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Kiss & Def Leppard By Kevin Kaminski

Def Leppard took the stage first, but theirs was a headlining show by any standard, a 14-song set of greatest hits that served as a reminder why the British band has sold some 100 million albums worldwide.

It’s also one of those rare groups that has remained relatively intact for the duration of its multi-decade run—with Joe Elliott (vocals), Phil Collen (guitar), Rick Savage (bass) and Rick Allen (drums) all logging 30 years or more with Def Leppard. Even more impressive is that they look and sound no worse for wear. Collen, a few years shy of 60, is ripped like an MMA fighter; Elliott, with his Union Jack scarf around the microphone stand, commanded the stage like someone half his age; and Allen, the group’s legendary one-armed drummer, plays with as much enthusiasm as ever.

On this night, Def Leppard stayed true to its recordings—no lengthy solos or extended versions. Highlights included an acoustic take on “Bringin’ on the Heartache,” and a three-song closing stretch of “Pour Some Sugar on Me,” “Rock of Ages” and “Photograph” that sounded like a band at the top of its game.

By Boca Mag 2014.

Read the full review/3 photos at - bocamag.com

By Abel Folgar

Truth be told, both bands did their jobs very well, and it really does bug me as to who comes up with this stuff. It seems like Def Leppard could've benefited from a longer set. A packed Cruzan seemed to really enjoy seeing the band onstage.

I arrived a bit late to the show and caught Def Leppard as it began "Hysteria." And from the sounds of it, Joe Elliot and Rick Savage, the longest-running members of the band, still have it with a few age-related pointers reminding that it isn't 1985 anymore. Not that I'm going to be critical about age; for a band that has been on the road and has partied like it did back in the day, it was only in the high notes that you could see Elliot's voice tempered by time. One of the things that certainly stood out from the billing is that although both bands have that "packaged for an arena" sound, Leppard is the more technical of the two. Just a little observation, and probably a reason why it felt like its set was rushed, though admittedly, I did not catch the opening act Kobra and the Lotus or the beginning of the Leppard set.

My bad; the Canadian heavy-metal outfit would've been fun to see live. It was nice to see Def Leppard rock through the crowd-pleaser "Pour Some Sugar on Me" and "Rock of Ages" and see the appreciative crowd go a little unabashed '80s for a few minutes. Drummer Rick Allen had a nice thing going with the Union Jack motif of his customized kit gaining a life of its own as his Johnnies and a nice patch covering the sleeve of his amputated arm. Somewhere, the Queen Mother is smiling.

By Broward Palm Beach New Times 2014.

Read the full review at - browardpalmbeach.com

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