Review: Billy Idol and Def Leppard

On Sunday night, Trish, Mike, Vero and I headed out to see Def Leppard (which was rescheduled from March!) and instead of REO Speedwagon and Styx (boo, hiss), we got to see Billy Idol!  Awesome.  Billy Idol is well known for what I like to call the “Trifecta of Vital Idol Songs at a (White) Wedding”.  Any wedding I have been to usually plays at least THREE Billy Idol songs from the following list:

• White Wedding
• Mony Mony
• Rebel Yell
• Dancing with Myself

Billy Idol is the equivalent to AC/DC making an appearance at the DJ booth at a wedding.  Well liked.

Anyhow, we are on our way to the ScotiaBank place and unfortunately hear that the show starts at 7PM and not 7:30PM so in the end, we walked into the stadium and could hear the opening number of “Dancing with Myself”.  Ah well.  At least we only missed one song.

We found our seats at Row 22 (a decent view of the stage) and watched Billy Idol in all his glory.  He put on a really good show and I must admit that he rivaled Def Leppard’s performance.  Plus I got to see an amazing guitarist perform…Steve Stevens!  What a pro 80s guitarist…he had all the moves and all the licks to go along with it.

Billy Idol is in quite good shape for a man over 50.  I have never seen abs on myself that looked like his.  I wondered if it was a shirt with abs painted on at first (ala Bono in PopMart).  Billy did manage to bring out a microphone for the crowd to sing into during Mony Mony which was quite fun.

May I also point out that I loved their drummer for the fact that he would hit the drum head with the stick and let it rebound into the air and then catch it upon its descent.  Coolness!

Billy Idol, two thumbs up.

After he left the stage, Mike and I grabbed a few beer ($8.50 a pop for a tall can!  Ouch!) and headed to the merchandise booth where Vero picked up a Def Leppard t-shirt.  Considering this is her favourite band, it was a great purchase.

Def Leppard came on stage in support of their ‘Songs from the Sparkle Lounge’ album.  Like any act that has been around for the past twenty years or more, their show tends to become a greatest hits package and this was no exception.  They may have played two songs from their new album and the rest of the show was listening to their Vault – Greatest Hits album from back in 1995.  Which is fine by me.  They opened up with Rocket and it kept things high octane after that.  Pour Some Sugar on Me is always a good tune and they ended with Let’s Get Rocked.

The band was in full rock star outfits except for the drummer who looked like a lumberjack when he stood up.  Hey, do drummers usually play in their bare feet?  I thought that was different.  He was hidden behind the drumkit the entire night so it was a rare treat to see him when he stood up and waved.  Perhaps he doesn’t care for the fame any longer?  The band was excellent and they are veterans of the stage.  Joe Eliott doesn’t have the high vocal range as he used to which makes me realize that I shouldn’t write songs that I know I won’t be able to sing in 20 years time!  Billy Talent, I’m looking at you with that comment.

Here’s a set list from earlier in the tour which sounds pretty similar to what we heard.  Rock On by David Essex was a welcome surprise (after being introduced to it via the Smashing Pumpkins) and Two Steps Behind was done near the middle of the crowd.  I believe their new single…C’Mon C’Mon and Go were also played from their new album.

I loved the show but I’m almost wondering if seeing them once is enough for me.  I feel that in the future, I would see the same show again.  Unlike Aerosmith last year that just piled on random songs from their entire catalogue that didn’t seem like a Greatest Hits concert.

01. Rocket
02. Animal
03. Let’s Get Rocked
04. Foolin’
05. Mirror Mirror
06. Nine Lives
07. Love Bites
08. (Bass Solo)
09. Rock On
10. Two Steps Behind
11. Bringin’ on the Heartbreak
12. Switch 625
13. Hysteria
14. Armageddon It
15. Photograph
16. Pour Some Sugar on Me
Encore:
17. Rock of Ages