Set List: Solas/Beautiful World/New Horizon/Demon Driven Man/Tunnel/Waste Your Tears/Untrue Colour/In This Land/Nowhere Freeway/Demon Eyes/Being Begotten/Spectacular/Battle Cry.

Well I gotta say this ain’t a bad double header at all to head into one of my favourite venues. A show that I definitely was counting the weeks off to seeing if I am honest with you. Apologies to Lynne Jackaman, who we missed (myself not realising it was the frontess of St. Jude – I’ll see ya next time I promise). Anyways, myself and Tuesday saw the night from The Answer onwards who I caught a few years ago on this very stage.

What I noticed immediately was the fact that they’d changed musical direction somewhat and opting for a kinda weird experimental quirkiness that was a bit off-putting. I think they go over way better with their rootsy rock blues and thankfully there was a healthy helping of that too I was pleased about.

Cormac was still great at what he did, sporting a fetching beard at the moment – well it is damn cold weather – no doubt just as brass monkeys over in Ireland too right? Cool moments of the set included bringing Lynne Jackaman on stage for a gorgeous cool and kicking duet called ‘Nowhere Highway’ or playing the bazooka on ‘Being Begotten’.

Other highlights of the set though included the melodic harder edged ‘New Horizon’; the bluesy and bouncy ‘Demon Driven Man’ and the slide driven ‘Waste Your Tears’. There there was the beautiful mandolin filled ballad ‘In This Land’ and positive uplifting closer ‘Battle Cry’ that sums up where the band are right now with Mr. Neeson on acoustic guitar.

Turned out great and the newer material could grow on folk too.

7.5/10

Set List: Long Way To Go/Mexico/Makes Some Noise/Song And A Prayer/Fortunate Son/Lock N Load/Something I Said/With You And I/Last Time I Saw The Sun/Join Together/Mainline/Helter Skelter/We All Fall Down/Midnight Moses.

Let’s face it, it’s pretty much impossible to go wrong when you have a band that features three former members of Whitesnake and frontman who took over Vince Neil’s job in Motley Crue for a while can you? Yes, I’m talking about that incredible dare I say ‘Supergroup’ from Los Angeles, California that comprises of John Corabi (Lead Vocals/Acoustic Guitar); Doug Aldrich (Guitar); David Lowy (Guitar); Marco Mendoza (Bass) and Brian Tichy (Drums).

I only recently bought their last two albums and was really choughed that I recognised many of the numbers in the set from them tonight. The charisma this band oozes is completely off the chart and these guys transport us back to that late 80’s than late milli-teens or whatever the f*ck we call the now – who cares!

Pzzazzing solo’s and posing from all members of the band with Brian blowing us away at the back on that kit that he knocks the complete hell out of. This isn’t one of those nostalgia trip acts at all that we have in front of us but 5 exhuberent professionals who completely love what they do on stage, performing songs that they totally believe in.

John Corabi is such a powerfully in-ya-face frontman who blasts out raucous, raw vocals all night firing out vocal phrasings at strengths that would completely shred most guys throats after a small handful of songs – this guy on the other hand can keep it up all night and makes it seem seriously f*ck*n’ easy! A cool moment was when he came out into the crowd too.

That twin guitar-work of Doug and David intertwined so well too with prisitine playing and posing in great abundance like in the heyday of the time when fantastic music was on top at arena level. Kicking it it off with the slipper stomping ballsy ‘Long Way To Go’ that set it well and truly alight up followed by the AC/DC’esque ‘Mexico’ with a sweet sounding chorus. In all honesty, there are so many highlights , not to mention quality sing-a-long moments especially in covers like CCR’s ‘Fortunate Son’ and ‘The Who’s ‘Join Together’ that they cranked out on the current album ‘Make Some Noise’ as well as the fabulous title track itself.

They took it down a step and mellowed us out with the radio friendly ballad ‘Something I Said’ and I loved the bit when Doug Aldrich got on the vocoder for a number and piped out a teaser of Peter Frampton’s ‘Do You Feel Like We Do?’ to get us in the mood for ‘With You And I’ and then there was the pummelling V.H. like ‘Mainline’ – holy hell – these days are totally on fire! It’s a wonder they don’t simultaneously combust as they are so hot on those boards!

One of those shows that’s just keeps coming and coming in pure enjoyment but so good that it seems to fly in about 30 minutes flat and finished it off with 'Hey Hey Hey' filled ‘Midnight Moses’. One of the best shows to grace this venue in my humble opinion!

More of this – Yes Please!

10/10

By Glenn Milligan

Set List: March Of The Crabs/666/Badass Rock ‘N’ Roll/Winged Assassins/Mothra/Swing Thing (with Robb Reiner Drum Solo)/Die For A Lie/Metal On Metal.

