http://www.post-gazette.com/ae/20030325shorttake0325p7.asp March 24, 2003 A & E Short Takes: Def Leppard pleases fans with the tried and true Tuesday, March 25, 2003 Def Leppard "We've got something to say," sang Joe Elliott as Def Leppard kicked into "Rock of Ages" on Friday night at the Petersen Events Center. "It's better to burn out than to fade away." The borrowed sentiment from Neil Young came off as a bit ironic. While Def Leppard hasn't been reduced to the club circuit, the band is years removed from selling out larger arenas and charting hit singles. But has relevance ever really been the point with this heavy pop band? Silly shout-along songs such as "Pour Some Sugar on Me," "Women" and "Foolin' " have always been decidedly out of step with the trendy and the important. They're regular rock songs for regular folks, only now there are fewer of them. The big hooks in the band's songs have actually held up well, especially the poppy "Photograph," the deliberately plodding "Bringing on the Heartbreak" and the propulsive "Animal." Tunes like "You're So Beautiful" from the 2001 album "X" weren't as well known but sounded just as good. Elliott's voice is a bit worse for the wear, however, especially when he strains for high notes. The vocals were low in the mix, though, and only really registered when his bandmates would harmonize or shout in unison on the choruses. Elliott pronounced Pitt's Petersen Center "much better than the old Stanley Theater" and vowed to return soon. "Until next time," he said, ending the show. "And there will be a next time." Perhaps. But resurgent radio interest or some new tricks wouldn't hurt this band that appears to be in the twilight of its popular run. -- Review by John Young, For the Post-Gazette Copyright ©1997-2003 PG Publishing Co., Inc. All Rights Reserved.