Def Leppard

hey y’all posting on this thread, send in your application!

http://www.news.com.au/entertainment/story/0,26278,24640997-10229,00.html

lol

Heretic I cast thee out.

So do what all us other bogans do – smuggle your own in.

AngryHenry said :

Or perhaps, maybe, and it’s a big maybe, you lay off the booze for the night and substantially reduce your costs.

Heretic I cast thee out.

You are so damn right about the whole public trasport thing. I think the local scene was thriving in large part about a decade or more ago due to the fact that people could actually afford to live closer to the city centres where these gigs were being held. The rising cost of living and rent and stuff has forced us all out and scattered the scene everywhere.

Still there is always the option of the designated driver my friend. Or perhaps, maybe, and it’s a big maybe, you lay off the booze for the night and substantially reduce your costs.

Canberra shows will always suck because there is no public transport to get home from them afterwards. I had free tickets to go last night but in the end decided against it because to get home on the bus afterwards would have meant leaving the show at ten o’clock. And that’s for a show at the AIS with a ‘normal’ curfew time. Go to a show at the Transit, or ANU, and you’ll have no hope of getting even a whiff of the headliner before home time.So, on top of your ticket price and a couple of beers you have to add a $40-$60 cab fare, which in a week like this week (Leppard Tuesday, Behind Crimson Eyes Wednesday, You Am I Thursday) makes for pretty expensive gigging. Unless you just want to see support acts.

grunge_hippy said :

your point?

No point just an observation.

Hair bands may be past their prime but I can tell you right now that 80’s thrash is undergoing a renaissance and more relevant to people now than it ever was.

Personal tastes aside, I agree with the fact that a massive crowd doesn’t always equal awesomeness. I saw Dub War at the Gypsy Bar mnay years ago with about 20 people and it easily rates as one of the best gigs I’ve ever seen. But money talks and if people don’t show up all you’ll ever get to see is one off gigs.

80’s hairbands are well past their prime albums getting charts are just die hard fans reliving their long gone youth.

Ahh… and I love it!

Best gig I’ve ever seen in Canberra was the Dirty Three at Tilley’s – with about a hundred other folks watching.

A massive crowd in a massive venue does not always = awesomeness.

your point?

grunge_hippy said :

yes… has-been. 80’s hairbands are well past their prime. albums getting charts are just die hard fans reliving their long gone youth.

With a name like ‘grunge_hippy’ it sounds like ‘long gone youth’ is something you’re trying to salvage or hang onto as well!

seekay said :

“I think it’s pathetic that as a capital city we need to organise a peition to get the promoters to add a Canberra date.”

I think it’s pathetic that anyone in a town with a twelfth of Sydney’s population, a tenth of Melbourne’s, a sixth of Brisbane’s, a fifth of Perth’s and even just a quarter of Adelaide’s should expect tours to come here.

I think know-alls are pathetic!

And i think it’s pathetic that you would fail to regocnise that Canberra shows give people in regional areas the opportunity to come and see shows that they might miss otherwise in Sydney or Melbourne.

In conclusion (it would appear last time I was moderated!) you can take your population stats and shove them.

yes… has-been. 80’s hairbands are well past their prime. albums getting charts are just die hard fans reliving their long gone youth.

The Brad – yes, they are way past their best. Can do an occasional gem but are not consistently good these days.

>A has-been band in our biggest venue

Did you know that this “has-been” band had a new album released this year that debuted at number 5 in the Billboard charts. That’s a lot of album sales.
What’s your definition of has-been? I suppose you think that AC/DC and The Rolling Stones are has-beens as well.

I went (won tickets) and loved it. It was a brilliant show by all bands. Def Leppard went for abotu 2hrs on their own.

The only negative was the stupid cow in front me recording the show on her camera.

She just sat there filming and when she plays it back I hope my loud singing and cheering are over the top of it!!!!

I went and had a ball.
I agree with the comments about people paying upwards of $140 to sit down…not normal.
Galvatrons were pretty good, Cheap Trick-fantastic and Def Leppard-just too good.
We were right up the front also and I must say, the blonde girl with the mohawk was too cool!

“I think it’s pathetic that as a capital city we need to organise a peition to get the promoters to add a Canberra date.”

