http://www.zwire.com/site/news.cfm?newsid=9974935&BRD=2311&PAG=461&dept_id=482260&rfi=6 Rock band doesn't disappoint fu By Kim Gaugler, Staff Writer kim_g@newsitem.com BLOOMSBURG - The lines on a person's face, usually called wrinkles, signify age, but for the members of Def Leppard, the lines only show the time on the road and the millions of people the five have met during their career. In 1977 one of rock music's most influential bands of the 80s formed. Tuesday night and 23 years later, the band played like it was the first concert as they rocked the bandstand at the 146th Bloomsburg Fair. As the bandstand area filled for the 7:30 p.m. concert, the speakers blaired loud rock and roll music, reminding fans of what they were in for. As lead singer Joe Elliott and the rest of the crew walked onto stage, fans immediately jumped to their feet for the band to open the concert with "Rock till You Drop." As the crowd got anxious, Elliott encouraged the crowd to clap their hands and to stand up. The obeying fans did just that as he shouted back "This is a rock and roll show!" "They're great," said Melissa Spicher of Herndon. Spicher saw the band for the second time in a year on Tuesday and did not have enough good things to say about the five-man band, which consists of Elliott, Rick Savage, Vivian Campbell, Phil Collen, and Rick Allen. Def Leppard is touring on the third leg of the Euphoria Tour for the album released in 1999. The third leg of the tour began in July and the band will play 47 more shows, including Bloomsburg. Many concert-goers were fans of the band for years and have seen them several times. "I've liked them since I was 12 or 13," said Jackie Sanzi of Hazleton. Sanzi said that Tuesday was the 12th Def Leppard concert she has been to. Other fans spoke of the dedication that they paid to their favorite band. "I drew Joe Elliott's picture in pen and ink and sent it to the fan club," said 24-year-old Tiffany Rosta who drove all the way from Pittsburgh with her friend to see the band. One mesmerizing thing about the concert was the fact that just before it started, cops on horses were standing behind the crowd on the track. The strange thing about the men on horses was that the loud music spooked the horses. The animals were severely frightened, yet the men kept them there for at least ten minutes prior to the start of the concert. However, after the beginning of the concert, the men and their horses vanished. Def Leppard has suffered tragedies through its 23 year existence. In 1984 drummer Allen was in a car accident that claimed his left arm. Since Allen was determined, he came back to a semi-electronic drum kit and kept going. In 1991 the band experienced a loss that could have completely torn the group apart. Guitarist Steve Clark was found dead in his apartment after consuming a deadly mix of alcohol and prescription drugs. Like most other bands, bad things are bound to happen during its career. However, the remaining members of the band decided that they needed to go on and Clark's position was filled, but his memory lives on. During the last 23 years Def Leppard has had a lot of success. The fans at Pennsylvania's biggest fair were well aware the band's success and showed their appreciation before the five men packed up the tour bus to head for Huntington, WV for the next stop. © The News Item 2000