http://lfpress.ca/newsstand/Today/Music/2008/08/08/6384056-sun.html

Rock lives with Idol, Leppard
Fri, August 8, 2008 

By PAIGE AARHUS

So, what's got nine arms and rocks?

That's right. Def Leppard.

The classic 80s rockers played to a nearly-full house at the John Labatt Centre 
last night, proving that even if their newer stuff isn't their best, they still 
know how to plan an excellent set.

Fresh off this year's release of Songs From the Sparkle Lounge, the band, 
featuring singer John Elliott, bassist Rick Savage, guitarists Phil Collen and 
Vivian Campbell and famed drummer Rick Allen (who lost his left arm in a car 
crash decades ago) had something to prove this time around.

Songs From the Sparkle Lounge has been criticized as formulaic, sticking to the 
band's arena rock mentality and failing to recapture their 80s heyday.

Try telling that to last night's crowd.

Billy Idol got them riled up with a strut down memory lane during his opening 
show.

He had the crowd screaming, dancing and swooning from opener Cradle of Love 
until the final notes of Rebel Yell.

The remarkably well-preserved Idol (one of the few 80s stars who doesn't look 
like he's been run over by a truck) might not be sporting the trademark 
platinum hairdo anymore, but he hasn't lost any of his charisma, or that 
amazing scream.

"I've been doing this for too long!" he shouted, before sneering his way 
through crowd favourite White Wedding.

He sang the classics Mony Mony and Dancing With Myself, all the while slapping 
palms, smooching women's hands and hopping up to dance on speakers -- quite a 
feat for a 53-year-old rock star.

Idol even took over on guitar for a bit, and managed to autograph a record in 
the midst of a rousing solo.

All of it worked well to kick-start the crowd into a frenzy for the main 
attraction.

Def Leppard opened with Rocket, following up with the always popular, 
fast-paced hit Animal.

And while Elliott might not be as dreamy as Idol, or as involved with the 
crowd, he still had fists pumping and feet tapping, even in the back rows.

Def Leppard's been called too pop-rock, too hair-metal, and criticized for 
changing their sound and style to appeal to the masses. Some say the band's 
lost it.

But they're also one of the few groups in the world that can boast two 
separate, original albums selling more than 10 million copies each (the others 
being the Beatles, Led Zeppelin, Van Halen and Pink Floyd).

So maybe the formula works.

At any rate, an arena rock mentality was perfect for last night's show.

After the first two songs, Elliott launched into the opening bars of C'mon, 
C'mon, straight from the new album. The crowd went wild.

Fans weren't as energetic for Leppard as they were for Idol until the last half 
of the band's carefully planned set.

After classics Foolin' and Love Bites, and a particularly awe-inspiring drum 
solo from the bare-footed Allen, Elliott, Campbell and Collen took to acoustic 
guitars for Bringin' on the Heartbreak.

They paused long enough for Elliott to declare, "This is definitely better than 
Hamilton," before Campbell and Collen changed guitars without notice and 
delivered face-melting electric solos.

After that, it was build-up after build-up. Heartbreak led to Armageddon It, 
followed by Photograph, and topped by Pour Some Sugar on Me. Rock of Ages made 
for a grand finale. The musicians weren't the only ones dripping sweat after a 
set like that.

But then, Def Leppard snuck in one of their latest offerings, Bad Actress, for 
the first encore. It's not that the song is so terrible, just that its 
strategic placement proves some critics right. Def Leppard is arena-oriented.

Still, every fist was raised for the final song, Let's Get Rocked, and Def 
Leppard proved once again that they can still get a crowd screaming, singing 
and reminiscing about the good old days. 

Copyright © 2008, Canoe Inc. All rights reserved.