I think it’s pathetic that anyone in a town with a twelfth of Sydney’s population, a tenth of Melbourne’s, a sixth of Brisbane’s, a fifth of Perth’s and even just a quarter of Adelaide’s should expect tours to come here.

we dont have good live venues in canberra full stop.

i think def leppard were being optimistic trying to fill bruce. A has-been band in our biggest venue? dreaming!

not even bands like powderfinger play at bruce, and they have sold out royal theatre 2 nights in a row and had a shitload turn up for across the great divide with silverchair. last time i went to bruce was for inxs a last year and it was also half full. Bands dont come here because they try and play the major cities on the weekends, where they’ll get the most people coming. we are half way between sydney and melbourne, therefore we get the lame weekday gig where people cant be arsed.

although i dont think the apathy of canberra audiences is the problem, because clearly if they are popular, people go. def leppard just arent popular!

Jim Jones said :

They needed to book a smaller venue. Really, they’re a group that was big quite a long time ago, and there’s no way in hell that “they’re better now then ever”.

The crowd would have been better in a smaller, more personal venue.

I’ve been doing an insane amount of travelling up and down the east coast seeing gigs this year, seems like there’s been a massive amount of touring Australia compared to past years. But I think that a lot of this was linked to the relative strength of the Australian dollar, so I’m guessing that it will slow down a bit in the next few years … unless the US dollar tanks.

Yeah that’s right and that’s why tickets to some of these shows are so expensive, it costs a small fortune to bring an entire show halfway around the world.

It’s great seeing some of your heroes come out slightly after the fact and do smalle, more intimate shows. Sebastian Bach tried to do that earlier this yeah but a last minute colossal f*ck up saw the show cancelled an hour before it was supposed to start. Canberra once again showcasing to concert promoters as to why the National Capital of Australia is so worth stopping of in and playing shows.

Maybe the fact that Pink has excluded Canberra from her tour next year will wake a few people up. I think it’s pathetic that as a capital city we need to organise a peition to get the promoters to add a Canberra date, a great tactic used to forecast wether or not showing up in town is going to be worth their while or if the ticket sales will be better in say, Wollongong…

They needed to book a smaller venue. Really, they’re a group that was big quite a long time ago, and there’s no way in hell that “they’re better now then ever”.

The crowd would have been better in a smaller, more personal venue.

I’ve been doing an insane amount of travelling up and down the east coast seeing gigs this year, seems like there’s been a massive amount of touring Australia compared to past years. But I think that a lot of this was linked to the relative strength of the Australian dollar, so I’m guessing that it will slow down a bit in the next few years … unless the US dollar tanks.

Should be ‘anyone else see the crazy guy…’

I was there up the front and had an absolute blast. I didn’t really rate the Galvatrons, but both Cheap Trick and Def Leppard put on great shows.

I enjoyed these bands for they are and were. I was happy to pay and would do so again to see bands like this. I really like live music, especially where the performers are enjoying themselves.

Anyone else the crazy guy and his girlfriend punching on as everyone was leaving?

Ahem, 106.3 could be promoting the end of existence since June 2007 and I’d none the wiser.

As for showing one’s age, I saw ‘Dire Straits’ at the AIS Arena (indoor) in 1983. Anyone else?!

Reprobate said :

Pommy bastard said :

I’d have gone, didn’t hear a peep about it, where the hell did they advertise?

Mix 106 had been plugging the concert every ad break for the last 2 months or so. Read what you will into that…

And yes I was another who saw Dire Straits in ’93 (or was it 94?) in the rain (along with Hothouse Flowers in support). My abiding memory was going into the bogs about halfway through (must have been a keyboard solo lol), shivering with the wet and cold (typical November changable weather) and seeing a lineup of people wringing out their t-shirts and using the hand dryers to try and dry off/warm up!

Mix 106 can go plug themselves for all I care.

If you want to know what’s coming read the street press, BMA, Drum Media and visit your fave bands websites or go online and visit LiveGuide they have everything you need to know… Initiative people!

Don’t say you were a fan of something ‘back in the day’ it makes you sound older than you actually are at heart!

Pommy bastard said :

I’d have gone, didn’t hear a peep about it, where the hell did they advertise?

Mix 106 had been plugging the concert every ad break for the last 2 months or so. Read what you will into that…

And yes I was another who saw Dire Straits in ’93 (or was it 94?) in the rain (along with Hothouse Flowers in support). My abiding memory was going into the bogs about halfway through (must have been a keyboard solo lol), shivering with the wet and cold (typical November changable weather) and seeing a lineup of people wringing out their t-shirts and using the hand dryers to try and dry off/warm up!

Actually it wrapped up closer to 3 and half to 4 hours later. Stuffed up in my math.

I went with 2 fellow Rioters, a mate and a tag along and thought it just fantastic though my head is killing me today from how loud the concert was (I must be getting old!). Show started at 7pm and I think it wrapped up about 3 hours later with Def Leppard performing the longest.

