Date: Thursday, July 19, 2012
City: Rosemont, IL
Venue: Allstate Arena
Opening act(s): Lita Ford, Poison
Headlining act: Def Leppard
Lita Ford Setlist:
The Bitch Is Back
Hungry
Gotta Let Go
Living Like A Runaway
Close My Eyes Forever
Kiss Me Deadly
Poison Setlist:
Look What The Cat Dragged In
Ride The Wind
Your Mama Don’t Dance
Guitar Solo
Fallen Angel
Unskinny Bop
Drum Solo
Every Rose Has Its Thorn
Talk Dirty To Me
Nothin’ But A Good Time
Def Leppard Setlist:
Undefeated
Rocket
Let It Go
Foolin’
Make Love Like A Man
Animal
Love Bites
Let’s Get Rocked
Gods Of War
Acoustic Medley:
–Where Does Love Go When It Dies
–Now
–When Love & Hate Collide
–Have You Ever Needed Someone So Bad
–Two Steps Behind
Women
Bringin’ On The Heartbreak
Switch 625
Hysteria
Armageddon It
Photograph
Pour Some Sugar On Me
———————
Rock Of Ages
Notes:
- Lita Ford and Poison each shortened their sets by one song compared to Kansas City.
- “It’s All About Believin'” was dropped and replaced by “Make Love Like A Man.” New songs down to one.
- First time seeing “Make Love Like A Man” since August 12, 2011 in Indianapolis, IN (show #26).
- The Acoustic Medley was made up of snippets of several songs: “Where Does Love Go When It Dies” from Slang, “Now” from X, “When Love & Hate Collide” from Vault, “Have You Ever Needed Someone So Bad” from Adrenalize, and “Two Steps Behind” from Retro Active. For each song, the first verse and chorus were played and then it segued into the next song up until “Two Steps Behind,” which had the full song minus the second verse & chorus played (it went directly from the first chorus into the solo).
- Show #2 at this venue; first since April 1, 2012.
- First Def Leppard show at this venue; first Def Leppard show in the Chicago area since July 28, 2011 at the First Midwest Bank Amphitheater.
Videos:
Review:
Do I know this band, or what?
As stated in my (glowing!) Kansas City review, I originally wasn’t going to go to that show. I went to Kansas City in 2011 and it wasn’t worth it.
But this year, being the fifth show of the tour, I went to Kansas City just in case something was in the set then that wouldn’t have made it all the way to Chicago, which without KC, would have been my first show of the tour.
My girlfriend and I headed three hours north to the Allstate Arena in Rosemont. We had been here in April for a Van Halen show and sat on the upper level, but for Leppard… We were on the floor in row 14 near the center. Turns out we were only four or five rows from the end of the catwalk.
Lita Ford took the stage a little early and played a quick six song set, one song shorter than Kansas City. She was done at 7:25, so things were already ahead of schedule.
But it seemed to me that the time between her and Poison was longer than it was in KC. Their set was the same as Kansas City except for dropping their (terrible) cover of “We’re An American Band” and moving the drum solo’s position. Sitting through the performance was a lot tougher this time than it was in Kansas City. The only thing that really made me sit up and take notice was Ricki Rockett having what I assume is his father’s American flag with him for the entire show, as his dad had just passed away a few days prior and I believe the funeral was earlier in the day. So props to him for being able to go and play a show after going through that.
I had gotten word via Twitter that Leppard had been trying to hit the stage earlier, even as early as 9:10, but they didn’t quite make it. It was probably around 9:18 that they took the stage with “Undefeated.”
The set flowed along after that. In a twist, Joe noticed I was wearing my Man Raze shirt and pointed me out to Phil prior to “Let It Go.” After a thumbs up from Phil, Joe introduced him as “Phil Collen of Man Raze and Def Leppard” and they tore through a great rendition of “Let It Go,” always a highlight.
Just a show before this one, they had unsurprisingly dropped “It’s All About Believin'” and added the dreadful, way overplayed, go-to-rotater “Make Love Like A Man.” I was really, really hoping for “It’s All About Believin'” to return, or maybe even something like “Promises” (which had been rehearsed in the weeks leading up to this show) or even “Slang.” I had good luck with “Slang” in Chicago back in 2003, as I got to see the very first play of the song in the US on that tour.
But… My luck wasn’t there at this show. “Make Love Like A Man” was played and quite honestly, after Viv started the opening riff, I don’t even remember the song. I got on my phone and headed to Twitter to provide the setlist update (and may have accidentally written “Rocks Off” instead of “Make Love Like A Man”).
This also ruined my streak of only having to hear “Make Love Like A Man” basically every other tour-year, as I had heard it in 1999, 2000, 2003, 2006, 2008, and 2011 (skipping 2002, 2005, 2007, and 2009).
I had to be thankful though. This is EXACTLY why I went all the way to Kansas City early in the tour. Had I not, I would have been pissed that once again, the newest song in the set was dropped by the time my first show came around.