The first night back at the Corporation since being in the USA involves seeing two mighty metal acts – one from Canada and the other from Germany. We missed the first 15 mins or so of Anvil due the famous trio hitting the stage at the early time of 7.15pm. Not to worry though since we totally get the gist of it from what we saw.

A smattering of oldies but goldies were on offer that included the well-loved ‘Mothra’ and of course theirs and everybody’s anthem, ‘Metal On Metal’. Now that’s the first time I’ve ever known a drum solo be part of a 45 minute set but I guess Robb Reiner couldn’t resist it and Lipps never let us down delivering his momentous dildo solo and thanking us by shouting through the pic-ups on his guitar.

I also notice they have a new bassist in Chris Robertson since the last time I saw them here at this very venue as well! Anvil go down really well and I can’t see it being too long before another headline UK Tour ensues!

7/10

Set List: Starlight/Living For Tonight/Midnight Mover/Breaker/Head Over Heels/Neon Nights/Princess Of The Dawn/Winterdreams/Restless & Wild/Son Of A Bitch/Up To The Limit/Wrong Is Right/Midnight Highway/Screaming For A Love-Bite/Monster Man/TV War/Losers And Winners.

Encore: Metal Heart/I’m A Rebel/Fast As A Shark/Balls To The Wall.

Now here’s something pretty cool for you, the original frontman of Accept performing only songs by that said band with his own outfit who have been re-christened Dirkschneider for this tour as opposed to the usual name of UDO.

Sound and light-wise this show could not have been any better with a lot of flamboyance and posing off coming from the younger guitarists of the band – they obviously love it up there and it comes across big style. There’s a real feeling of tight brotherhood between all the members – such a strong togetherness oozes in emotion of pure musketeer style.

What amazes me is how much power the man has in that voice of his, yelping out those high-ended songs with what seems hardly any effort at all especially when he is 64 years young! He has all the fans singing along to many of the songs, not to mention some cool accapella as well at times.

One dude who looked like the long lost cousin of Michael Schenker was singing the lyrics to every single song played – now that’s a hardcore follower if ever there was one! The set is quite simply an absolute joy to take in and one of those shows that seems to go in about 10 minutes but lasts over two hours.

Highlights of the night include ‘Princess Of The Dawn’; ‘Son Of A Bitch’; Monster Man, ‘TV War’ and of course the home run that includes the milestones ‘I’m A Rebel’ and the anthemic Heavy Metal brilliance ‘Balls To The Wall’ which closes this incredible event in Sheffield on a rainy Friday evening!

10/10

Review & Dirkschneider Photos By Glenn Milligan

Anvil Photo By Jason Brown (of Friday13thMetal.co.uk)

The night started out with a melodic rock band called Vega who knew their craft really well. Very much atypical of the style but you can’t fault them for that as the crowd here in Sheffield appeared to love them.

Their guitarist, Marcus Thurston moved and posed like Neal Schon from Journey with a musical style to match while singer, Nick Workman really was in touch with the Sheffield crowd. Although the songs at times were a bit generic and cheesey like the cringeworthy ‘Hands In The Air’ – worst title since Saxon’s ‘Everybody Up’, they went down a real treat. I can see them coming back for a tour in their own right in a few months from now.

Let's see what the future will bring for them.

7.5/10

Set List: Funeral For A Friend/Love Lies Bleeding/One More Chance To Run/Rock ‘N’ Roll Queen/Driving Sister/Whizz Kid/Storm/Overnight Angels/One Of The Boys/Shouting And Pointing/Sea Diver/The Journey/Who Do You Love/Crash Street Kids/Violence.

Encore: England Drops A Semi/Good Times.

Well here’s a show with a difference. Some would say it’s a glorified tribute band and others would say it’s a salute to some Ian Hunter and bands that he was part of that never really got the recognition they deserved.

Apart from the well known front-man going by the name of Joe Elliot from a rather famous steel city band whose name is made up of humourous miss-spelling & the name of a ferocious big spotty cat, the unit is made up of current and former members of the Quireboys (Keyboardist, Keith Weir, Guitarists, Paul Guerin & Guy Griffin plus Drummer, Phil Martini) and Share Ross of 80’s female Heart throbs, Vixen on Bass.

Tonight was being shot for a forthcoming DVD, no doubt because this is Joe’s birthplace so quite fitting really. It’s also makes it a momentous thing to happen for the venue itself. The lights are perfect for the job too and it was like shooting at the arena while down in the pit – talk about getting great shots as can be seen from the photographs throughout.

