DEF LEPPARD
With HEART & DUX & DOWNTOWN
15 October 2011
nib Stadium, Perth, Western Australia
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Words: Shane Pinnegar
Photos: Mark Diggins
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After a short warm-up set from new local act DUX & DOWNTOWN, the lights fire up, showing Nancy Wilson striking a guitar heroine silhouette as HEART burst into Led Zeppelin’s massive stomper ‘Rock n Roll’ on this, their first ever show on Aussie soil, and the thousands-strong crowd roared as one.
But it was the first line sung by sister Ann Wilson that sent tingles up and down spines around the stadium – this 61 year old still possesses a voice that is completely unique, soulful, passionate and so very rock n’ roll.
Despite possessing a back catalogue to die for, Heart play no less than 3 cover versions in their ten song set, possibly signalling an unwarranted lack of confidence in their own material. It’s undeniable though that the sisters Wilson bring some special magic to tracks from the aforementioned Led Zep, The Who and John Farnham.
Nancy takes the microphone for ‘These Dreams’ in the middle of a 3-song break from their second heyday in the big-haired 80’s, then it was back to the 70’s for the legendary ‘Crazy On You’ and ‘Barracuda’.
Closing the set with a muscular and throaty take on The Who’s ‘Love, Reign O’er Me’, we are blessed to have spent some time in the presence of royalty.
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AC/DC’s ‘For Those About To Rock’ filled nib Stadium as the lights went down and anticipation levels went through the roof for Def Leppard’s appearance.
Leppard wisely get relative newie ‘Undefeated’ out of the way first, and then knuckle down to the task of blasting Perth with a crowd-pleasing near-2 hour wall-to-wall hit barrage.
Delivering a masterclass in pop metal, Joe Elliot and crew strike just the right combo of big hits and old school favourites, complemented by a tidy light show and dizzyingly cool video backdrops.
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‘Foolin’ and ‘Love Bites’ particularly hit the spot, ‘Rocket’ sees a sea of hands clapping them on as Collen and Campbell trade guitar solos, yet as faultlessly slick and entertaining as the show is, it’s the touching acoustic interlude of ‘Two Steps Behind’ and ‘Bringing On The Heartbreak’ that shows the band at their most unguarded and natural.
Energy levels are never allowed to flag for a moment as the setlist primarily covers their biggest selling albums “Pyromania” and “Hysteria”, with a couple each from the albums that bookend these, “High n Dry” and “Adrenalize”.
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‘Pour Some Sugar On Me’ goes out live to Channel 7’s Telethon charity broadcast and Perth’s assembled crowd choir were told they’d “passed the audition” for a TV performance, according to Elliot.
After a short break it’s a classic old school ending with ‘Rock Of Ages’ - one of their very first tunes to dent the charts - and it’s a fair bet that not a single sole leaves nib Stadium feeling anything less than euphoric after seeing two fantastic and legendary bands at the top of their game.
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Setlist – HEART
Rock n’ Roll
Magic Man
Straight On
The Voice
What About Love
These Dreams
Alone
Crazy On You
Barracuda
Love, Reign O’er You
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Setlist – DEF LEPPARD
Undefeated
Let’s Get Rocked
Animal
Foolin’
Make Love Like A Man
Let It Go
Love Bites
Rocket
Bass solo
Rock On
Two Steps Behind (acoustic)
Bringin’ On The Heartbreak (acoustic/electric)
Switch 625
Hysteria
Armageddon It
Photograph
Pour Some Sugar On Me
Rock Of Ages
