Darien Center/Buffalo, NY, USA - Media Review Quotes

By Jeff Miers

Def Leppard wasted little time taking the stage after Poison's merciful cessation.

The band was both completely ridiculous and absolutely stunning. If you can't appreciate how it could've been both at once, you either don't remember the '80s or didn't live through them. Back then, more was indeed more, and bigger indeed better. And when Def Leppard is in the house, it still is.

Led by vocalist Joe Elliott, Leppard took the stage to one of many tunes from the mega-platinum '80s album "Pyromania" it would play throughout the evening, "Rock, Rock (Till You Drop)." The band kicked it hard, striking every conceivable rocker pose, treading roughshod over every hard-rock cliche, and indulging in every cheesy sex-based metaphor imaginable, much to the delight of the rabid audience. Def Leppard was greeted with the sound of thunderous approval by the house, and the din didn't let up until 90 minutes later.

At first, Elliott sounded a bit hoarse, which is understandable, since he's long been a proponent of the "scream in tune" style. Impressively, the man can still scream in tune, and he did just that, as the group - guitarists Phil Collen and Vivian Campbell, drummer Rick Allen, bassist Rick Savage - dug deep into "Pyromania" for "Foolin' - and "Too Late For Love," both of which certainly qualify as mini-epics of the power-ballad variety. "Love Bites" went a bit further, lending an electronic bent - at the time that Leppard first did this, in the late '80s, it was actually forward looking.

By Buffalo News 2009.

Read the full review at - buffalonews.com

By Thomas S. Orwat Jr.

Def Leppard went on at 9pm and had the crowd 15,000 in attendance standing for the rest of their concert. With an amazing stage show and a set list consisting of almost all of their hits, the band quickly proved why they were the headliners. The band was in great spirits. Earlier in the day, band members Phil Collen -guitar and Rick Savage-bass did an in-store signing at a Jackson guitar dealer in Hamburg, NY. During this event, they were given the key to the city as the mayor declared it "Def Leppard day."

Highlights of the show included a performance of "Two Steps Behind" and "Bringing on the Heartbreak." During this segment of the show, vocalist Joe Elliot guitarist Vivian Campbell, Collen and Savage advanced down a stage ramp into the center of the audience for an intimate presentation.

The instrumental "Switch 625" from the bands 1982 release 'High and Dry' featured some great guitar work from Collen and Campbell. Bassist Savage had his opportunity to shine with his bass intro on the David Essex cover song "Rock On."

By Glam Metal 2009.

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