Show Def Del Leppard Rocks out outa a Happy Birthday Ben Hansen Contributing Writer It had been several years since I have seen Def Leppard Having grownup grown grownup up with them album after album I knew all of their by heart Over the years I have constantly heard people discussing the band saying that they have evolved they have progressed and they have changed One thing that hasn't changed is their ability to kick ass August 25 2009 Vet Del Lepp Leppard d made their r anticipated return to a packed crowd at US USANA ANA amphitheater Openers Cheap Trick and Poison filled adequately to get the crowd going but the thereal thereal thereal real action of the night did not begin until the visual monitors behind the stage started flashing images of things past and as the stage darkened the silhouette of bassist Rick Savage could be seen standing above drummer Rick Allens Allen's drum kit As the first 2 beats on the drums echoed out into the audience fans knew what they were in for The Pyromania album opening track Rock Rock Till You Drop immediately swung the audience back some 25 years as singer Joe Elliot burst onto the stage A catwalk that emerged from the front of the stage eight rows into the audience quickly became his favorite stomping ground with guitarists Vivian Campbell and Phil Collen Cohen also virtually wearing their own hiking trail into the stage extension The songs flowed like well-aged well wine right from the start Rocket from the Hysteria album was the second track and included Vivien and Savage leading the way with the classic yet often omitted backing vocals during the pre- pre verse portions of the song Joe drew out lyrics from everyone in the audience pointing his microphone at different sections of the crowd throughout each part of the chorus and having them sing lead with him At a point midway through the evening Joe strapped on an acoustic guitar and walked out to the front of the catwalk with the 3 other guitarists He invited everyone to tobe tobe tobe be part of the band and for us all to sing together and to Sing the words right back at us for an acoustical performance of the hit Two Steps Behind It was difficult to hear the band singing over the audience even from a few rows away from the stage Joe took advantage of the opportunity and after prompting the audience of almost enjoyed watching them participate as everyone wished Vivian Viviana a happy 47 birthday through song With 30 years of classic rock anthems radio mega- mega hits and fan favorites the bands band's available catalogue was very deep True to their fans they delivered a watering mouth-watering set list which spanned their careers including on the Heartbreak and the instrumental Switch from the 1982 High and Dry album following all the way through with from last years year's album Songs from the Sparkle Lounge Mega hits like the 1 mainstays mainstays mainstays main main- stays Love Bites and Pour Some Sugar on Me from the Hysteria album made their way into the set along with a heavy helping of Pyromania favorites including the set finale Rock of Ages Time seemed to vanish while watching the band perform and before we knew it the band had exceeded the curfew time limit for the venue True to their fans as always they were not going to end the night without an encore they returned to the stage and performed the first track off of the album Lets Let's Get Rocked Guitarist Vivian Campbells Campbell's birthday was only one reason to celebrate the evening Def Leppard continues to find finda a way to remain timeless yet relevant providing a performance solid enough to have me shuffling through my as soon as asI asI asI I got to the parking lot Its It's ironic that one of their most popular song lyrics states Its better to burn bum out than fade away They have done neither |