Page 52 - Black Velvet Rock Magazine - Issue 100

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DEF LEPPARD / CHEAP TRICK, BIRMINGHAM ARENA, 17.12.18
In 2013, Def Leppard kicked off an 11-night residency in Las Vegas As the band are performing 'Hysteria' in order, we get 'Rocket', 'Ani-
performing their multi-platinum ‘Hysteria’ album in full. This went down so mal', 'Love Bites' (a contender for performance of the evening), 'Pour
well that the band decided to bring the album out on the road to other cor- Some Sugar On Me' (featuring a deafening audience sing-along) and 'Ar-
ners of the globe. With a headline appearance at Download Festival in mageddon It' in quick succession, all sounding as fresh and fab as they
the UK in June, plans were set in stone for the band to return in the winter did the very first time you heard them.
for a lengthy UK arena tour to wrap up the year. There is an enormous video screen behind the band that features
The sold-out UK and Ireland jaunt in December saw US pop-rock leg- classic band pictures and videos during the course of the show. Before
ends Cheap Trick warm the crowd up nicely as special guests. With over the stunning 'Gods Of War' begins the second half of the album we’re
40 years' experience the band certainly know how to entertain. Their 45- shown a touching tribute to their late guitarist Steve Clark on the screen
minute set includes timeless gems such as 'I Want You To Want Me', which everyone applauds. Hard-hitting footage of war and fighting accom-
'Dream Police' and 'Surrender', plus their 1988 US No. 1 hit 'The Flame'. panies ‘Gods Of War’ which really helps to hammer home the anti-war
With Birmingham being the penultimate night of the tour, and just a week message in the lyrics. This half of the album features quite a few rarely-
before Christmas, the timing was perfect for a guest appearance from played tracks including 'Don't Shoot Shotgun' and the tremendously en-
hometown hero Roy Wood, who lends his vocals to 'California Man' and ergetic 'Run Riot' before the breathtaking title track 'Hysteria' proves to be
'I Wish It Could Be Christmas Everyday', which sees the crowd sing along a real highlight as always. Two more lesser-known but still hugely enjoy-
in party mood. able tracks 'Excitable' and 'Love And Affection' finish off this part of the
During the interval a giant screen obscures the front of the stage with show after which the band exit the stage. This 'Hysteria' set really demon-
a large digital countdown clock which builds anticipation for the main event strates why the 1987-released album achieved the success it did, selling
as it approaches 0:00, at which point the lights go down and the screen is 25 million copies worldwide, as the whole thing is just fantastic.
raised to reveal Def Leppard guitarist Phil Collen at the front of the stage, Returning for the encore with their sparkling cover of The Sweet's 'Ac-
who plays the opening notes of 'Women' with the rest of the band at the tion', from now on it's just classic hit after classic hit; 'When Love And Hate
back. The audience greets the band with an enormous roar and the at- Collide' is another singfest, while 'Let's Get Rocked' sends the Def Lep-
mosphere is set for the rest of the night. Frontman Joe Elliott quickly has pard faithful into a complete frenzy. After this Joe proudly announces the
the audience in the palm of his hands, truly showing his experience at his news that the band have been inducted into the 2019 Rock And Roll Hall
craft, while frequently venturing down the catwalk in the middle of the Of Fame with the biggest ever fan vote, for which he gratefully thanks
crowd. 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 in-
duction announcement a week
before, tonight really is a huge
celebration for both the band
and fans, and further proof,
not that any is needed, of ex-
actly why Def Leppard belong
in the Rock and Roll Hall Of
Fame. Congratulations guys.
It is most definitely deserved –
and not before time.
YYYYY
Ian Trigg
Joe Elliott & Phil Collen (Def Lep-
pard) Photo By Shari Black Velvet

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