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Events and Reports - Def Leppard - Live with Ricky Warwick, Hamburg, Germany - November 6th 2003
A few days before the concert I noticed a venue change for Def Leppard's Hamburg concert. They should have played "Sporthalle" with a capacity of 8000, but they changed the venue to more intimate surroundings at "Grosse Freiheit 36". It was probably also caused by the tickets sales, since "Grosse Freiheit" has a capacity of 1500 and it was not sold out.
The bus trip to Hamburg was hilarious. We were a small group traveling from Denmark with a common passion for great music and it was the perfect warm-up for the show, since there were beers and Def Leppard plus Skid Row on the stereo. My expectations were really high for this show, especially since both Def Leppard and Skid Row's latest albums are truly amazing. Unfortunately my expectations were not redeemed.
"Grosse Freiheit" was located in St. Pauli equal the porn part of Hamburg. Somehow they squeezed in a music venue between all the adult shows, shops and bars. When we got to the venue we could hear Def Leppard doing their soundcheck. We got a sneak preview through the windows, while listening to Promises, which was the song they did for the soundcheck. Sounded great and everything was fine until we got the first major disappointment of the day. Somehow Skid Row canceled their Hamburg appearance due to "technical problems". Well, technical problems up my ass. That sounds like an excuse to get of the show for some unknown reason.
Luckily there was a cozy Bierstube right across the venue where I could drown my disappointment. I apologize to my travelling companions for being so unhappy -I was just so disappointed in missing Skid Row. After a few beers, the bright side to Skid Row's cancellation was that it opened space for Def Leppard to extend their playing time.
Ricky Warwick
One from Def Leppard's crew warmly introduced Ricky Warwick. Ricky has been with Def Leppard on their whole Tour. Ricky was lead singer and frontman for The Almighty, but now he pursues a solo career. Ricky supports his new album "Tattoos and Alibis".
After the first song The Church of Paranoia the unavoidable happened, one from the crowd shouted out Free N' Easy a hit from Almighty. Ricky quickly answered back "Go read the billboard outside, it says Def Leppard with Ricky Warwick". Then he played the album highlight off "Tattoos and Alibis" Can't Live with Maybe in a great version.
Ricky was alone on stage with his acoustic guitar only. He did a great job on stage and seemed very likeable. Def Leppard's Vivian Campbell joined him for a great version of Three sides to Every Story. Vivian played his electric and of course it gave the song more body. Ricky closed his 20-minute set with Mysterioso.
Overall Ricky did a great job. It's not an easy task being support act only armed with an acoustic guitar. Ricky's set was just too short, but it proved that Ricky is a great songwriter, since the songs sounded great stripped down.
Def Leppard
Def Leppard went on stage only a few minutes after Ricky closed his set. There was no stage production, it was all stripped down to a club show.
They opened the show with their cover version of Sweet's Action. Since Def Leppard has such a strong back catalogue of songs I would prefer if they left out cover songs. However, I used the song to find a good spot, since the sound quality depended on where you stood.
Joe Elliott may have put on a few extra pounds, but his showmanship was excellent. Both on and off stage, he is the glue that holds Def Leppard together. It was hard to see recent birthday boy Rick Allen behind his massive drum kit. On Def Leppard's official web-site they have complained a bit about being tired of life on the road. There were no traces of that in their appearance in Hamburg. They just had a day off, so maybe that refueled their batterers, because they gave it 100 percent.
Along with Joe Elliott, Phil Collen is my favorite on stage. Phil smiled throughout the entire concert. Vivian Campbell complements Phil well on guitar and together they are great guitar team.
Third track was the crowd pleaser Foolin' followed by Hysteria. Def Leppard played it safe with main emphasis on the "Pyromania" and "Hysteria" albums. The concert was like a greatest hits at the expense of the new album, where we only got Four Letter Word. Also the band neglected their 2 first albums. A shame since they earlier on this Tour started off with a few "High N' Dry" tunes. The explanation for this could be the short playing time. Def Leppard played less than 90 minutes. With my disappointment in Skid Row's cancellation Def Leppard should compensate by playing a longer set. Unlike their usual 2 hours they actually cut this set shorter. That was the second major disappointment of the day. Def Leppard closed with only one encore, Love Bites and according to their setlist they should have played an additional encore Let's Get Rocked, but that never happened. Phil Collen went out after Love Bites and started to play his guitar just to prove to the audience that the power was pulled. I don't know if Def Leppard or the venue is to blame.
Def Leppard are true professionals and they delivered the goods. The albums might have tendencies to sound too produced, but they reproduced their classic sound real well on stage. Of course they are a bit rawer on stage. Overall they are skilled musicians and they were real tight as a band..
