all, doesn't it? Standard rock songs that would've been nothing special if they'd been written in a week, never mind three years! You can fool all of the people, etc etc.
Leppard tried hard to win the punters over. They worked diligently at their craft and tried to please, but it wasn't enough. Filling out 'Rock Of Ages' with snippets of old classics such as 'Radar Love', 'Not Fade Away' and 'My Generation' seemed to be less good time and more desperation, not the stuff that the 'world's greatest rock band' should be made of.
By Kerrang! Issue 128 1986.
Media Review - By Sounds
"Sheffield's finest steely pop metal combo approached their appearance at Donington, their first in this country since the birth of Christ, with a need to show the bastards ...And as if this question mark over their continuing prowess were not enough, Def Leppard are greeted by many of those here, not with the warm affection ... but with chilly resentment ... Add to these circumstances the fact that drummer Rick Allen tragically lost his left arm ... understandably if unhappily, much of the interest in the band would revolve around the way in which they and he coped with this sad accident, and it can be seen that Leppard ... had a lot to prove to this audience.... but the band gave it their all, Rick electing to play solo with the aid of a computerized kit. The sound was pristine, at least to begin with, and clean cut razor-edged hooks which line their classy and almost sophisticated metal took the place by storm. 'Rock! Rock! (Til You Drop)' was the motto for the day, and with this genuine rock beauty of songs like 'Photograph' and 'Another Hit and Run', Def Leppard won through despite the obvious antagonism of some of the vast crowd."
By Sounds 1986.
Media Review - By Record Mirror
"One-armed drummer Rick Allen was the star of their show, coping unbelievably well with his electronically aided drum kit."
"The band glided through an almost pleasant set of rock tunes and energetically flung themselves across the stage. A dodgy sound system didn't help but 'Rock of Ages', which included covers of 'My Generation' 'Whole Lotta Love', got the dandruff flying."
By Record Mirror 1986.
Media Review - By Music Week
"Def Leppard came across heavier than anticipated and this was greatly appreciated. Also to everyone's surprise Rick Allen was the only drummer bravely choosing Donington to return to his full role of drummer in the band."
By Music Week 1986.
Media Review - By Melody Maker
"Americanized monotony merchants."
By Melody Maker 1986.
Media Review - From Animal Instinct
Leppard didn't bother with a formal introduction. As Steve Clark explains, "We were playing in broad daylight. We didn't have any big lights or effects. We hadn't dressed up for it either. We just went out there and rock and rolled for each other. If anybody else liked it, great."
Joe went into his familiar repertoire of Mick Jagger-Gary Glitter poses while Phil and Steve turned on the guitar-heat Aerosmith style, jagged zig-zag riffs punctuated by fireball burst of feedback. At one point in the set, Steve slipped around the back line of amplifiers, snuck up behind Phil and gave him a wicked kick in the caboose.
The crowd's response was better than Leppard had ever expected. During the encore, while Rick was taking a brief drum break, Phil suggested to Joe that he give Rick a special introduction, something he hadn't done on any of the Irish shows. "So I went out after he was done and said 'Ladies and Gentlemen, Rick Allen on the drums.' You could have knocked me over with a feather. The cheering was so loud they practically blew us off stage. I mean, they were louder than we were. I could barely hear Rick because of the big waves of 'YEAH' which rolled over the stage.".
It was an especially poignant victory for Rick. Before the tour, Ozzy Osbourne had told Peter Mensch that putting Rick on display for fifty thousand headbangers amounted to nothing more than a freak show. At the end of the Monsters of Rock tour, Ozzy paid a visit to Rick's hotel room and took back every word he said.
By Zomba Books 1987.
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