The World Tour took its resting place tonight in Melbourne after 18 months of touring the globe it all came to an end here. All in attendance tonight were blessed with an outstanding show; the final page in this tour’s book.
With all of the controversy over the beginning of this leg of the World Tour; the loss/sacking of founding member Mick Mars, accusations of miming and the use of backing tracks, things were going to be a little less familiar and become more critical to someone who is more than a casual fan and religious observer of daily music news – fact of fiction. Tonight, I got to see and hear what all of this sensationalism has been about. What’s my verdict? Read on and all will be revealed.
From the moment Motley Crue’s intro tape burst onto the screens, part news report, part underworld report, an energy came over Marvel Stadium. It was electrifying.
John 5 in his white coat emblazed with his logo played his character to the T. A mysterious out of this earth guitar wielding entity. Nikki Sixx prowled the stage as only Nikki Sixx can fierce, dominant and commanding. Tommy Lee started the show unusually out of his usual hyper full of teenage hormones character, but this would soon change. Vince looked the best he has in decades and seemed to have more energy and for the best part wasn’t struggling for breath when he sang. He has clearly worked his ass off to be in the shape he is today.
Tonight, Motley Crue kicked off proceedings with style and with half a dozen of this Crue heads favourite songs.
‘Wildside’, ‘Shout At The Devil’ and ‘Too Fast For love’ were perfectly executed blows to the senses and really set the scene for tonight with the audience in full voice. ‘Don’t Go Away’, ‘Live Wire’ and ‘Looks That Kill’ made sure that they had everyone in the palm of their hand.
The next song, ‘The Dirt’ was the only hint of material post 1991. For me, I have never been a fan of the song, sure it serves its purpose as the title track to the biopic that everyone I am sure has seen fan or not. For me it was an unnecessary inclusion to the set. Was it bad? No, in fact it kind of inspired me to give it another listen. Live it works and obviously this was the first hint at any backing track as the Machine Gun Kelly vocal obviously had to be run from tape.
Nikki took to the stage, Australian flag in hands and addressed the crowd, telling of how their history with Def Leppard was some forty-years strong and as this tour has gone on they have become life-long friends. Inviting two female fans from the crowd onto stage, Nikki takes the time to take selfies with them and I’m sure made a lifelong memory for both girls. It was made clear that Motley Crue are far from done and they will be back if Australia will have them.
John 5 had his moment to solo including AC/DC’s ‘Thunderstruck’ riff into it. It was his moment to shine, some of the crowd took it as their opportunity to get a drink.
Something that I had been waiting to hear was the Motley medley. Tonight, it was everything I had hoped it would be – fun with a capital F.
The moment had come for the one and only Mr Tommy Lee to take centre stage as he engaged the crowd in an enthusiastic chant of “Aussie! Aussie!! Aussie!!!” before asking the crowd where were all the beers, as the video crew scanned the crowd for those with drinks in hand. This set up Titty Cam where Tommy the forever horny teenager asked who was willing to get em out. The video screens quickly filled with titties of all shapes, sizes, including males filling the screen. Tommy then joked with the guys in the audience, “Any one wanna get their dick out? You have all seen mine and by the way the screen makes it look huge!!!”
I get it, it’s the thing Tommy does these days, but man give me a drum solo, do something that will blow my mind just like the solo from 1990’s Dr Feelgood Tour did. Maybe times have changed for me back then I would have welcomed titty cam. Today, I would have loved to have seen something big and bold, something that Steel Panther hadn’t done to death.
A metal-encased keyboard makes it’s way to centre stage, which can mean only one thing ‘Home Sweet Home’ as every phone lights up Marvel Stadium just as dusk is hitting and Marvel Stadium is in fine voice. My only minor fault with this is that it should have been a spectacle with a grand piano. I’m splitting hairs here and possibly being a bit of a brat, however it would have been a nice visual touch.
