Often criticized and maligned for a variety of different reasons, Sheffield, England’s Def Leppard remains a solid force in the world of arena rock. They’ve been called cheesy, lame, corny and sellouts; see, they’ve strayed very far from their original incarnation as a bunch of snot-nosed teenagers who loved heavy metal and hard rock. The group of youngsters who recorded their 1980 debut, On Through The Night, was a far cry from what they’d become by the mid-1980’s — MTV darlings that reached monumental worldwide success and had adopted a sound more pop than metal. But for each original fan who ditched them and moved on, there were thousands of others who wholeheartedly embraced the band and welcomed their softer, more palatable approach. And those fans are still as loyal as ever. Def Leppard remains a huge concert draw as clearly evidenced from last Friday’s packed show at the 1-800-Ask-Gary Amphitheater.
Taking the elaborately designed, expansive stage at 9:25 p.m., the band appeared as AC/DC’s anthem “For Those About To Rock (We Salute You)” blared from the speakers and kicked off with a brand new song, “Undefeated,” as crystal-clear images of various sports heroes flashed on the many screens behind the band. Call it cheeky or obnoxious, the rapid-fire barrage of images came to a standstill as the song ended and the screens were emblazoned with still images of none other than our hosts for the night, Def Lep.
From there, the night truly turned into the “Greatest Hits” show this current trek is being billed as. Mega-hit after hit, the band fearlessly (and LOUDLY) pummeled the near-capacity crowd with some of the most recognizable radio fodder of the last three decades. Almost every hit from their wildly successful pair of 1980s albums, Pyromania (1983) andHysteria (1987) were performed and lapped up by the voracious crowd on this steamy Friday night.
Def Leppard make no apologies or concessions for what they do; they are unashamed of their pomp and presentation and I applaud them for that. It’s not only difficult to pack a massive outdoor venue in this day and age of light ticket sales and astronomical prices, but to do so as a veteran rock act who hasn’t budged from their stance of braggadocio or attempted to retool their sound to adapt to changing trends is just impressive.
I see nothing wrong with putting on a larger-than-life show replete with cutting edge technology, an elaborate sound system and a lighting rig that would make Queen envious. It’s the ultimate rock ‘n’ roll fantasy to walk out onto a ginormous stage to an adoring throng of admirers who are losing their shit as you kick into gear and play the songs they came to hear. Def Leppard is that band.
Lead singer Joe Elliott has the market cornered on the rock ‘n’ roll poses and pouts. It’s not uncommon for Joe to go into his trademark arms-outstretched and head cocked back pose he so often sports. And every time he unleashes another pose or stance, the crowd goes wild. As he and the band tore through signature songs like “Pour Some Sugar On Me,” “Animal” or “Photograph,” it was clear that Leppard came armed with the exact amount of Friday night rock artillery this crowd came to be treated to.
Say what you will of Def Leppard; opinions are often strong and pointed but I can honestly say that there aren’t a whole lot of touring acts out there right now who can do what this band does night after night and tour after tour. While it may seem easy or unimpressive to work a crowd over as effectively or as thoroughly as Def Leppard does, believe me, it’s no easy task. For almost 30 years, the band has been one of the most successful headlining rock bands on almost every corner of the globe and they show no signs of slowing down or aging. And that in itself is quite a feat.
In one hell of a double-bill, fans were treated to another perennial, enduring rock band as the openers. Sister-act Heart has been selling piles of records and racking up hit singles since Def Leppard were still ordering t-shirts from the back pages of Kerrang! Magazine. Ann and Nancy Wilson have been the sturdy foundation of the band since the mid-1970’s and enjoyed a resurgence a decade later again thanks to MTV and scads of hit singles. While not often recognized for their contributions, the sisters undoubtedly paved the way for plenty of female performers that followed in their footsteps. In their own right a headlining act, Heart treated the hot, fiery crowd to a smoking 60-minute set that was chock full of hits and anthems.
Lead singer Ann Wilson possesses one of the most powerful voices in the genre; her constant comparisons to the high-ranging acrobatics of Led Zeppelin’s Robert Plant are well-deserved. With her constant companion, sister and guitarist Nancy by her side, Ann Wilson is a fearless leader armed with a stellar arsenal of hits and rock firepower.
Between the two bands, the amount of hits and recognizable material the crowd was treated to last Friday night was staggering. Whether this type of pairing is necessary due to today’s sluggish concert market or if is was just the opportunity to catch two renowned veteran rocks acts on the same stage doing what they do best, it didn’t seem to matter to those in attendance.
Heart Setlist:
Cooking With Fire
Heartless
Never
What About Love
These Dreams
You Are The Voice
Alone
WTF
Magic Man
Crazy On You
Barracuda
-encore-
What Is And What Should Never Be (Led Zeppelin cover)
Def Leppard Setlist:
Undefeated
Let’s Get Rocked
Animal
Let It Go
Foolin’
Love Bites
Rock On
Rocket
Two Steps Behind
Bringin’ On The Heartbreak
Hysteria
Armageddon It
Photograph
Pour Some Sugar On Me
E:
Rock of Ages
This article appears in Jun 16-22, 2011.