While the Down ‘N’ Outs are musically spot on, poor old Joe is suffering very bad from a chest and throat infection and you can totally tell from the dry, hoarse, worn harshness of his voice that he is struggling badly and lucky to have any sound at all coming from those legendary iconic larynx of his. He even had to blow his nose on-stage and I dread to think what sort of pain he was in when he was hitting some of those high notes since some of these numbers aren’t the easiest to tackle at the best of times.

I was really impressed with the fact that the set opened with two of my favourite Elton John classics ‘Funeral For A Friend/Love Lies Bleeding’ that Inever would have expected from the band – not to mention Joe Elliot sat at the piano since I had no idea he could play one. It was a real turn up for the books. From hereon it was a collection of Ian Hunter material, a lot of which was rather obscure for those who aren’t hardcore fans to be honest with you.

Highlights of the set included the kick-ass ‘Rock ‘N’ Roll Queen’; the rocking ‘One Of The Boys’& ‘Sea Diver’ which Mr. E informed us is actually only available on download via i-tunes. The dialogue was great in-between especially finding out that videos of the band had been shot in this very room or the information about the guy who runs the hotel in Dronfield that the band used to stop at who even had the likes of Frank Sinatra stopping there – telling us the guy had written a book entitled ‘From Cold Dust To Stardust’ – must get that one day!

It wasn’t the best show in the world by far and personally I would have preferred it that the show would have been postponed until Joe was fit and healthy with his voice bang on form which was the general opinion of many people who I talked to on the night.

Sadly disappointing.

6/10

By Glenn Milligan

Dead City Ruins/The Deep End – Bendigo Hotel, Melbourne, Australia, 17th August, 2013

I was very excited when I heard 'Dead City Ruins' was playing at the 'Bendigo Hotel'. This is one of my favorite live music venues. The band room is dark and dingy like all good band rooms should be. The stage is small with barely enough room to swing a cat but there is plenty of floor space for punters in front of the stage.

There are few tables, so drinks must be held and an absence of bar stools means everyone is standing for the band. The other thing I love about this place is the front bar. My friends and I refer to this as the 'Voodoo' room on account of the sculls and carved wood decorations adorning the bar and walls. The owner is a big 'tequila' connoisseurand there is a huge selection of different tequilas available, most under lock n key in a glass display cabinet.

The event was a fund raising show for ‘Dead City Ruins’ upcoming UK tour with 'Skid Row' and 'Ugly Kid Joe’. The band was supported by local rockers 'The Deep End', 'Guns'n'Roses' tribute band 'Rocket Queen' and 'Black Aces' from the US. In keeping with my usual form, I missed the first 2 acts but managed to arrive in time to catch 'The Deep End' mid way through their first song. The band was loud and hard with a familiar sound, similar to AC/DC and Guns’n’Roses’ to the point where I expected them to launch into an AC/DC cover at anytime.

The lead singer 'Dale' was full of energy and heaps of fun. He defiantly liked the sound of his own voice resulting in a bit too much banter between songs. At one stage he made reference to the size of the stage, saying he felt like ducking to avoid being hit by guitar. By the end of the set he abandoned the stage completely and finished off the last 2 songs in the audience. Nearing the end of the show Dale gave us a reminder of why we were there and encouraged everyone to buy a Dead City Ruins T-shirt rather than a Deep End's T-shirt to raise more funds for the tour.

DCR Set List - Del Toro, Shot Through, DIB, Hapenzella, Blues, Dio, Broken Bones, Where Ya Gonna Run.

After a short interval 'Dead City Ruins' took to the stage, beginning the show with an awesome instrumental. I was immediately impressed and didn't even notice the lead singer Jake was absent from the stage until he came out from the shadows and began singing. There was allot of swinging of guitars and well coordinated swinging of hair. Despite the size of the stage the guys managed to move around and keep the energy going. As Jake worked the vocals he had some creepy horror movie eyes going on. It wasn't convincing though, he seemed to be having too good a time. The rest of the band kept more serious demeanors but still seemed to be enjoying themselves.

These guys have a unique sound all of their own; a mix of influences rolled into one. They are a bit blues and a bit metal but mostly just good old fashion Rock'n'Roll. Jake, lead guitarist Tommy and base player Mick were defiantly the stand outs of the show. That’s not to say drummer Andy and guitarist Sean didn't do their bit; each member played their part to perfection and it all came together to create and awesome sound.

Early on I noticed some conspicuous members of the audience who looked a little out of place at a metal gig. These turned out to be the base player Mick's family who had traveled all the way from interstate to support the band for the fund raising show. There was the dad, brother, aunts, uncles, in-laws and outlaws all proud as punch for their boy.

For the final 2 songs, Dale from 'The Deep End' joined the band on stage and belted out a couple of tunes with the band. The show seemed to be over before it started, a sure sign of a great gig. Before long we were in the Voodoo room drinking shots and beers with Mick's family and some of the boys. These guys were allot of fun and perfect gentlemen. If you get a chance to see them on their upcoming tour check them out; they're definitetly a band worth seeing.

