Irvine, CA - Media Review Quotes
By Robert Kinsler
By the time the band got through its opening cut, "Undefeated," and delved into its second song ,"Rocket," the crowd had already engaged their own thrusters and thousands were hollering out lyrics at full throttle.
Some of the more stirring moments in the show, however, came when the band veered off that course. Known for songs celebrating relationships and rock 'n' roll, Def Leppard surprised with an emotional performance of its anti-war rocker "Gods of War," complete with dark images of warplanes and religious symbolism projected on multiple large rear-projection screens. The group also indulged an acoustic mini-set on a ramp that stretched into the crowd, highlighted by a melodic singalong of the tender "Two Steps Behind."
The end of the night provided rocking versions of the band's best material, including the power ballad "Bringin' on the Heartbreak" (with blazing guitar work from Campbell), a heavy metal attack on "Photograph" and, finally, a one-two punch of "Pour Some Sugar on Me" and the night-ending "Rock of Ages."
By OC Register 2012.
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Def Leppard - Verizon Wireless Amphitheater - 6/22/12 By Daniel Kohn
Only the second date of their Rock Of Ages tour, the band sounded crisp and on-point. Joe Elliott remains a likeable frontman who still commands attention from the ladies (the first bra hit the stage after the second song, that has to be some kind of record) and whose voice sounds as strong as it did before. The band's chemistry is still dynamic and they know how to keep the crowd engaged in their show. Banter was kept to a minimum, which enabled fans to lose themselves in the music.
Perhaps the most notable aspect of the show was how incredible drummer Rick Allen is. Nearly 30 years after he lost his left arm in a car accident, he continues to amaze with his drumming ability. The man was able to carry the show like a champ and it's crazy to think if he had both arms, how different his legacy would be. He could easily be considered one of the best rock drummers of all time, especially since his dynamic style carried the bloated guitars that ooze excess and overshadowed the only redeemable aspect of the band's sound.
How the band remains big despite having not been musically relevant for over 20 years is a testament to the power of their two Diamond-selling albums (for those of you scoring at home, that means over 10 million sold) and the strength of their hits. That's why Rock Of Ages serves as a slice of revisionist history regarding how great the '80s were.
By OC Weekly 2012.
Read the full review at - ocweekly.com
By Chris Epting
Then it was time for another band that brings not just the fraternal comfort of original member familiarity, but a lion's share of hits. Riding the wave of the release of the Tom Cruise film named after one of their songs, "Rock of Ages," Def Leppard showed once more why they command the crowds they do, year in and year out.
Their epic, 22-song set reads like a pop-metal history book - "Foolin'," "Animal," "Hysteria," "Photograph," "Bringin' on the Heartbreak," "Photograph," and other fist-pumping anthems were balanced by a nice acoustic medley and a few more obscure nuggets from the deep catalog.
And when the show ends with "Rock of Ages," it's clear that these guys understand their place in the pop culture strata. Joe Elliot, Phil Collen, Rick Allen, Rick Savage and Vivian Campbell have created music that has become the fabric of a couple of generations now, and when the red solo cups are held high by so many baby boomers from the front row all the way to the back of the sweeping lawn, it's easy to see why Def Leppard means the world to its fans - and why it just wouldn't be summer without them.
By Noise Creep 2012.
Read the full review at - noisecreep.com
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