Kansas City, MO - Media Review Quotes

By Bill Brownlee

"We'll take you back in our time machine to 1983," vocalist Joe Elliott said in his introduction to "Foolin.'"

The audience of about 11,000 roared its approval. The band's ability to attract such a substantial audience more than 20 years after its commercial zenith reflects the durability of its catalog and its ongoing influence. One of the most popular acts of the 1980s, Def Leppard has the luxury of loading its set list with one massive hit after another.

Uninhibited couples engaged in dirty dancing during the ballad "Love Bites." Parents and their children exchanged cross-generational high-fives at the opening notes of "Let's Get Rocked." Most everyone cheerfully sang along with the blissfully nonsensical "Bringin' On The Heartbreak." Although Def Leppard is a British band, its lyrics seem as though they have been filtered through a shoddy language translator. Silliness is just part of the band's appeal. Drummer Rick Allen remains an inspiration (he lost his left arm in a 1984 car accident) while the boundless energy of guitarists Phil Collen and Vivian Campbell belied their intricate playing.

During the era-defining hit "Photograph," immense video monitors displayed a scrapbook collage intended to make the band seem heroic. It was an unnecessary bit of hagiography. The song's monumental riffs already serve as a testament to Def Leppard's legacy.

By Kansas City Star 2011.

Read the full review at - kansascity.com

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