10/10

By Liza-Lee Campbell

The Dirty Knobs - The Viper Room, West Hollywood, California, USA, Friday 9th November, 2012

The Dirty what? Yes you read that right - not sure if it refers to the sticky out thing your grab a door with or the male member - let's make our own assumptions there - lol.

Anyways, this 4 piece band is the brainchild of Mike Campbell, the guitarist of Tom Petty & The Heartbreakers and writer of many hits for others artists as well. The 'Knobs are a cool laid back, tight but loose affair who play down 'n' vibey, mojo rising in the zone bluesy stuff, reggae, rock and an assortment of other crazy musical soundings. He's got a really high winy like voice and a really strong look and presense up on that small stage.

The Viper tonight is pretty well rammed with folk and so it should be when you have a pedigree in tow in such an initimate setting and all and sundry are getting really into the quirky rootsy atmosphere of the gig with some swell songs in the way of 'She Likes To Lick My Finger' that's as chilled as it gets and a kickin' bluesy number too with some incredibly slide playing from Mike. Then there were excellent renditions of songs like 'Tobacco Road' by The Nashville Teens as well.

Solid sounds and pleased I checked them out.

9/10

By Glenn Milligan

Dead City Ruins - Dove & Rainbow, Sheffield, Monday, 4th June, 2012

Oh yes, the Aussies are back in town who haven't been in these parts since last September and this is quite a show let me tell ya.

Miles away from their roots of Melbourne they delight the handful of people that have gone out of their way on the bank holiday moday as opposed to stopping in to watch that Jubilee concert. The 5 piece settle in nicely to what has become their home away from home. Up 1st are the instrumental section of the band before fronmtan, Jake takes the stage for the 1st of many songs in the first half of the evening - yes that's right - we got two sets tonight - but sadly no bingo or ice cream in the interval - but they do have a slush machine next to the bar.

Plenty of numbers from the debut album, 'Midnight Killer' come first with highlights including 'My Lai Massacre' and 'Where You Gonna Run'. We also get Jakes well known trademark of walking along the bar and swinging the overhead lights in one of the more sinister numbers that is the title track. The second set included a wide array of new songs that had not been heard by any of us before and will be appearing on a forthcoming album as soon as it's ready which go down just as good as the more familiar material.

All of the guys rock like f*ck and it's as loud as hell but a great raw sound and boundless enery with every member putting 110% and then some into the night. There's some top quality lock throwing all around the stage - in formation too I hasten to add like in the good old days of Status Quo. I am really impressed with the killer vocals that are so powerful all round and that even includes some top-notch backthroat in the mix too!

That 2 guitar assault from Tommy and Lacey was full-on, with each others notes interloping magically, not to mention the booming perfection of Micks bass working well with the kicking and crashing from Drewsy's drums that filled up the room with thunderous brilliance. I also must commend Tommy for those impeccable solos - a man who is like the Australian equivalent of Slash - coming complete with the Les Paul poses at the front of the stage too.

These guys truly to deserve to make it damn big and I can definately see it hapenning too if the quality of their songs and overall presence is anything to go by. Love that new song 'Broken Bones' that was inspired by a bunch of chavs in Leeds who took the p*ss out of their barnets and went on to regret it. "I don't think they'll bother any other guy with long hair again!', Mr Haugis exclaims. Then there was the number we recognised from last year that's about their buddy, Julian Andrew Kelly who they lost a couple of years ago that'll also be on the new release. By the way lads - love the new t-shirts.

Go see Jake, Tommy, Mick, Drewsy & Blanchy soon at a venue near you or supporting the likes of Mastodon & Wolfmother while they are in Europe and the UK! Call it a cliche but take it from me, you will not be disappointed at what you will hear and see.

10/10

By Glenn Milligan

The Dreaming - The Viper Room, West Hollywood, California, USA, 4th May, 2012

Set List -
Puppet/Breathing/Fight For You/What Do I Have To Do (SW)/Every Trace/It's No Good (DM)/Shame (SW)/There Will Be Blood/Ugly/Save Yourself (SW).

One upon a time there was Stabbing Westard and Freak Of Nature and then later on The Dreaming was formed via frontman, Christopher Hall and Drummer, Johnny Haro of said bands.

The Viper Room is pretty packed and things seem to be running a bit late which is typical as a great show across the road is gonna take place as well - Why is it in Hollywood that they do this? Oh well - I'll have to split myself in two and check both out - lol - or as much as I can to get the feel of it all - a bit like going to a music fesival.

