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Post by andylgr on Dec 10, 2015 6:00:25 GMT -8
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Post by andylgr on Dec 10, 2015 6:01:05 GMT -8
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Post by neilpearson on Dec 10, 2015 6:06:41 GMT -8
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Post by neilpearson on Dec 10, 2015 6:11:52 GMT -8
 And this, for me, sums up the audience - the love for Phil and Viv from the lady on the floor versus the bored, arms-folded bloke in front of Phil's chin! 
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Post by andylgr on Dec 10, 2015 6:14:57 GMT -8
Great pictures.
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Post by CindyJ on Dec 10, 2015 9:25:20 GMT -8
REVIEW – DEF LEPPARD, WHITESNAKE & BLACK STAR RIDERS
Posted on 10th December 2015 by Simon Rushworth
Newcastle Metro Radio Arena, December 9 2015
#HowayTheLads read the crowd-pleasing hashtag on Rick Allen’s sparkling drum kit: a canny gesture from Def Leppard’s astute drummer and a subtle call to arms in front of a North East crowd that still needs convincing of its prominent place in rock and roll folklore.
Increasingly ignored by the genre’s biggest names (Heart, Black Stone Cherry and Manic Street Preachers are just three of the bands missing out Newcastle next year), it’s little wonder the locals take some warming up when an arena show does eventually roll into town.
And those who have religiously followed the fluctuating fortunes of the co-headliners during the last decade were right to approach this date with a degree of trepidation and, whisper it quietly, a lack of expectation.
The truth is neither Def Leppard nor Whitesnake can lay claim to be the most consistent of live performers but this was the night both bands came good and shook the masses out of their sceptical slumber.
Like a walking, talking Wurlitzer, three (Thin Lizzy offshoot Black Star Riders kicked things off) of the best loved bands on the planet fired out jukebox classic after jukebox classic on a mission to reconnect with their North East brethren.
It was hard rock’s equivalent of the hard sell. Indeed, had Newcastle failed to respond in the face of a barrage of audio-visual brilliance, all hope that the city could retain its fabled status would surely be gone.
Reassuringly, musicians and punters rallied as one to deliver one of the standout shows of 2015. And each band’s genuine affinity with the region was reflected in three emotive, almost immaculate sets.
Black Star Riders conceived their debut album near the banks of the Tyne and frontman Ricky Warwick clearly revelled in that breakout record’s remarkable journey from Ouseburn studio to vacuous arena. All Hell Breaks Loose and Bound For Glory stand toe to toe with the Lizzy standards this band will always be known for and add genuine depth and a refreshing authenticity to the band’s increasingly varied back catalogue.
David Coverdale’s connection with the Newcastle rock crowd stretches back five decades. And it showed. The Whitesnake Choir came together at the City Hall in the late 70s and founding members sang their hearts out before the new recruits swiftly piled in. Coverdale responded with his finest vocal performance for decades – whether belting out the rabble rousing Bad Boys or slowing things down on the deliciously evocative Deep Purple cover Soldier Of Fortune, this was the perma-tanned Teessider at his captivating best. On form there is no better classic rock frontman and for 90 minutes Whitesnake’s wily old ringmaster was in the form of his life.
As a result Def Leppard had it all to do. Allen’s hand-written hashtag and Joe Elliot’s brief yet endearing blast of Fog On The Tyne might have been the extent of their own connection with the crowd but it was the thought that counted. That and the fact that Leppard pen singalong hits for fun – the majority of which were delivered with customary aplomb and smiles aplenty.
Sheffield’s finest love their work. There’s no gloomy posturing, shabby shoe gazing or contrived showmanship. With Leppard every note matters. There’s not a minute wasted. Not an opportunity missed. Let’s Go might be from the band’s new self-titled album but as it ushered in a set to remember you wouldn’t know it. Boasting all the hallmarks of a bona fide Leppard classic its infectious groove and pounding chorus set the standard.
Elliott cruised through the ballads – Love Bites, Two Steps Behind and When Love And Hate Collide exploding the myth that the singer’s best years are behind him. Flanked by best mate Rick Savage and ‘new boys’ Phil Collen and Vivian Campbell, Leppard’s bullish leader led this lads’ night out with all the wide-eyed enthusiasm of a tenacious teen. Elliott may lack Coverdale-esque charisma but who else could sound so convincing launching into the hair metal cheese of Let’s Get Rocked?
Newcastle got rocked. Well and truly. Just like the old days. In fact this was the night the North East’s rock and roll heritage was reaffirmed, celebrated and further cemented.