Still, seeing MLLAM instead of something better took me out of the show for a bit… I didn’t come back in until about halfway through “Love Bites.”
“Let’s Get Rocked” followed, and then I waited for Joe to leave the stage along with Viv and Phil. But he didn’t. And Rick started playing a steady beat on the drums. I was worried that “Gods Of War” had been dropped. Instead, it was just a very awkward opening to the song, as Joe headed down the catwalk to get the audience clapping along. Then Sav came in with the bass. The whole thing felt disjointed and forced. It took me out of the song for a second. The intro to “Gods Of War” is sacred! Don’t talk over it!
Not to mention how odd it is for Joe to go down the catwalk, try to get people to clap, and then run back behind the speakers and lift up on the riser behind the drums…
I hated the ‘new’ intro, but was still thankful the song was still in the set. My girlfriend enjoyed it as well, as it was a song she was really hoping to see.
The show went by very quickly after that. I felt like Rick was staring at me throughout the entire acoustic medley, as I was probably one of the few people singing every word to every snippet they played.
“Women,” the electric “Bringin’ On The Heartbreak,” and “Switch 625” were highlights as always. Then came the standard run of hits that remains virtually unchanged since 2007 to end the show.
Despite having one turd in set at the expense of a new song, it was still a great show. Joe was in fine voice and the band was on point as usual.
My only real complaint is that the sound was terrible. I put that down to the venue though, as the wooden roof didn’t do it any favors. Between the crap sound inside and the clusterfuck of a parking lot outside, I’m not looking forward to returning to the Allstate Arena any time soon.
At this point, I only have one confirmed show left, in St. Louis. Hopefully the “High `N` Dry (Saturday Night)” on Saturdays continues that long to give me yet another different set. And depending on what type of addition/rotation we see on the second leg of the tour, I just might hit Indianapolis.
As long as they don’t play “Make Love Like A Man” again.
Media Review:
Rock Of Ages Tour Featuring Def Leppard and Poison: Still Rolling
The Rock of Ages Tour, featuring Def Leppard, Poison and Lita Ford made its Chicago stop at Allstate Arena July 19th. The Tour commemorates the 25th anniversary of Def Leppards blockbuster album, Hysteria, and both Def Leppard and Poisons’ numerous sonic appearances in the hit Broadway Musical, “Rock of Ages” and its Hollywood film adaptation released in June.
I arrived at the arena just before Poison took to the stage, too late to catch Lita Fords performance. The arena was about 90% full, with most of the empty seats being towards the back. Most people were busy grabbing their drinks before Poisons’ impending opening song. Having seen Poison before, I had some idea of what to expect and their performance differed very little from their 2006 performance with Cinderella.
Aside from the title Track of their debut album “Look What the Cat Dragged In”, Poison kept a very standard though somewhat shortened set list, rocketing through most of their greatest hits, “Ride the Wind” ,?”Your Mama Don’t Dance “?(Loggins & Messina cover), “Fallen Angel”, “Unskinny Bop”, “Every Rose Has Its Thorn”, “Talk Dirty To Me”, “Nothin’ But a Good Time”, a drum and guitar solo and a momentary jam on some Zeppelin.
The band was tight, but very much going through the motions. Bret Michaels’ stage presence was nothing spectacular and his crowd interaction was very formulated, which the crowd reacted to non-the less. He also partook in some shameless self-promotion of his return to “Celebrity Apprentice” and his performance this week at Chicago Ridgefest. Bobby Dall appeared to have walked onstage in his street clothes and did very little to pump up the crowd. Rikki Rockett did the same stick twirls and tosses he’s done since the bands early days, and did not seem very excited, though Bret Michaels informed the crowd that Rikkis’ father had recently passed away which would explain his lack of enthusiasm. CC Deville was the one bright spot in Poisons’ performance, being his usual cartoonish self, decked out in Black Vinyl Creeper Boots, his trademark platinum blonde hair teased to the sky as he danced and pranced across the stage. He also partook in lots of very animated guitar improv during many of his solos. Poison, while still a formidable act, with it’s classic lineup intact and tons of great songs to pump an arena up, seem to be mailing in their performance.
Def Leppard made their presence known when they came out with Rick Allen situated at his specialized drum kit with incense burning, Rick Savage decked out in Leather, Phil Collen in his usual shirtless appearance, Vivian Campbell with his array of Gibson Les Pauls, Joe Elliot at the helm and Union Jacks everywhere as usual. Their usual impressive laser and light show illuminated their silhouettes on their double-tiered stage with catwalk.
They opened the show with a new song off their recent “Powerball” album called, “Undefeated” to which the crowd responded with some enthusiasm. Def Leppard then kicked it into high gear barreling though several hits “Rocket”, “Foolin”, “ Make Love Like a Man”, “Animal”, “Love Bites”, “Lets Get Rocked” as well as the deeper cuts, “Let It Go”, and “Gods Of War”. All the songs came with their own personal slideshow; some incorporating elements of their respective promotional videos and others with unique videos to this tour with the crowd eating everything up like a feast.