John 5 plays yet another short solo as the keyboard is removed from the stage this time with a bow. This kicks into ‘Dr.Feelgood’ and energy levels just peak again in the crowd and Marvel Stadium is on their feet again. It’s during ‘Feelgood’ that things got a little wobbly there seemed to be some kind of delay between Vince’s vocals and the band. Vince unfortunately shows his first sign of him losing his breath and not singing every word in the verses. By the time the 2nd chorus hits everything seems to be back on track. Yes I’m being critical. The two female backing vocalists do such an amazing job on this as they did with ‘Wildside’ the set opener all is forgiven.
‘Same Ol Situation’ comes out firing. I have always really liked this song, tonight it had me at full voice too. Vince struggled during the verses, the energy in Marvel Stadium covered some of it.
The iconic kickstart of a motorcycle started and two huge inflatable female figures grace the stage as they transport us back to 1987’s ‘Girls, Girls, Girls’ this and I have to say this is probably one the best live versions of this song I have heard. It has every bit of that sleaze and swagger tonight.
‘Primal Scream’ and it’s driving intro blasts from the PA. This song is possibly my go to Motley track. I love this song, it is one of my musical pick me up’s. Tonight, it was a little tough as Vince seemed to struggle with pitch and missing some of the lyrics in the verses. Hell it was ‘Primal Scream’ so it was good.
Closing out tonight was ‘Kickstart My Heart’ which erupted the audience yet again, fists in the air and gang like vocals from all in attendance. Unfortunately, I didn’t get to hear or see much of the song as I had to collect my camera in preparation for Def Leppard. What I heard sounded great and I wish I could tell you how the set ended but it sounded like Motley Crue blew up Marvel Stadium sonically and visually.
Tonight, Motley’s sound was as many had reported during the tour was very bottom end heavy which not only lost Vince’s vocals at times but made J5’s guitar tone and playing fail to cut through most noticeably when things weren’t so boomy. I thought at first thought Motley’s sound tonight wasn’t great, yet listening back to the snippets I recorded on my phone actually sounded OK, perhaps they pushed it too hard but something wasn’t quite right.
Technically and proficiently J5 was amazing. Perhaps a little too sterile and clinical at times but very true to the parts. He has filled a void that has been left by Mick’s departure perfectly. I will say there can only be one Mick Mars and there can only be one John 5. John plays Mick’s parts so well perhaps too well, maybe it’s in their feel and technique that things seem the same but different.
To squash any thought that Vince Neil’s vocals are pre recorded or a track, tonight Vince gave it his all and to these ears and eyes there is no way he was assisted by a track . He was 100% live tonight; and that wasn’t a bad thing.
As a whole Motley’s set was a hit after hit experience. For a band that were ending an 18 month tour they still sounded fresh and not at all tired. I’m excited to see what this next chapter of Motley brings. It was an amazing performance and set in all honesty.
Motley Crue 7/10
Now Def Leppard …. Where do I start. What a performance, what a set list, what a show.
Def Leppard have, since Hysteria, set the bar for live production so incredibly high. They were innovators and shaped live music production to what it is today. Forever pushing the boundaries sonically and visually. Tonight was no exception, from the images on the screens to the lighting and lasers that made full use of Marvel Stadium. Def Leppard were here to provide a stadium spectacular. Tonight’s sound for Def Leppard was top notch and actually made Motley Crue sound muddy and bottom end heavy. In stadium settings you come to expect that not all shows are going to sound great depending on where you were seated. With my spot in the audience not changing the sound was vastly different between the two bands. Def Leppard may well have set the bar incredibly high for a stadium shows for me moving forward.
Tonight’s set, like Motley Crue’s, was a bonafide greatest hits outing. Opening with ‘Take what You Want’ from last year’s ‘Diamond Star Halos’ album, the intention was set from the get go. Def Leppard were on a mission to rock us till we dropped. ‘Take What You Want” is as stadium ready as anything from their back catalogue.
‘Let’s Get Rocked’ got anyone who wasn’t already on their feet there. If that wasn’t enough, ‘Animal’ had just about everyone in voice.
Could Def Leppard be one of the greatest feel good bands on the planet? I can’t think of another band that makes me smile and sing every lyric, whether I want to or like these guys do.
A quick trip back to 1983’s Pyromania in the form of ‘Foolin’’ almost made the full circle of their career. To think that forty years later a song could blend so perfectly into the set. It is as fresh as anything off their most recent releases.