How could you not know it was on? Found out in June or something through ticketek – you don’t get the bulletins from them. I think 106.3 was also giving away freebies a week back or so ago. (NB that is not an admission that I regularly listen to that station! ahem)

Re the crowd numbers. We turned up for the line between 5.30 and 6 (that’s right isn’t it fellas?) and yeah there was hardly anyone else there. We were worried the joint would be empty but it did fill up. Good thing though was we got spots right in the front 🙂
Perhaps they would have made more money out of the gig if they dropped the price of the ticket a little.

IMHO all the bands were good with each band outperforming that which preceded it. Only criticism is that I think my head was sore, from the volume of the sound, by the time Def Leppard got on stage.

Def Leppard’s light show was great and yes, very very glad I spent the $128 for the ticket. Good news for Def Leppard fans that couldn’t make it – the band said they’re going to continue touring and will be back in Canberra next tour 🙂 I’ll be there!

I’d have gone, didn’t hear a peep about it, where the hell did they advertise?

tylersmayhem said :

The second time TOOL played Canberra at the Royal Theatre

The Royal Theater sucks as a venue unless it;s a corporate event, to see a folk type band or some kind of classical music. I worked there for years and saw so many bands play there. The acoustics suck, the majority of the capacity is seated (how is this ever good for a decent “get up and shout” concert, and generally just too stuffy as a concert venue.

Sure does. I’ve seen people try to get up even in their seat and be told to sit down by the security in there, I’ve seen performers witness this from the stage and look totally bewildered by it. Given my remarks about the crowd playing a large part in contributing to the success of a show I think this goes a long way as to explaining why it’s one of the worst venues I’ve ever been to a concert in.

The second time TOOL played Canberra at the Royal Theatre

The Royal Theater sucks as a venue unless it;s a corporate event, to see a folk type band or some kind of classical music. I worked there for years and saw so many bands play there. The acoustics suck, the majority of the capacity is seated (how is this ever good for a decent “get up and shout” concert, and generally just too stuffy as a concert venue.

I was doing some charity stuff earlier this year with a bloke who was bending my ear about all the KISS concerts he’d been to and specifically the age range of those attending the most recent one he’d been to.

“I mean, I’m 40,” he said, “but everyone else there was about your age.”

I felt like I was in a scene from Monty Python’s ‘The Holy Grail’.

“I’m 42! I’m not old!”

justbands said :

> When I think about some of the concerts I’ve seen in Sydney and Melbourne and then compare them to some of the shows I’ve seen in Canberra, on many occaisions I just feel embarrassed to be there.

Most of the best gigs I’ve ever been to were right here in Canberra. I think you’ve over generalised. TOOL at the ANU was easily the best show I’ve ever been to. Two days later in Sydney was actually really ordinary in comparison.

Yeah maybe I have slightly, I was at that show and you’re right, it was pretty awesome. Strapping Young Lad at ANU was also a cracker and Killswitch Engage at UC was pretty awesome too. The second time TOOL played Canberra at the Royal Theatre though was a joke, no atmosphere, Maynard doing the whole set from behind a screen in silhouette, for that I could have stayed at home and listened to the album.

But really, as far as big acts and tours coming to Canberra I can count those awesome shows on one hand, and I’m talking out of hundreds of gigs. And I’m also taking into account bands whose performances were spectacular even though the crowd was lacklustre.

I just think when you go to a concert the largest variable in making a show an absolute ball-tearer is the crowd and I think that’s a fact that has kind of washed over in this town. Then again maybe it’s down to the size of the place, big country town as opposed to a city so these things become more obvious…

It’s a two way street and if you invest your energy into supporting the performers they perform better, Maiden’s show in Sydney was prime example of that.

Last night I was embarrassed to be at Def Leppard, but that probably wasn’t the fault of the crowd! haha!

I’ve never seen the majority people rocking out to their favourite band while seated except in Canberra!

Completely agree, barring the AC/DC concert about 7 years ago in Canberra. The loudest, coolest, best concert I have ever been to! Those dudes were still rocking as hard as when they were in their 20’s – especially Angus.

I have been trying and trying to see Maiden for years. When I was in Europe, I always seemed to be traveling in another country within a few days of when the concert would be on. I wish I was able to check them in Aussie this year. The show sounded tops!

Bottom line though, I would have really liked to go and see Def Lep and Cheap Trick, but I was simply not prepared to pay the huge money to see them. I’d pay it for some bands, but not them. Seemed more like the band retiree fundraiser concert to me.

