Perth was the venue for the first date of this Australia/New Zealand tour for two of my favourite bands and so tonight at the Perth Arena anticipation was high!
Def Leppard has been increasingly frequent visitors over the last few years to these shores, but for the Scorpions it was their first National Tour here, despite being around for over 50 years!! They did however pop to Melbourne two years ago for a one off show at St Kilda’s Palais Theatre, and what an amazing, memorable night that was! And the welcome they received there seems to have drawn them back making a fantastic double bill for Rock fans.
Sadly it appeared only the real diehard fans of The Scorpions watched the start of their performance, which began with “Going Out with a Bang”, followed by two songs from their 1980 album, “Animal Magnetism”, “Make it Real” and “The Zoo”. As the set continued more people appeared to come and see what all the commotion was about and their curiosity was well rewarded as the band broke into a string of hits from the 80’s and newer material that sounded just as good.
Many though were only here for the hits though it was great to see a steady steam come in and stay to watch the band till it seemed like the room was almost full. Some though were just waiting for the big one: “Wind of Change” a big hit here in Australia, was a song that had everyone singing along and on their feet and it was great to see the room rise to the German rockers most enduring hit.
With a medley of early 70’s songs, followed by more classics, a drum solo from Mikkey Dee, and the finale, “Rock You Like a Hurricane” it seemed to be over too quickly, well for me anyway!! Having seen the band numerous times before, and having cried at the farewell tour in 2010, thinking it was the end, I loved it, whether we’ll get to see them here again, I doubt it but after taking them 50 years to get here for a first visit you never know!
The arena was just about packed out to see Def Leppard play “Hysteria” in its entirety, and that’s what we got! “Welcome to Hysteria 2018!”
Def Leppard may have visited us a few times over the years but even though they’ve visited this classic album a number of times over the years overseas, Australia has never had the pleasure. It’s a brave band though that can play an album in its entirety but then again there are few albums that have hit the music scene like ‘Hysteria’ and it’s doubtful that there will ever be a mainstream Rock album like Hysteria again.
The band is on fine form tonight and the stage show is spectacular with the large screens keeping us occupied as Joe and Phil use the ramp that reaches out into the audience to great effect: Joe geeing up the crowd to raise the mood from very excited to dare we say it? Hysterical!
The stage show makes great use of old video clips, and plays old live shows in the background, and there’s also a wonderful a tribute to Steve Clark, a man who had so much to say on the Hysteria album and it’s therefore so nice to see a video of him playing his guitar as the introduction to “Gods of War”.
Most of course are here for the hits and Hysteria is an album that spawned more than its fair share – sporting 7 hit singles that come in an unstoppable rush from ‘Armageddon It’; ‘Animal’; ‘Women’; the unforgettable ‘Pour Some Sugar on Me’; ‘Hysteria’; ‘Love Bites’ and ‘Rocket’. It’s breathtaking to think that so much was crammed into that album and no wonder it’s so revered by fans.
The band left the stage after the final song, “Love and Affection” and after huge applause returned to the stage, with Joe announcing that a lot of love, blood, sweat and tears went in to the making of that album, 31 years ago.
It was time then almost like getting second set with the band treating us to some sizzling renditions of hits and songs “from before and after” as Joe puts it. The best of those included “Make love Like a Man” and “Let’s Get Rocked” from Adrenalize, “When Love and Hate Collide” and two earlier songs “Rock of Ages” and final song “Photograph” from the album that really paved the way ‘Pyromania’.
Perth got a real treat tonight as the first stop on this amazing double-bill tour and it’s a night of Rock that many here won’t get close to in years. An absolute stunner!