This place is getting restless but eventually the band that we can hear soundchecking are revealed to us from behind that legendary black velvet viper curtain. The peeps in here of mostly a younger age go mental with plenty of darkness, multi-coloured lighting and hard-edged almost industrial sounds fill the little venue with epic proportions.

Mr. Hall sings to the crowd and he kinda has that Eddie Vedder meets Jim Morrison presence going down with the bassist and guitarist really thramming it up for all its worth (making the most of the stage space available, while Johnny really puts the icing on the cake with his ferocious back beat of solid and tight precision behind that kit.

It seems fairly obvious that the peeps here know their stuff and they are following every sing word that comes out of Christophers mouth and act as a vibrant backing choir. The band present to us vibrant and fresh songs from their 'Puppet' album that included that title track itself; 'Fight For You' and Stabbing Westward favourites like 'Shame' & Save Yourself'. This band won't be a stateside secret for much longer and you read that right here.

We gotta witness these guys in the UK as they are a surefit hit outfit that's gonna do so well.

10/10

By Glenn Milligan

Last time round, Def Leppard had narrowed their gap between UK tours down to two years. Sadly now back to three and a half, the hiatus has however allowed undiscovered eighties discoveries Steel Panther to steal their 20-year-overdue limelight - so much in fact that playing a support slot for once has become already. My first live accquaintance with Mike Starr and the lads this evening is almost ruined by my near-late arrival, the band already a song into their show as I set foot on the Arena floor.

They are still keen on allowing people in prior to unleashing their existing hits to date , as ‘Asian Hooker’ and ‘Community Property’ stir up the applause of an audience clearly here for them, in some cases more than for the two co-headliners. Despite the 100% un-pc lyrical content and shared stage raps amongst all four members, they have even the most respectable of parents with kids in fits.

Then when new tunes about f**king seventeen bitches lined in a row’ and another of some inappropriate title including 'Tiger Woods' in its wordage…well one can sum up how the night’s going to progress. The following band, from who these lads inherit 99.99999% of their direction image and sound are also another band I finally taste live for the first time tonight.

Motley Crue, the wily old tickers that they are walk on without giving the lights barely time to dim, a deafening cascade of fireworks drowning out the intro to ’Wildside’ along with the roar of several thousand finally at the end of their wait to see LA’s mightiest make it onto a Steel City stage. From the opening chorus to one of their signature classics, a good dozen follow allowing no one time to give a f**K about how much Vince Neils’ voice has gone to the proverbial canines. Getting the first of their only post-Corabi-ear cuts out of the way, ’Saints of Los Angeles’ from recent impressive album of same name is a settled crowd favourite these days and widespread pogoing at the front is satisfying to see. Strictly hits for the next hour, 'Shout at The Devil' storms it up right behinds, while Vince gives away ‘Same ol' Situation’ as the following by asking for his guitar to be brought over, without actually announcing it to the crowd. Straight on from a grindy ‘Primal Scream’, Tommy Lee leaves his kit to take up the grand piano on the end of the stage where his multi instrumental talent does ’Home sweet Home’ above its share of credit.

As emotionally charged female punters around the floor appear to dissolve into tears, Mick Mars, the band’s resident senior citizen dissolves into his not-too-short short but mercifully sweet solo spot with a sharp rendition of 'Voodoo Chile (Slight Return)' to prevent things from dragging. 'Looks that Kill', accompanied by another family-New-Year’s-eve-do’s equivalents worth of pyros, separates it from Tommy’s drum spot. Unlike the sort that would have most of the floor fighting to retreat for the bar, Mr Lee’s nine-minute stint is something of an unexpected show-stealer. Despite the irritating techno lines he applies his solos along to, he resorts to performing it on his head as his kit itself performs a full 360 loop on the special purpose-built track erected centre stage, stopping at the top for long incredible moments.

Mr. Lee's bad behaviour is water strictly under the bridge all these years down the line - Tommy is today a changed chappie and all-round friendly geezer who even gives a ride on his rollercoaster-cum-drumstool to a lucky lad down at the front. Hits til the end ensue with 'Dr Feelgood’, 'Girls Girls, Girls' and 'Smoking In The Boys Room', the latter capped at both ends by a burst of Gary Glitter’s ’Rock n’ Roll’ (or ‘Dr Who’ as some will prefer to know it) re-entering clad in boiler suits for the raucous encore of 'Kickstart My Heart'.

A certain friend of mine in the front row gets one of Vince’s fake blood supplies all over her in a literal bucket load though loves every second of it. So endeth my first liver Crue experience and what an incredible one it turned out to be, with hits and hooks hitting at more angles than an eighteen-armed boxing champ. Vinces voice as said was expectedly somewhat contrastable with its glorious eighties self but seeing these lads strut it in the flesh up there and send twelve thousand to their feet cuts the following act’s work out for them even on their home soil.

