Boston/Mansfield, MA - Media Review Quotes

By Robert Fusaro

There were about 7,000 adoring fans on hand to see lead singer Joe Elliot, guitarists Phil Collen and Vivian Campbell, floppy-haired bassist Rick Savage, and one-armed drummer Rick Allen plow through a set list that dug back into the band's heady "Pyromania" and "Hysteria" days. Overall, Def Leppard was less than predatory in terms of staging: Except for the walls of stacked Marshall amplifiers, six across and three down, on either side of Allen's mammoth drum kit, the decor was spare. Sweeping spotlights and sudden bursts of strobes and white lights worked in perfect synch with the band's anthemic brand of rock.

But the energy on stage wasn't as high as it could have been for a band that is just hitting the road again; the interplay between band members was almost nil, and aside from Elliot's stalking, it seemed like the lights were the only things moving up there. The arm-pumping momentum picked up mostly in the last half of the set.

The heavy rhythm section demonstrated last night why it is so indispensable to Def Leppard. It would be hard to imagine, say, the pounding funk of "Pour Some Sugar on Me" or the call-and-response rockers "Armageddon It" and "Rock of Ages" without Allen's propulsive drumming to drive it and Savage's relentless low notes.

The other Def Leppard trademark, Elliot's high-end wailing, was a little off at times during the evening; it was a little disappointing that he had to screech his way through the climax of "Bringing on the Heartbreak." But he also perfectly nailed the "anybody out there" line during "Foolin"' and handled the high notes of "Hysteria' -- so maybe it's a matter of getting his road chops back in order. The long-haired Elliot led the crowd through countless sing-alongs, including the "I want, I need, I love" chant that anchors "Animal."

By Worcester Telegram & Gazette 2000.

Read the full review at - telegram.com/

Def Leppard Rocks With Youthful Vigour By Stephen Peterson

Joe Elliott, the group's vocalist and leader, jumped around on stage all night. It was obvious the band had a lot of pent-up pep. It marked its first gig after having taken the past four months off from touring.

Opening up with "Rock Rock (Til You Drop) off their third album, 1983's "Pyromania" then band then played a cover of an old Sweet tune, "Action."

"Foolin'" "Animal" and "Hysteria" soon followed. Slowing and quieting things down, the band members brought out their acoustic guitars, playing theiu splendid ballad, "Tw Steps Behind."

They stayed acoustic for most of the smash hit "Bringing on the Heartbreak" before ending the High "N" Dry album number with electric guitars.

By Attleboro Sun Chronicle 2000.

Read the full review at - thesunchronicle.com

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