Def Leppard – Las Vegas Concert Review March 2013

Def Leppard – Las Vegas March 22 2013

Viva Hysteria! Let’s Get Rocked y’all!

March 25 2013 – Super hard rockers, Def Leppard rolled into the Joint at the Hard Rock Hotel and Casino in Las Vegas on Friday, March 22 for the opening night of their multi-week Viva Hysteria! stint at the venue, playing shows for the next few weeks. T-Mak World was there!

Def Leppard – Las Vegas March 22 2013

Def Leppard have been around for many decades and have endured many hardships over the years. Early on in the band’s history, it seemed that huge recording release success was followed by tragedy. From the loss of drummer Rick Allen’s left arm in 1984 following the explosive breakthrough release of their 1983 Pyromania album, to the loss of guitarist Steve Clark in 1991, while still riding the wave of the massive commercial success of of their Hysteria release. Through it all, the band has persevered and their concerts continue to be heavily anticipated, must see shows for rock fans all over the world.

Def Leppard – Las Vegas March 22 2013

And now, instead of touring the world, one of rock’s greatest bands is drawing the world to them to one of the biggest destination cities, Las Vegas. Def Leppard is taking up residency at The Joint, part of the Hard Rock Hotel and Casino complex, where they will be playing 9 shows between March 22 and April 13. After their 2012 Rock of Ages tour, the band is settling into an appropriate venue where many other rock legends have performed. Unlike the stadium and arena venues this band is used to playing, The Joint offers a more intimate setting where no fan in the room will be further than 155 feet away from the stage. Opening night was, of course, a sell out show as everyone of the shows is expected to be. With approximately 4000 seats, this is as intimate a venue as it will get to see this band perform and if you were thinking of going to Vegas anytime soon, fitting in a night with Def Leppard is a must for any fan of the band.

Def Leppard in Las Vegas

This show is special in nature and the band have planned it out all very well, with a starting set of a mix of Def Leppard hits from both early Leppard times like Good Morning Freedom, Mirror Mirror and Bringing on the Heartbreak to later Leppard recordings such as Slang, Promises, and When Love and Hate Collide. The band performs the opening set in early 80’s glam rock attire, with lead singer, Joe Elliot sporting a yellow jacket and patched jeans along with a top hat and sunglasses. To lend some Vegas style gimmickyness to the show, this opening set performance is executed under the disguise of the “world’s best Def Leppard cover band”, Ded Flatbird. The stage in the opening set is a fraction of the size of what the band is accustomed to with about 8 feet of space from front to back. And with a huge union jack flag serving as the backdrop, this is obviously intended to take us back to the earlier days of the band’s performances.

Def Leppard – Las Vegas March 22 2013

Following the opening set, the fans were treated to a 10 minute montage of archival footage of Def Leppard interviews and concert performances, with special attention being given to the memory of Steve Clark. This served as a perfect bridge to the second set when the band performed the Hysteria album in order and in its entirety. Hysteria was the band’s most commercially successful release. Following the band’s breakthrough release, and Rick Allen’s tragic car accident in which he lost his arm, the band saw almost four years pass before releasing their follow up.

Def Leppard – Las Vegas March 22 2013

Hysteria topped the UK album charts immediately upon release, but it did not reach the same status in the US until almost a year later, after the release of the hit single, Pour Some Sugar on Me. In addition to this track, Hysteria went on to be remembered for the seemingly endless slew of hits including Animal, Women, Love Bites, Rocket, Armageddon It, and the title track, Hysteria. Having an album with more than half of the tracks being released as hit singles is next to unheard of in any age of music since the early Beatles and Rolling Stones. Hysteria went on to sell more than 20 million copies worldwide and it is fitting that the band devote this show to that release.

Def Leppard – Las Vegas March 22 2013

In the Hysteria set, the stage is expanded to what the band, and the album deserve. The show is well supported by stage effects which include a multi step screen upon which images are projected providing a unique experience for each song performed by the band. From archival concert footage to hand scripted lyrics and album art being projected, this show is polished and presents a complete experience for the die-hard Def Leppard fan. Rick Allen is presented up front and center, elevated within the screen backdrop, bringing all members of the band close to the front of the stage. There is also a catwalk that the rest of the band members make full use of throughout the show, with heavy fan interaction being encouraged with this feature.

Def Leppard – Las Vegas March 22 2013

After the Hysteria set, the band responded to demand for an encore with Rock of Ages and Photograph. Great performance and high level of satisfaction, this show was the highlight of my latest trip to Vegas and below is the setlist for the night.