“Hello, we’re BAA -A-A-ACKK!”, Joe Elliot greets the crowd two tracks into Def Leppard’s set, quite necessarily so - it takes a rendition of that old chart chestnut 'Rocket' to remind everyone of whom the hometown boys are with tonight’s two preceding acts having almost successfully pushed them away off the step of significance. Luckily fourteen of the like are to follow although that’s not to be rude to their rather decent and darned catchy newie ‘Undefeated’ which opens up tonight’s run.

Getting thirty years into ninety minutes continues not to be a weakness for Sheffield’s hometown sons - select about half of ’Hysteria’s content, mix in a mighty couple of faves from Pyromania and various from other hit albums since, up to 1996 and you’re in action. Sadly nothing off the underrated ‘Euphoria’ album - no, not even ‘Promises’ makes the set tonight which seems to be indicating a curse of the ‘hits only’ attribute their audiences across the pond adopt.

As said, duly obliging , the Leps have the usual trick stuff up their sleeve of saving the oldies till last, taking us through their nineties element first with ‘Action’, ‘Make Love like A Man’, ‘When Love And Hate Collide’, ‘Two Steps Behind’ and a welcomely re-instated ‘Slang’. Mr. Elliot can’t wait to take to his public as always, walking out along the ramp right from the middle of the first number.

Joe makes repeated trips onwards at the rate of twice per song, except of course for their routine acoustic blast of jurassic classic ‘Bringing on The Heartbreak’ which brings messrs Savage, Campbell and the once-again topless Collen out as usual to join him. No end seems in sight for surprise from these lads as the final chorus takes them into full electric mode and then, its seatbelt time as strictly classics come rolling out at us.

Back to back performance of ‘Hysteria’, ‘Animal’, ‘Armageddon It’ and ‘Photograph’ are the hallmarks of a band playing every gig as if its their last …going straight on to ‘Pour Some Sugar On Me’ behind that package accounts for the seasoned Leppard-ite’s wet dream. Therefore, which two other songs are left for the encore is about as stupid a question as you dare ask. ’Love Bites’ raises record -sized walls of waved lighter flames leading up to one from Mr Elliot himself ’Do You wanna Get Rocked…….?!!!!!”

The rest is history, and too is another legendary performance only a few other bands of Def Leppard’s calibre are still this capable of bringing, thirty-five years into their career. Nearly twenty one years since Steve Clark’s passing and twenty seven since Rick Allen became the most miraculous human to occupy a drumstool, Def Lep are a miracle unto themselves. “Until the Next Time…” enuff effing said!

10/10

Review By Dave Attrill

Photos by Glenn Ashley, Julie Hendry & Angela Trowbridge

Main Set List: You Shook Me All Night Long/Shot Down In Flames/Big Jack/Dirty Deeds Done Dirt Cheap/If You Want Blood (You Got It)/Back In Black/Girls Got Rhythm/Stiff Upper Lip/Who Made Who/Bad Boy Boogie/Hells Bells/Rock 'N' Roll Train/Sin City/Thunderstruck/Problem Child/Shoot To Thrill/TNT/Whole Lotta Rosie/Let There Be Rock.

Encore: It's A Long Way To The Top/Highway To Hell/For Those About To Rock.

Well you come to the right place if you want some Dirty Deeds tonight because these guys are one hell of an excellent AC/DC tribute. A full-on 5-piece with a dude on vocals who just about sounds like a mirror image of Brian Johnson - if that makes any sense. The Diamond was jam packed solid just about and really hot due to all the body heat in here tonight. Everyone had come for an evening of class rock 'n' roll entertainment and that is precisely what they got.

It was a cracking set of numbers to behold with a gig that lasted at least 2 1/4 hours with an encore to top it off nicely. A major highlight in the main set that really stood out to the rest was 'Who Made Who' that's rarely played by any other tribute bands or the real thing (no doubt someone will correct me on this - hahaha - just my damn luck) and the inclusion of 'It's A Long Way To The Top' one of my fave early rockin' classics from Bon and the Boys that gave you an inclin to how the number would sound if AC/DC made it part of their set.

I am surprised that the Brian dude managed to keep his voice on top all night because it must be very challenging to screech and shriek like this unless it naturally sounds like that when he is doing so. The rest of the band sound remarkably authentic as well with Marshall Stacks and the authentic Gibsons being used for the job - it's the only way to pull it off really.

All the familiar faves were in the set such as 'Back In Black'; 'Shot Down In Flames' and 'Sin City' and it was good to hear 'Big Jack' and 'Rock 'N' Roll Train' from the 'Black Ice' album too.Hey they even threw the rudey tuney in that is 'Big Balls' that wasn't even in the set list. Now instead of the drummer looking like Phil Rudd, he had the resemblance of Simon Wright which made for a pleasant change - everything about this band was perfect - even the Cliff Williams wig looked authentic.