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Deleted
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Post by Deleted on Dec 10, 2015 10:27:06 GMT -8
I absolutely love this picture! Really great photos, neilpearson ! |
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Post by Shawn on Dec 10, 2015 10:47:33 GMT -8
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Post by Shawn on Dec 10, 2015 10:49:14 GMT -8
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Post by Shawn on Dec 10, 2015 10:49:48 GMT -8
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Post by Shawn on Dec 10, 2015 10:50:07 GMT -8
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Post by Shawn on Dec 10, 2015 11:35:32 GMT -8
Great Shot, big fan of B&W Photos... |
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Post by Shawn on Dec 10, 2015 11:38:26 GMT -8
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Post by Deleted on Dec 10, 2015 12:28:09 GMT -8
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Post by CindyJ on Dec 10, 2015 13:24:26 GMT -8
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Post by CindyJ on Dec 10, 2015 13:24:55 GMT -8
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Post by CindyJ on Dec 10, 2015 13:32:07 GMT -8
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Deleted
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Post by Deleted on Dec 10, 2015 14:11:40 GMT -8
Review/Video Clips
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Post by CindyJ on Dec 11, 2015 12:12:30 GMT -8
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dangermouse1304
Jr. Member
I guess what I'm trying to say is whose life is it anyway
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Post by dangermouse1304 on Dec 11, 2015 13:33:49 GMT -8
Did the meet and greet went to fast but got to say something to all off them happy to say to Viv happy he is ok that maid my day and said to Joe i had my team bits his next week! Scunthorpe united and he said who but the c**t in scunthorpe!! So Joe called me a c**t!! I can die happy!!!!!!! It was all a blur for me too but another one ticked off the bucket list. It was nice meeting you at the M&G. I was the nervous, excitable hairy one, Andrew. An amazing gig too, by all concerned. I was lucky enough to get the setlists for WS and DL plus Viv's metallic plectrum. A night to remember. |
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Post by jasonninelives on Dec 11, 2015 14:02:34 GMT -8
Hi Andrew is was good to meet you to always good to meet Leppard fans! Glad you got to the front i am still buzzing!
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Post by Deleted on Dec 12, 2015 16:08:28 GMT -8
Review #2
Def Leppard, Whitesnake and Black Star Riders rock out at the Metro Radio Arena
Posted on December 11, 2015 by Mick BurgessChristmas came early for rock fans as three of the biggest names in the business joined forces for a gig to remember It may be only a couple of weeks away but Christmas came early for northern rock fans with a triple bill featuring some of the biggest names in the business. It was a brave move putting Black Star Riders in the special guest slot. With a reputation as a red hot live band, this had the potential to give the co-headliners a real mountain to climb. Forged out of the last touring line up of Thin Lizzy and including members from Alice Cooper’s band, The Almighty, Ratt and Megadeth, this was a group with a high pedigree and a collection of songs to rattle the cages of the headliners. With a 40 minute slot their set was short, sweet and straight to the point, shorn of any fat mixing the highlights from their two studio albums with a scattering of Thin Lizzy classics. Jailbreak and Are You Ready rubbed shoulders with Bound For Glory and Kingdom of the Lost, a song cut from the same epic cloth as the Lizzy classics Emerald and Black Rose, with guitarists Scott Gorham and Damon Johnson recreating the classic Lizzy harmonies to perfection while lead singer Ricky Warwick brought the genuine Celtic touch to the band. The music and passion of Thin Lizzy now lives on in the Black Star Riders. David Coverdale was plucked from the obscurity of a Redcar boutique and thrust into the world spotlight when he made his debut with Deep Purple in 1974. Now over 40 years later he has revisited those days with The Purple album, a collection of reworked Deep Purple classics with his own band Whitesnake. This evening’s set drew heavily on his Purple days opening with a firestorm take on Burn, kicked into life by new guitarist, ex-Night Ranger man Joel Hoekstra and long-time sidekick Reb Beach. Fans of his Purple material were well served with energetic takes of Mistreated and Gypsy while the more reflective side of that era featured the major highlight of Soldier of Fortune, where Coverdale excelled. While Coverdale’s voice may have lost some of its smoother edges with a more gritty edge in its place, his role as a star frontman remains undiminished. Here is someone who know exactly how to work a crowd and few do it better. Fans of Whitesnake material were certainly not short changed either with a spine-tingling rendition of Ain’t No Love In The Heart of The City giving the “Whitesnake Choir” the chance to join the band for a moment before a full throttle romp of Fool For Your Loving, Here I Go Again and a storming Still Of The Night ended their set on the peak of a crescendo. Although this was a co-headlining tour, Def Leppard closed the show and for almost an hour and a half delivered a greatest hits set featuring the fan favourites from Pour Some Sugar On Me, Animal, Hysteria, Let’s Get Rocked and Armageddon It. Kicking off their set with a new song Let’s Go was a bold move but it’s forged in true Leppard spirit and sat well alongside their more well-known material as did Dangerous, the second of the new songs aired during the show. No one expects a Leppard to change to change its spots so it’s no surprise that this bears all the hallmarks of their signature melody and harmony heavy style. A cracking, guitar heavy take on David Essex’s Rock On paid tribute to singer Joe Elliott’s love of ‘70’s Glam Rock and a cheeky verse of Lindisfarne’s Fog on the Tyne complete with a Yorkshire tinged Geordie accent brought a light hearted edge to the show. The welcome return of guitarist Vivian Campbell after his treatment for cancer was a real highlight of the night and the cheer he received when it was announced he has been given the all clear could be heard on the other side of the Tyne. The 10 million selling Pyromania supplied the encores with a thunderous Rock of Ages and Photograph bringing the evening to a climatic close. With three bands and almost four hours of music there were few complaints as Newcastle were treated to an early Christmas present by three genuine legends of rock. Source
Photo Gallery
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Post by Leanne on Dec 13, 2015 20:00:43 GMT -8
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Post by CindyJ on Dec 17, 2015 18:37:36 GMT -8
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Post by Leanne on Dec 17, 2015 18:41:32 GMT -8
It doesn't look right with him not standing in the center (to me anyway). And I want a Bludgeon Riffola shirt  |
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