I’d like to think I have a finger (or a finger tip) on the pulse of what’s going on with gigs in this town, but this was news to me too that this gig was on.

Before the Canberra-bashers sink their fur-lined pumps into the fickleness of Canberra’s crowds (or lack thereof), it might be worthwhile checking the band’s marketing strategy first (or again, the lack thereof).

On a very rare night off from other commitments, I may have gone along for a bit of nostalgia. And if they’d been on a bill with Human League, well, hold me back!! (“Here comes the mirror man, says he’s a people fan….” damn, will have that song stuck in my head all day now.)

No, not Bruce…it was Canberra Theatre. I’ll never forget.

justbands said :

btw…Iron Maiden at the Canberra Theatre in (I think) 1983 was AMAZING. I was only 12 too….what an eye opener!

Are you sure they weren’t at Bruce Indoor Stadium? I saw Iron Maiden around that time, and it was at Bruce. That was an amazing concert, back in those days the big acts usually missed Canberra, so it was awesome that they came AND they brought the whole show with them, the flipping-over light array, the devils, their large man, the fire things. Top show.

Jeez, I didn’t even know it was on. I’d have liked to see Cheap Trick again. Taht was the first concert I went to, must have been ’79, at Bruce Stadium (the outdoor bit). It was so loud and distorted, most of the time you couldn’t tell what they were playing, I’m sure they’re better now. Mi-Sex were the support, htey were heaps better.

Def Leppard are OK, I guess. A bit of 80s hair metal.

Maybe all their fans were at Cirque du Soleil?

btw…Iron Maiden at the Canberra Theatre in (I think) 1983 was AMAZING. I was only 12 too….what an eye opener!

> I wanted to see Pearl Jam when they came to Canberra years ago, but Dad said no because I was only 8.

I was there…wasn’t a bad show, loads of people (around 16000 from memory). Wouldn’t rate in my top 10 though, even though I loved Pearl Jam at the time.

whoops, helps if i refresh the page before posting. That was in regards to the Iron Maiden concert in Sydney earlier in the yera.

ooooh really? I feel really priviledged then, that was my first big metal concert and fark it was good. I wanted to see Pearl Jam when they came to Canberra years ago, but Dad said no because I was only 8.

NOT FAIR DAD

ahh what a load of dog…. iOTA

Maybe that will work

I saw fear factory twice in Canberra – both at ANU, both kicked serious arse, the crowded atmosphere and energy could not be recreated in a half filled larger area such as Bruce – by comparison, i saw FNM at teh Horden in 1997 – best gig I have ever been too, because the place was packed with a sh1t load of people having a great time.

Size ov venue does not always equal quality of performance either.

I was at an href=”http://www.iota.com.au/”>iOTA sit down gig at the Gypsy Bar which left me gob smacked.

> When I think about some of the concerts I’ve seen in Sydney and Melbourne and then compare them to some of the shows I’ve seen in Canberra, on many occaisions I just feel embarrassed to be there.

Most of the best gigs I’ve ever been to were right here in Canberra. I think you’ve over generalised. TOOL at the ANU was easily the best show I’ve ever been to. Two days later in Sydney was actually really ordinary in comparison.

I was going to go, but I saw the ticket price and wasn’t paying a fortune for a band I kinda liked all those years ago.

Maybe if DL had come while they were still reasonably relevant or successful and not charged a fortune they’d have got a larger and more hyped crowd.

At least they got more people than Stryper.

Anyone remember that gig?

I’ve seen kiss 3 times in various incarnations, the last time was at enmore in 04 only 1000 people there, that was an awesome show if you ever get the chance .. hmmm maiden in NZ in feb .. might have to get a passport ..

Stainless Steel Rat said :

Would have gone last night if tickets were cheaper. Iron Maiden in Sydney earlier this year was best gig(s) I’ve ever been to. Maiden are still putting out great albums, had cheaper tickets and brought the full stage set up. I would have paid $70 to see DL & CT, but not what they were asking ($120 for GA?).

Angry, FYI, Maiden just announced the last leg of the Somewhere Back in Time tour. They are playing two nights in NZ in Feb next year…. With how good the Sydney shows were, I’d almost be tempted….. 🙂

I know man!!! I’m saving my pennies!!! People who weren’t there will never know. I think it’s spolied concerts for me forever because it was the greatest show I have EVER seen and nothing stacks up to it!