The Angus dude was impeccable - bald or otherwise and has so much energy and all the moves and pouts to perfection, needless to say doing a brilliant strip-down in 'Bad Boy Boogie'; boogying out like a madman and spinning on the floor when he had the chance and then there is the incredible guitarwork which is second to nobody - well apart from maybe Angus at times -haha.

Love the fact that they have a little walkway enabling th lead guitarist and the frontman to get a bit closer to the crowd with the night being topped of with 2 small cannons that fire bits of coloured paper on the last obligatory number, 'For Thouse About To Rock' - some of which have the name of the band on them - now that's a fired up marketing ploy if ever I saw one. After such a well packed set not one person goes away disappointed. Looking forward to checking out these guys again and I simply can't recommend these guys highly enough. Now I must stick the 'Black Ice' album on again.

What can I say apart from another good night in the Diamond!

10/10

By Glenn Milligan

The Damned Things/Dear Superstar/Jett Black/Havana Rocks -

The Corporation, Sheffield, Sunday October 24th, 2010

It's Sunday night and I'm ready to fight my way past the crowd gathered outside the Corporation. Well it IS Scott Ian from Anthrax after all and who cares if his side project 'The Damned Things' have only released a couple of tracks to listen to.

When I get to Corp, Im greeted by the smallest queue (not even a queue really) I have witnessed for a good while. So...it's early, and it's Sunday! People are still digesting their Sunday dinners I suppose? I cant even use my 'I'm on the list' line (boo), as there is no real queue to push in front of!
Inside there is around 100-150 people already in there. The line-up reads for tonight Havanna Rocks, Jettblack, Dear Superstar and The Damned Things. Now don't get me wrong, I'm not saying Dear Superstar are by any means crap (as of this point I had yet to hear them), its just that Jettblack are a pretty well known band with an album under their belt and singles released so I just thought they would be on before The Damned Things.

Ah well, maybe that's just my opinion? So...Havanna Rocks....moving swiftly on...!

Time for Jett Black to hit the stage. It's a little fuller there now but still relatively empty considering. You can't fault these guys performance (even though they were suffering from hangovers), they never fail to deliver. With released singles such as 'Get Your Hands Dirty' and 'Two Hot Girls' as crowd pleasers it finally started to warm the night up!

Maybe that was just me too as they are certainly pleasing on the eye.

8/10 - for the sheer quality of their songs and they play the same to a small room as they do a stadium.

Next it's time for Dear Superstar. As I said before, never hearing any of their material before I'm pleasantly surprised by the energy and calibre of songs they are belting out. Singer, Micky Satiar certainly loves to please and puts up a good performance.

Maybe worth another visit to see these guys!

Dear Superstar 7/10 - just lacked a little balls compared with Jettblack but still a very entertaining set.

Finally it's time for The Damned Things. The room is buzzing (although still relatively empty). TDT songs hit you like a punch to the stomach and Singer, Rob Caggiano wants to please while the very cool Scott Ian is throwing some meaty riffs out in the background. Great solid performance and what crowd there was certainly looked like they were enjoying it! Now I must mention the sound from tonights gig because I heard it mentioned more than a few times that it sounded like the bands were singing in a cardboard box.

Maybe its because the venue was only a quarter capacity or maybe the sound engineer was having an off day, who knows. It didn't exactly spoil the night but it certainly didn't add to it either. Photographing the gig was an even bigger nightmare. No additional lighting brought by the band and lots of red and blue backlit lighting with smoke!

Hard to get decent pictures in these conditions but I did what I could and hope you enjoy looking at them half as much as I enjoyed taking them.

9/10 - Because they played and sang like it was going out of fashion, putting an extra amount of guts into the performance.

All in all - a great night!!! Shame on you people who stayed in to watch X-Factor results and let your tea go down! Support your local music scene - sleep when your dead, thats what I say!

By Claire 'Beware' Simmons

Deadstring Brothers - The Boardwalk, Sheffield, Monday 11th October, 2010

After reading up about these guys via the venues website and checking out their songs on their myspace site, I knew this was a band to get excited about. They fitted my ears perfectly as they had elements of late 60's/early 70's 'Rolling Stones, The Black Crowes, Drive By Truckers and a melting pot of Americana sounds overall.

It's a no-brainer to assume that 'Whispering' Bob Harris features these guys on his Radio 2 show from time to time. You'd assume they come from a Southern State, but in fact Kurtis Marschke and his guys originate from Detroit with the Callum borthers coming from London - the main man is now based in Nashville these days though and it shows throughout the bands music tonight.

