DEF LEPPARD - BIRMINGHAM ARENA, DEC 17, 2018

PHOTOS BY SHARI BLACK VELVET

In 2013, Def Leppard kicked off an 11-night residency in Las Vegas performing their multi-platinum ‘Hysteria’ album in full. This went down so well that the band decided to bring the album out on the road to other corners of the globe. With a headline appearance at Download Festival in the UK in June, plans were set in stone for the band to return in the winter for a lengthy UK arena tour to wrap up the year.

The sold-out UK and Ireland jaunt in December saw US pop-rock legends Cheap Trick warm the crowd up nicely as special guests. With over 40 years' experience the band certainly know how to entertain. Their 45-minute set includes timeless gems such as 'I Want You To Want Me', 'Dream Police', 'Surrender', plus their 1988 US No. 1 hit 'The Flame'. With Birmingham being the penultimate night of the tour, and just a week before Christmas, the timing was perfect for a guest appearance from hometown hero Roy Wood, who lends his vocals to 'California Man' and 'I Wish It Could Be Christmas Everyday', which sees the crowd sing along in party mood.

During the interval a giant screen obscures the front of the stage with a large digital countdown clock which builds anticipation for the main event as it approaches 0:00, at which point the lights go down and the screen is raised to reveal Def Leppard guitarist Phil Collen at the front of the stage, who plays the opening notes of 'Women' with the rest of the band at the back. The audience greets the band with an enormous roar and the atmosphere is set for the rest of the night. Frontman Joe Elliott quickly has the audience in the palm of his hands, truly showing his experience at his craft, while frequently venturing down the catwalk in the middle of the crowd.

As the band are performing 'Hysteria' in order, we get 'Rocket', 'Animal', 'Love Bites' (a contender for performance of the evening), 'Pour Some Sugar On Me' (featuring a deafening audience sing-along) and 'Armageddon It' in quick succession, all sounding as fresh and fab as they did the very first time you heard them. Vivian Campbell is introduced as still being the 'new guy', despite being in the band for 26 years now. He and Phil Collen trade guitar licks and wow the crowd with their playing.

There is an enormous video screen behind the band that features classic band pictures and videos during the course of the show. Before the stunning 'Gods Of War' begins the second half of the album we’re given a touching tribute to their late guitarist Steve Clark on the screen which everyone applauds. Hard-hitting footage of war and fighting accompanies ‘Gods Of War’ which really helps to hammer home the anti-war message in the lyrics. This half of the album features quite a few rarely-played tracks including 'Don't Shoot Shotgun' and the tremendously energetic 'Run Riot' before the breathtaking title track 'Hysteria' proves to be a real highlight as always. Two more lesser-known but still hugely enjoyable tracks 'Excitable' and 'Love And Affection' finish off this part of the show after which the band exit the stage. This 'Hysteria' set really demonstrates why the 1987-released album achieved the success it did, selling 25 million copies worldwide,  as the whole thing is just fantastic.

Returning for the encore with their sparkling cover of The Sweet's 'Action', from now on it's just classic hit after classic hit; firstly, 'When Love And Hate Collide', which is another singfest, and 'Let's Get Rocked', which sends the Def Leppard faithful into a complete frenzy. After this Joe proudly announces the news that the band have been inducted into the 2019 Rock And Roll Hall Of Fame with the biggest ever fan vote, for which he gratefully thanks everyone who voted for them. He also takes this opportunity to introduce Rick Allen on drums, who, he says, deserves to be in the Hall more than anyone. Understandably, he receives rapturous applause. Rick introduces 'Rock Of Ages' from their earlier huge-selling album 'Pyromania' which leads into their first big hit, also from that album, the superb 'Photograph', which justifiably concludes proceedings on a massive high.

With their Hall Of Fame induction announcement a week before, tonight really is a celebration for both the band and fans, and further proof, not that any is needed, of exactly why Def Leppard belong in the Rock and Roll Hall Of Fame. Congratulations guys. It is most definitely deserved - and not before time.

For older Def Leppard Photos click HERE