Would have gone last night if tickets were cheaper. Iron Maiden in Sydney earlier this year was best gig(s) I’ve ever been to. Maiden are still putting out great albums, had cheaper tickets and brought the full stage set up. I would have paid $70 to see DL & CT, but not what they were asking ($120 for GA?).

Angry, FYI, Maiden just announced the last leg of the Somewhere Back in Time tour. They are playing two nights in NZ in Feb next year…. With how good the Sydney shows were, I’d almost be tempted….. 🙂

S4anta said :

I saw def leppard in melbourne at Rod Laver, and over three nights they had the arena filled to the rafters. Rarher than the band hitting its peak years ago or bad marketing etc, I think it is another example of the fickleness of Canberrans turning up to events.

That always has, and more than likely will be a problem for event promoters to deal with for some time to come in the ACT.

Agreed! That’s because of this little mollycoddled utopia we’ve created for ourselves. Last night I saw a dude sitting with his girlfriend watching the show and in between songs he politely applauded and let out an ever so subtle ‘woo!’. How much did you pay just to sit and applaud? It’s a rock show for crissakes!!! Stand up and SHOUT!!!

galvatrons sounded good and put on a good show what I saw of it .. and ed, they prob wouldn’t bother coming at the top of their game cause not enough people would show up. few of the big bands come to canberra at their peak for that reason even tho if promoted properly we have a huge regional population who may make the journey .. I was more questioning the promoters than anything.

And yeah the big thing I remember about dire straits was the rain

I could see Def Leppard here or I could save for Neil Young BDO 🙂

I saw def leppard in melbourne at Rod Laver, and over three nights they had the arena filled to the rafters. Rarher than the band hitting its peak years ago or bad marketing etc, I think it is another example of the fickleness of Canberrans turning up to events.

That always has, and more than likely will be a problem for event promoters to deal with for some time to come in the ACT.

I got a free ticket and went last night too. I thought Cheap Trick were great. I didn’t mind Def Leppard, I thought they were a bit wanky back in the day and last night kind of reinforced that but it was good fun.

I just think Canberra concert crowds suck, bottom line. I’ve never seen the majority people rocking out to their favourite band while seated except in Canberra! Don’t you people have a soul??? Or is it too much to ask to stand up and shout for your favourite band (they would have to be your favourite for you to pay somehwere around $150 for a ticket).

When I think about some of the concerts I’ve seen in Sydney and Melbourne and then compare them to some of the shows I’ve seen in Canberra, on many occaisions I just feel embarrassed to be there.

From waiting until the last minute to purchase tickets to our apathy at shows I think we send a pretty ordinary message to promoters and that’s why we see less and less of this stuff.

I’m not saying break your neck, I’m just saying there’s nothing wrong with showing you’re having a good time, you’d be suprised as to how many people will want to come along for the ride with you.

I saw Iron Maiden in Sydney earlier in the year, now THAT is how it is done!!!

The Dire Straits gig in 1993 was a rain soaked affair. It hadn’t rained in Canberra for months and there you go on the day of the gig, it buckets down all day and into the nigth. I still to this day think it was a cracker of a concert but it was torrential at times, you can hardly blame people for not going out in that weather.

I agree with venue choice points. AIS Arena is pretty big expectation to fill for an 80s group. Some of the biggest bands that do come here won’t go there as it is too big. Royal Theatre (old version anyway) was a great venue and I’ve seen Midnight Oil, INXS, Baby Animals just to name a few there and the place was jumping.

Obscure trivia… One of Def Leppard’s earliest gigs was on a shared bill with The Human League.

I have to say, I had no idea it was on. If only they had advertised on the-riotact.com!

(now if that doesn’t get me a tag line nothing will….)

I was going to go to the Pantera gig at the AIS but it cost about $60 which was a hell of a lot for a gig in 1996. I saw Fear Factory for about half that at ANU that year.

I agree that someone booked the wrong venue for the ‘Leps. Sure, Def Leppard are a ‘stadium rock’ band, but in 2008 the Tuggeranong basketball stadium would have been more apt.

How were the Galvatrons ?! I sooo want to catch them.

> ED – Maybe if they came at the top of their game and not two decades later?

Exactly. Or perhaps don’t overestimate your crowd pulling ability & book a more appropriate venue for a city of this size. I’m sure the Royal Theatre would have been packed.

I remember going to watch Pantera several years ago out at Bruce, there were perhaps 1500 people there & it looked nearly empty. The band bagged out the city, suggesting we didn’t know good music because the place wasn’t packed. Firstly, never insult the people who DID turn up. Secondly, don’t overestimate your crowd pulling ability. They hadn’t had anything even close to a hit for years & years.