Calgary, AB - Media Review Quotes
By Dave Veitch
Def Leppard sounded positively rejuvenated.
The glossy sheen that coated most of the band's '80s hits was scraped away; songs such as Animal and Pour Some Sugar On Me were rendered lean, mean and delightfully raw.
The band didn't play many songs from its new album, Slang, but the surprisingly funky Work It Out proved Def Leppard is capable - and willing - to make distinctive, interesting music outside of the realm of hard rock.
Still, the band's overriding philosophy of this tour is: keep it simple.
And that was never more evident than in their stage production.
The quintet merely played on a basic black stage in front of a Marshall stack; there were no flashpots, or flying drum kits or laser lights.
Compared to the hi-tech spectacles the band used to stage, this concert looked like something you would see in a nightclub.
By Calgary Sun 1996.
Read the full review at - calgarysun.com
By Frank King
During all this, the band exhorted the crowd on to its feet, while a shirtless Collen and newly slimmed down bassist Rick Savage (with open shirt) made sure all the female fans were satisfied.
Jamming? Well, that's never been Def's expertise. Tight solos, lotsa harmonies (even the new stuff, during a time when harmonies are oh SO outta style) and short songs have always been the order of the day.
But it did manage to stretch things out during a downright ancient classic, Bringin' On The Heartbreak from 1982's High And Dry album. It was a rare chance to see guitarist Vivian Campbell (the newest member) shine, because Collen hogs most of the solo spotlight.
Openers Tripping Daisy are obviously along for the ride to help the band connect with the '90s crowd. It had lots of the current attitude - obscenities, plenty of pounding, scratchy volume, occasional moments of Pink Floyd weirdness to make things interesting, and a lead singer who came on stage in a wig and my mother's old house coat. Weird, but that's what sells these days.
By Calgary Herald 1996.
Read the full review at - calgaryherald.com
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