Wednesday thoughts...Addendum pt.2

So I spent the last 30 to 40 minutes composing a write within the Blogspot edit window and will never do it again. Everything will be composed in Word FIRST, then copy/pasted over to it. Wow. I think I’m angry. Grrrr.

What I was writing about was that I had planned to go to bed long ago and decided to check a folder first and noticed a new file and spent the next hour watching Def Leppard live in Sheffield, England from ’93. The concert was excellently done and the boys put on as good a show as they did when CC and I saw them in ’89 or ’90, prior to the change in band members when original guitarist Steve Clark died on January 9th of ’91 from an overdose of prescription meds and alcohol. He was replaced by long time axeman and veteran Vivian Campbell, who fit in very well to the band chemistry, though they were still mourning the loss of Steve when Vivian joined. Most of CC’s and my mutual friends all liked Def Leppard, though my interest went deeper because of the band musicianship, chemistry, production and style. Being a guitarist, you listen and try to learn from those you can access whether they’re famous and you’re seeing them on stage or if they are leaders of a youth group playing for 20 kids; you watch and learn the things you like or you feel with challenge you. The band members are essentially my age; they formed in 1977 at the age of 15 and 16 and have never looked back or quit. Here’s a brief unsolicited summary of the boys from Sheffield taken from http://www.defleppard.com/diaries/index.html:

- The band got their name from lead vocalist Joe Elliott. He came up with the name DEAF LEOPARD for his imaginary band when he was still in school. When he joined the band that was called ATOMIC MASS at the time, they decided to change it into DEAF LEOPARD, and then later changed the spelling to DEF LEPPARD.
- As for the band formation, Def Leppard started out with Joe Elliott (lead vocals), Steve Clark (guitars), Pete Willis (guitars), Rick "Sav" Savage (bass) and Tony Kenning (drums). For the recordings of the band's first EP, "THE DEF LEPPARD EP" in 1979, Tony was replaced by temp Frank Noon. By the time the band recorded their first album, "ON THROUGH THE NIGHT", Rick Allen occupied the drum stool. Pete Willis left the band in 1982 during the recordings of the band's third album, "PYROMANIA", and was replaced by Phil Collen. Steve Clark died from an overdose of prescription drugs and alcohol on January 8, 1991. He was replaced by Vivian Campbell, who joined in 1992.

I’ve followed the band since their “On Through The Night” album. Yes, album…and yes, I AM that old. Get over it.
This video reminded me how much I enjoyed and do still enjoy their work and it was a great way to close the night…not having EVERYTHING deleted!!! Okay. Pause. Breathe deep...Moving on...
Certainly worthy of note is that the drummer, Rick Allen, lost his left arm in a convertible roll-over accident in the late ‘80’s some time...I don’t remember when exactly. The band rallied behind him and he sat down with Simmons Electric drums and they specially made a kit for him that he could use and it would compensate for his missing arm while he played, in that the kit was equipped with additional kick pedals and some extra triggers that he could strike with his right hand or trigger with his feet to cover hi hat, some cymbal and snare and you cannot distinguish from listening to the recording or watching him live that he is a one handed drummer. Incredible story of support, dedication, love, camaraderie, faith and determination to persevere where most all others would surely have quit. He’s still the drummer, nearly 30 years (that’s THIRTY YEARS) later.
The show used a very large two tiered stage and the band ran over most of that real estate. It was cool to see the “big stage” not just big fro “big” sake, but actually used for the benefit of the up front crowd. Also, the bassist play a keyboard for the tunes they recorded with keyboard bass, which is uncommon. I was pleased to see them take that approach. Also quite obvious was the band’s trade marked “gang vocal” that most rock and heavy metal bands pay homage to when possible. It was the brainchild of producer Mutt Lang and it gave the band a unmistakable sound, but a sound they learned to pull off live with minimal use of electronic embellishment, with the exception of an occasional harmonizer on Joe for some harmony overdubs done in the recording.
The band used Shure Beta 58’s for the two guitarist’ BGVs and I could not tell what the headword mic was that the bassist used throughout the show or the same mic on a boom stand for the drummer. Joe was using a wireless mic I couldn’t identify that was black, including the grill, SM87 capsule look-a-like with a short, small wire antenna on the bottom of it. I would have thought Shure U series except the antenna was completely different.
Everyone was on In Ears; no wedges appeared to be used, though they were ready to go, I’m sure. The lighting was pretty good but not featured well in the footage. What WAS featured very well in the footage was the band as expected, but also the audience 40,000 strong since they were playing their home town of Sheffield. It was their first time playing for their home town since they had played their last gig there to 40+ people in a club. In the very beginning of the footage Joe comments how they were nervous to play in front of their home crowd for the first time until they got on stage and heard and saw the reaction and it is ON from there on out. Watching the crowd was captivating as well, watching 40,000 hands in the air upon Joe’s command and seeing just a see of arms and hands pointing forward in rhythm with the song or hands over their heads clapping in rhythm to the songs. Just amazing. I could see how that sight would be addicting to someone who thrives on attention and finds their self worth in the acceptance or excitement of fans or others. A horrible risk and lethal pressure to try to maintain once you’re there as we already know by the many deaths in rock and roll from folks who gave in to the pressures of the industry and it’s minions, so to speak. I’m not saying they were weak, not whatsoever. I’m saying that I believe the pressures can be lethal, that’s all. It only takes one ill-fated attempt to escape via any number of methods, and life can be gone just like that. I know how quickly it can go…I wish I didn’t in some ways, but I’m stronger and wiser for the knowledge.

It’s 1:17 and slightly past my target of 10:30 bed time…

Peace-