The band then took it down a notch with Joe, Phil, Rick, and Vivian grabbing acoustic guitars and Rick Allen grabbing percussion with the whole band coming out on the catwalk. The band played an acoustic medley of “Where Love Goes When It Dies”, “Now”, “When Love and Hate Collide”, “Have You Ever Needed Someone So Bad” and “Two Steps Behind”. During this more intimate performance, Joe Elliot gave a very personal recollection of the bands memories of Chicago and Allstate Arena to the crowd, talking about their first time in Chicago in 1980 with Ted Nugent and Scorpions and thanked the crowd and City very genuinely for their support. The band sounded in top form with hardly a note missed and backing vocals as good as ever.
The band then plugged back in with “Woman”, “Bringing on the Heartbreak”, the deep instrumental “Switch 625”, with a tribute to the late Steve Clarke playing on the jumbotrons, “ Hysteria”, and impressive solos from Phil Collen, Vivian Campbell and Rick Allen. Although Ricks’ drum solo may not have been mind blowing, the crowd went wild with support for him and his ability to pull off such a solo was impressive still. The saga of his injury and recovery is to this day, one of the most awe-inspiring stories in Rock. Joe Elliot gave a shout out to the entire band and recalled all of the tall tales of Def Leppard that we know so well.
He next gave a special shout out to Vivian Campbell and had him kick into “Armageddon It”, “Photograph” and “Pour Some Sugar On Me”. The last song of the night as was expected was “Rock of Ages” which gave the crowd a perfect cap to their night. Throughout the whole night, Def Leppard had the crowd by the palm of their hand and knew how to work the stage like it was their home. Even with the declining concert attendance of today, Def Leppard are one band that continue to pack arenas due to their consistent spectacles of performances. Joe Elliot thanked the crowd towards the end for their years of support and exclaimed as long as you continue to come we will continue to come.
Overall a great performance by a classic band with a perfect blend of stage show, stage presence, Big hits, deep cuts and raw energy. The Rock of Ages Tour was well worth it even if just for Def Leppard at this show.
4/5 Stars
By Frankie Sripada or Shawn Kellner @ Chicago Music Magazine, 2012
Def Leppard & Poison Live!
The ’80s were revived last Thursday night, as two of the decade’s premiere arena bands invaded Allstate Arena on the “Rock Of Ages” tour. Def Leppard, with their longest-standing lineup still intact, played their middle-aged crowd a 120-minute-plus career-spanning set that included all of their big hits, including nearly every track off 1987’s 12-times-platinum Hysteria.
The band’s age did show through a few times, as extra echo-effects and more were added to Joe Elliott’s vocals on many of the uber-high notes, but overall, Elliott and his crew proved they can still rock pretty hard. The light show, video screens, and the band’s backing harmonies were as prominent as ever, and the band still moved energetically around the multi-level stage, interacting with the crowd. One band member even looked healthier in his older age – eternally shirtless guitarist Phil Collen showed off his ripped abs (a result of less partying?).
Def Leppard did offer a few surprises, including an acoustic mini-set out on the a catwalk, sitting on a gear case playing acoustic guitars (except drummer Rick Allen who went with a shaker instead). The setlist included portions of hits like “When Love & Hate Collide” and “Have You Ever Needed Someone So Bad,” before Elliott invited the crowd to sing through “Two Steps Behind” in its entirety. Other pleasant surprises included the Hysteria gem “God Of War” (complete with all the battle sounds from the recording), and the instrumental “Switch 625” coming out of “Bringin’ On The Heartbreak.”
Elliott asserted his veteran’s command of the stage, and at the end of the night he praised the crowd, “This is why we keep coming back to Chicago” and promised to return. Each Lep got the expected solo, but the highlight as always was drummer Allen proving once again that only having one arm doesn’t diminish his skills or ambition, as he rocked through some impressive rhythms with his array of foot pedals.
Openers/co-headliners Poison played to a full house as well, with a 40-minute set that included all the expected hits, just one ballad (“Every Rose Has Its Thorn”), and a cover (“Your Mama Don’t Dance”). Frontman Bret Michaels, donning the classic bandana and occasional cowboy hat, gave the crowd what they wanted (especially the ladies), and even managed to sneak in a few plugs for “The Celebrity Apprentice All-Stars” and his upcoming solo show in Chicago. Guitarist C.C. DeVille proved he hasn’t lost a step as he ripped through the riffs, and the rest of the band kept up with Michaels well.
Lita Ford kicked off the night of nostalgic rock with a short but energized set that closed with her big hits “Close My Eyes Forever” (sans Ozzy) and “Kiss Me Deadly.”
By Carter Moss @ Illinois Entertainer, 2012
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