‘Armageddon it’ and ’Kick’ just keep the shows momentum rolling. The haunting ‘Love Bites’ slows the show down for the first time. ‘Promises’ from 1999’s ‘Euphoria’ has become a staple in Def Leppard’s set and what a killer song it is.
Joe Elliot tells of the meeting of the two bands here tonight, dating back to 1983 when Motley Crue first crossed paths in America. Again he shares just how much fun they have had on the road for the last 18 months with Motley, how the bands have become family. Joe also touches on his friendships within the band. Def Leppard are a true band of brothers and this has never been more obvious.
Joe introduces the mid-set acoustic section of the show which featured ‘This Guitar’ from ‘Diamond Star Halos’ and ‘When Love & Hate Collide’ from 1995’s ‘Vault’ as reworking of the these song from the way they were recorded and they hit the nail on the head on delivery. It made tonight’s stadium show feel intimate. Something that I have rarely experienced.
Complete with album into ‘Rocket’ takes off with possibly tonight’s best visual production.
At this stage of the show you realise that we are heading on the home stretch, the big hits haven’t happened yet. We get taken back to 1981 where Def Leppard really started to make some noise. ‘Bringing’ On The Heartbreak’ is the earliest memory I have of the band. I recall hearing it on an older friend’s boombox back in 1982 and being blown away. Live it is still as powerful as ever.
‘Switch 625’ which will always be a reminder and haunting tribute to the late Steve Clarke.
‘Hysteria’ and ‘Pour Some Sugar On Me’ has everyone back in fine voice and on their feet. These two songs are so incredibly well known that even the most casual of fans are familiar. ‘Pour’ has everyone in the place singing.
Tonight’s finale takes us back to 1983’s breakthrough ‘Pyromania’. The unmistakable intro to ‘Rock of Ages’ blasts through the PA, god damn this song is timeless. There isn’t too much I can say about this song that hasn’t already been said before. It has everything. Tonight’s final song ‘Photograph’ is the one that brought tonight’s show together in a perfect little bow. The montage of photos from the bands very beginning in the late 70’s to now was a trip down memory lane and the perfect compliment to what we all saw and heard tonight.
How do I sum up Def Leppard’s performance tonight ? Near perfection. What Def Leppard did tonight I haven’t had the chance to hear them do before and that is to strip down some of the layers in the audio production. There are things you expect from a Def Leppard show, things that you understand from knowing just how complex and layered those original recordings from ‘Hysteria’ onwards are. There has to be the presence of samples and triggers, we accept it and know it. Not once has Def Leppard ever claimed to be an all live, unassisted by technology band and that honesty has never cast a shadow on them. Def Leppard has never been about backing singers, it has always been five guys doing what they do the way they do it. What took me by surprise tonight was that in the mix all four vocal parts were nothing but live; if there were backing tracks they weren’t obvious in the slightest. Def Leppard sounded so damn good tonight, they were the perfect way to end this show and this tour.
As Joe Elliott said, “Don’t forget us and we won’t forget you”. I am sure we will see Def Leppard back here before too long.
Def Leppard 9/10
Motley Crue Setlist :
Wildeside
Shout At The Devil
Too Fast For Love
Don’t Go Away
Live Wire
Looks That Kill
The Dirt
Motley Medley – Rock N Roll Pt.2 / Smokin’ In The Boys Room / Heater Skelter / Anarchy In The UK / Blitzkrieg Bop / (You Gotta) Fight For Your Right To Party
Home Sweet Home
Dr Feelgood
Same Ol’ Situation
Girls,Girls, Girls
Primal Scream
Kickstart My Heart
Def Leppard Setlist :
Take What You Want
Let’s Get Rocked
Animal
Foolin’
Armageddon It
Kick
Love Bites
Promises
This Guitar
When Love & Hate Collide
Rocket
Bringing’ On The Heartbreak
Switch 625
Hysteria
Pour Some Sugar On Me
Rock Of Ages
Photograph
With thanks to Revolutions Per Minute for the media access.
Photos by Shot by Slaidins Photography
GALLERY
Motley Crue
Def Leppard
