Manchester, England - Media Reviews
By Martin Hutchinson
After they had gone we had hardly drawn breath when Def Leppard crashed onto the stage, and if anything, were louder and rockier than the Snakes! They too played tracks from their new album, the pick being Nine Lives'. Singer Joe Elliott is every bit as good a frontman as Coverdale as their cannon was given a good airing, from tracks like Hysteria', Armageddon It', When Love And Hate Collide' to Two Steps Behind' and Rock Of Ages'. The highlight for many was a solo from bassist Rick Savage, whose mind-blowing solo immediately preceded the Lepps' version of Rock On' from their album of covers called Yeah!'.
The volume of the music was almost physical as the band received the adulation they thoroughly warranted. Many of the audience were first-generation fans, who were - in some cases - a little long in the tooth, but that didn't stop them rocking the Arena to the rafters. Both bands may be celebrating 30 years of rocking, but they certainly ain't gonna go away anytime soon. And we should be thankful for that.
By The Bolton News 2008.
Read the full review at - theboltonnews.co.uk
By Lee Meredith
So, one might think that Joe Elliott and the boys in Def Leppard might've been biting their fingernails backstage. How could anyone follow that? But you don't hit the heights that the Sheffield lads have hit without good reason. From a stunning montage on screen of the history of the band backed by some virtuoso guitar work, out they came. As soon as Joe took centre stage and cried: 'Geetar! Drums!' to signify their opener, Rocket, any doubts vanished.
Theirs was a set full of hits, delivering exactly what the fans wanted to hear: Animal, Hysteria, Make Love Like a Man, Rock of Ages and an awesome version of Bringin' On The Heartbreak, with its haunting, acoustic intro wrong-footing the listener when it beomes a full-blown belter of a song.
Guitarists Phil Collen and Phil Campbell play with incredible grace considering the massive sound that Def Lep are known for. Pour Some Sugar on Me had the audience punching the air as one and Let's Get Rocked hit the same dizzy heights. It was a masterclass in giving the crowd exactly what it wanted. This sort of rock is the critics' easy target but, at the end of the day, it's all about having a good time and a damn good time was had by all those who were at the Arena to see these bands. As Def Lep say, 'Rock Of Ages, still rollin', keep a-rollin''. Amen to that.
By Lee Meredith @ Manchester Evening News 2008.
Read the full review at - manchestereveningnews.co.uk
By Howard Jones
Joe Elliot and the boys brought the house down. A magnificent performance with a spectacular multimedia backdrop for opener Rocket, classics Animal, Make Love Like A Man, When Love And Hate Collide, an awesome acoustic Bringing On The Heartbreak, and perfect Hysteria followed. The sweet tone of Phil Collen's guitar heralded Armageddon It and the hits kept coming with the monumental Photograph and chorale of Pour Some Sugar On Me. Rock Of Ages and encores of Bad Actress and a tumultuous Let's Get Rocked left everyone in no doubt - they had been.
By Recodcollectormag 2008.
Read the full review at - recordcollectormag.com
Whitesnake & Def Leppard - MEN Arena By Greg Nixon
With barely a pause, it's the blue corner's time to grab the limelight. With many in the audience wondering just how Def Leppard can possibly top what has just happened, the National Anthem blares across the PA system to a hoisting of the Union flag. And just as the patriotic are rising to their feet, Def Leppard hit the stage with Rocket, quickly followed by Come On from their latest album Songs from the Sparkle Lounge. Frontman Joe Elliott leads the line with powerful vocals, with the rest of the band easing through the set with an almost arrogant swagger.
An acoustic segment threatens to pull the rug from under the whole performance, with the audience getting visibly restless, and it takes a mammoth effort to get the party cranked up again with old classics like Pour Some Sugar on Me and Armegeddon It. They pull it off, but only just.
By Lancashire Evening Post 2008.
Read the full review at - lep.co.uk
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