Def Leppard The Teenage Cancer Trust Royal Albert Hall London 25-3-18

First up was Warrington 4 piece Slydigs who if I am honest I first heard of about 2 days before the show whilst checking what time the doors opened for the evening.
Their 35 minute set saw audience reaction increase song by song with lead vocalist and second guitarist Dean Fairhurst was an engaging host and possessed a fine voice too.
Their press release says that they are a rock n'roll band and with songs as classy as Electric Love and To Catch A Fading Light a bright future awaits.
Studio work with renowned producer Brendan Lynch will be well worth checking out.

As the anticipation grew the lights dimmed and a short film was shown about The Teenage Cancer Trust work and in particular the story of Georgie and her nurse that was thought provoking and showed the amazing work that is going on with the charity.

Roger Daltrey then led some youngster's onto the stage who are either about to start treatment,in treatment or recovering from treatment and he gave a small speech on the charity's work that he has been involved with for many year's.

As Roger left the stage the intro tape started and he looked back realising it was The Who's Won't Get Fooled Again with a smile which was played fully before the band burst on stage to finish the song.

A lot of thoughts to the night's set.Would it be Hysteria in full as we are getting later in the year or a greatest hit's set?

As it turned out it was their greatest hit's set seen on the recent And There Will Be A Next Time dvd.

For 100 minutes we had the following.



In their 41 year career this was Def Leppard's first show at the Albert Hall although Joe did boast to Phil Collen he had played their with Down N'Outz in 2011 so with camera's recording it a land mark evening for all.

A 4 month break off road work and their US tour not starting for 2 month's saw the band on fire and having a ball and the crowd went nuts from the first note.

They had brought the full stage show with screens and after last year's Alter Bridge show in the venue when the sound was abysmal this was top top notch quality sound with everything audible including Viv Campbell's guitar soloing from stage left.

You know what they will have played as their set changes infrequently and it was hit followed by hit with Joe Elliott in fine voice.He is a wonderful front man and made many in the crowd's night with frequent trips into the crowd with the side stage step's becoming part of the stage.

The band have such wonderful voices and the backing vocal's from the band in the choruses where Joe at times takes a back seat are the best in the business.You listen in awe.

The rhythm team of ever smiling Rick Savage on bass and the quite incredible Rick Allen on drum's are stunning.Watching Rick always is a joy and a triumph over adversity and the crowd reaction to his name being called out was spine tingling with Rick getting quite emotional.

The band have their own cancer survivor in the band and Viv looks in fine health and again the crowd reaction to his name was a moment.

His work with Phil Collen is under stated but always classy with Phil showing his recent run in the US on the G3 tour with Joe Satriani and John Petrucci had him in superb shredding mode.He was thoroughly enjoying his home town show and more amazingly he even kept his shirt on for the whole show too!!

The addition of oldie Let It Go to the set made my night and seeing Phil at close quarters riffing and shredding was a moment to remember.Viv strummed the start to Foolin' and another favourite for me with stunning backing vocals all round.

Could always do without their cover of Rock On although along side Man enough off their last cd it fitted in well.

When Love And Hate Collide their biggest UK hit single was a welcome addition and again vocally magnificent before Rocket saw the screen's and light's in full flow and the crowd going off fully.

Bringin' On The Heartbreak saw Joe showing off his vocal tone and melody to full affect before Viv and Phil took centre stage for Switch 625 for some dual soloing and Joe taking a welcome breather.

Hysteria,Let's Get Rocked and Pour Some Sugar On Me are a mighty 1,2,3 punch for any band and ended the set in style.

Encores of Rock Of Ages and the stunning Photograph with Phil in full on shred mode had my voice leaving the building and ending a stunning show for a wonderful cause.

The band return to the UK arena's in December for Hysteria played in full just do yourself a favour and get a ticket.