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Def Leppard get rocked at the LG Arena

'Do you wanna get rocked?' Def Leppard enquired of the LG Arena and the response was a very clear 'Hell, yeah!'

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Concert review: Def Leppard/Motley Crue

LG Arena, Birmingham

By Ian Harvey

'Do you wanna get rocked?' Def Leppard enquired of the LG Arena and the response was a very clear 'Hell, yeah!'

But on the night when Leppard and US rockers Motley Crue launched their UK co-headlining tour, it was up to filthy-minded, spoof glam rockers Steel Panther to get Birmingham warmed up at the very un-rock 'n' roll hour of 6.30pm.

An hour later and Motley Crue exploded, quite literally, onto the stage with Wild Side, taking fans utterly by surprise because the lights hadn't even gone down.

Their 90 minute-set took in Crue songs old and new, all brutality and testosterone on hits like Girls Girls Girls, Dr Feelgood and Kickstart My Heart, only slowing down for the piano-led Home Sweet Home.

One fan called Tom found himself literally head over heels as he joined drummer Tommy Lee during his spectacular solo on a big wheel set-up which had then both spinning through 360 degrees to the roof of the arena.

Def Leppard responded to the challenge laid down by the Crue boys with their own 90-minute set which was cleverly laced with the obvious hits as well as some rare treats for the die-hards.

Bringing over their full US stage production, with a walkway into the crowd and screens galore, they guaranteed a big singalong with the likes of rock classics Photograph, Animal and Pour Some Sugar On Me, as well as new track Undefeated.

Then, as well as the instrumental Switch 625, there was the additional treat of an ultra-rare performance of Wasted, all the way from 1979.

Other rock concert reviews:

  • Bryan Adams at Birmingham LG Arena

  • Deep Purple at Birmingham LG Arena

  • Alter Bridge at Birmingham LG Arena

  • Peter Frampton at Birmingham Symphony Hall

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