Allentown, PA - Media Review Quotes

By John J. Moser

Co-lead guitarist Vivian Campbell’s playing actually elevated some songs, such as a master solo on a slow “Love Bites,” which as well as it was performed had a distinct ‘80s sound, and a nice ending piece that saved one of the few deep cuts Def Leppard played, “Bringin’ on the Heartbreak.”

Especially good was a double-guitar attack on a mid-set cover of David Essex’s “Rock On.” Even the guitar-and-drum-solos exercise of “Switch 625” was good.

Elliot also was strong through the night. He even sang “Two Steps Behind” solo, at the end of the catwalk on acoustic guitar. With a slight aged roughness to his voice, the song took on a deeper meaning – a kind of pledge of support from an older perspective; really cool.

(It could have been even cooler: Elliot said bassist Rick Savage had challenged him to play Billy Joel’s “Allentown,” but he said he didn’t know it. “But when he comes here, tell him we played it, and you sang along because you know it,” Elliot said.)

By The Morning Call 2015.

Read the full review at - mcall.com

By James Wood

Hard rock legends Def Leppard have been a welcome fixture of The Great Allentown Fair over the years. Performing on the grandstand stage several times in the recent past as well as visiting Allentown several times in the '80s during their monster Pyromania and Hysteria tour runs. This year, the English band whose album sales total more than 100 million opened the 163rd annual fair by performing a ripping set of rock goodness from their near forty-year career.

Taking the stage to the infectious sounds of "Rock! Rock! (Til You Drop)," the band quickly reminded the Pennsylvania faithful of a time when their brand of music ruled the charts. The song, the opening track from Pyromania, was likely the first song American fans heard after rushing out to buy the record in 1983 when the band’s signature hit, “Photograph” became a radio staple. Leppard did no less than three other songs from the Pyromania. All sounding equally as impressive and fresh.

The band’s near ninety-minute set also highlighted several cuts from their High and Dry and Hysteria albums as well. The latter of which including the sweet sounds of “Pour Some Sugar on Me,” “Animal,” “Armageddon It” and the group’s #1 song, “Love Bites”.

By Axs 2015.

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