Both Ricky Warwick and Def Leppard are amazing performers and musicians. However, I was expecting an overdose of Kick ass Rock 'n' Roll, but got less than 2 hours of music. That left me with a disappointment, which probably permeates this review also.
The evening was over much too soon - actually before it really began. Therefore I expected a party on the bus since the concert was so short. However, all went to sleep :( That was the last, however only a minor, disappointment of the evening. The only person not to sleep was a Ricky Warwick lookalike, who kept me company on the way home.
In a heartbeat I would do this trip again. This could be the last chance to see Def Leppard live, but I hope we get a second chance though. Even though the ticket sales wasn't as expected there is still a market for Def Leppard, because great music never goes out of style. Fuck Skid Row.
Thanks to members of Nice Try, the beautiful Mrs. Elliott Christensen, Glismand for a great trip and of course Ricky Warwick for keeping me company on the ride home.
Def Leppard Hamburg November 6th 2003
Action
Make Love like a Man
Foolin'
Women
Hysteria
Four Letter Word
Promises
When Love and Hate Collide
Rocket
Armageddon it
Photograph
Animal
Pour Some Sugar on Me
Rock of Ages
Love Bites
|  | Written by Michael
Friday, November 7, 2003 |
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RevelationZ Comments
| Comment by Anenja (Anonymous) - Sunday, November 9, 2003 | Thanks Michael for your wonderfully detailed review of Def Leppard's Hamburg show. The review was honest and humourous while touching upon all the important points. It was great also to read a thorough review of Ricky Warwick's solo effort supporting his "Tattoos and Alibis". He is quite the talented songwriter and his songs all shine even when stripped down as you so duly noted.
It is a shame that the last minute venue changes took place and that Def Lepp had to shorten their set due to technical/venue issues. I'm glad to hear that they still satisfied with their 'kick-a**' rock 'n' roll and even with the shortened set.
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| Comment by Lasse "Ricky Warwick" Poulsen (Anonymous) - Wednesday, November 12, 2003 | Hi Michael
I don't think I look like Ricky Warwick.......
Brgds
Lasse
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| Comment by Michael (Anonymous) - Wednesday, November 12, 2003 | Except for the tattoos you look like Ricky Warwick's twin brother :)
Thanks for a great trip, Lasse
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| Comment by Franky Sixx (Anonymous) - Friday, November 28, 2003 | Def Lepp c'était bien il y a 10 ou 15 piges mais maintenant il faut qu'ils arrêtent ou qu'ils se remettent à boire de la bière.C'est vrai, même ma grand mère écoute Def Leppard maintenant!
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| Comment by Dirk "a cozy Bierstube right across the venue (Anonymous) - Sunday, November 30, 2003 | Hi,
do remember me" we had a few beers in the bierstube across the venue. It was nice to meet some def Leppard fans from danmark.
Hope to see you again watching def leppard in germany
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| Comment by Liam (Anonymous) - Monday, April 5, 2004 | Sounds depressing actually...I have been a Def Leppard fan since birth(almost)but have never had a chance to see them live...hmmm when I think of DL I think of those huge and long running shows from the 90´s...well i´d go and se them anyway though, hope they come to denmark or sweden...in the mean time im biding my time until skid row, at sweden rock festival....
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| Comment by becky (Anonymous) - Saturday, September 4, 2004 | i am big fan of def leppard
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| Comment by Pe (Anonymous) - Saturday, September 18, 2004 | Concratatulationz Becky......WOW
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| Comment by Jam and Matt (Anonymous) - Monday, April 11, 2005 | Rick Allen is just the best i think he is just so uniqe,one of a kind and i think that deff leppard should go on tour with Queen and Paul rogers it would be electifying and it would blow evryone away
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| Comment by dilkesy (Anonymous) - Monday, April 11, 2005 | u r da best in da world
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| Comment by frank (Anonymous) - Monday, April 11, 2005 | I have just read jam and mattys review and i think it would be great for you to go on tour with them. (dud respect)
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| Comment by John (Anonymous) - Saturday, June 10, 2006 | Somthing to say about this review.... Its a review about music, not about what u want, STFU about ohhh i want this song and shyt, Def Leppard has so many hits how is it possible to fit them all into 1 concert?! Plus def leppard wants to please the majority of the crowd not only reviewers like def leppard said last week on VH1, They could care less about what you think. They play for Everyone!
And they have fun doing it. and do u really think it was necissary to talk about Joe elliot gaining what 5Lbs? omfg! really, How many people get skinnier when they get 20 years older?
The Luved John Swarwick
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| Comment by Mary (Anonymous) - Tuesday, January 16, 2007 | Best regards from NY!
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