Stripped down to a 3-piece on this 'ere Monday October eveing we get bassist Jeff Callum, Guitar and some earthy excellent harp playing from brother Spencer (correct me on that if I am wrong), not to mention some crystal clear vocals from every member of the unit with Kurtis having a voice that signifies how Mick Jagger would sound if he came some the USA - though the Deadstring Brother Throater's voice is far warmer, rounded and better controlled than that of our British Rock Icon.

They open with a song that I reckon was 'Feelin' Alright' with other highlights in the set including an amazing Stonesy like ballad Exile like ditty entitled 'Baby Blue'; the fast paced 'Heavy Load' and their well grooved out 'Sacred Heart' and great songs like 'It's a shame' and various numbers from their 4 albums so far.

The live mix is a lovely warm sound this is mutual when it comes to the reception from the fans in Sheffield too - it really is a very intimate kinda show too. "This is a little song called 'Get Up Jake'", which turns out to be a really groovy late 60's like groovy funkyish kinda thing which cooks the place up loads - not that we aren't all on a high already with the mesmerizing best USA and tells us that it's so bright up here tonight that I need to tip down my hat a bit - no wonder I kept changing the ISO on the camera settings now and again.

Hearing them play 'You look like the devil' by Leon Russell (a splendid old country number) was very well timed, especially since he has suddenly hit the mainstream through his Elton collaboration album. Waylon Jenning's 'Good Hearted Woman' gets a brilliant reception too that comes in toward the end of the set and there's some superp slide guitar playing in 'Rollin' Blues' if my memory serves me right since I am still vague on the bands material - which is a crime really as I wished I had known about these guys when they 1st got going as it's the 3rd time they have played 'The Boardwalk'.

After one hell of an emotional, rootsy set, Kurt thanked Matt on the mixing desk as he told him earlier he wasn't feeling well and did Matt have anything for it. Matt said he had an 'Anti-suck button' on the desk which got us all laughing heartedly. Like the old cliche, it was a pity the set had to end but they did come back for an encore that featured Spencer on just vocal and harp which was spot on. Thank y'all for coming Kurt says to us after it's done.

Words simply don't do these guys justice - you need to hear and see them to fully get it.

10/10

By Glenn Milligan

Well what can I say, after a hot day in town all day I hoped for a better support band on first. Choker, an all girl band, made me feel so uncomfortable at the Corporation. It was like looking at a stripper in a club, the singer (Ivy) was wearing a leather corset, short hot pants and leggings, which had rips down the side. Whilst on stage she acted so sexually frustrated by licking her lips, facing backwards to the crowd and shaking her bum, pushing her breasts closer as she bent over to the crowd at the front. I found it disgusting to be honest and I would have been ashamed.

The songs they played such as ‘dirty girl’ all seemed to have some sort of sex drive emotion involved such as the Ivy moaning and orgasm-ing down the microphone. The male bit of the crowd seemed to love this behaviour on stage as they hooted and whistled, which made her do it more. The guitarist (Kandy) never seemed to look up from the guitar and I think she made some mistakes from the facial expression she made but she carried on playing which showed’ learning by her mistakes.’

The bassist (Katt) was pretty good but robotic on stage, she didn’t show much enthusiasm as the guitarist but they still got the crowd going. Throughout the set list the drums were louder then anything else, sometimes you couldn’t understand what Ivy was singing also the bassist wasn’t louder. Even though there were slight mishaps it still turned out to be a good set list and they got the crowd waking up.

It took twenty minutes of waiting for Disarm to come on, as they dismantled the drum kit and swapped microphones. The crowd seemed to have disappeared with barely anyone stood in small room, when Disarm finally came on they seemed to have made a routine and didn’t just come up with it on the spot, with moving around, facing back of the crowd first etc. The set list was not too good as we couldn’t hear the singer except from when he death growled and the guitars were too loud. Either way the crowd seemed to love them and got into them pretty good, they didn’t put much movement in but could tell by facial expression that Disarm was good.

I thought it was a bit weird when the singer was playing guitar and his strings that had snapped from before the gig was still hanging on the head, and seemed to have got in the way sometimes when he was moving his hand on the fret board. They seemed energetic and comfortable talking to the crowd, in a friendly way by inviting crowd to stay drinking after gig. They introduced Dear Superstar and New Device (who was on next), which got the crowd excited, Disarm told the crowd about CD’s and merchandise which was on sale, so they advertised during songs. They seemed better live to be honest they were enthusiastic and ‘knew what they were doing.’ The quality was good except the microphone, the guitarist and bassist were loud but kept going quite in some places.

New Device was next up with a ten – fifteen minute wait after Disarm, whilst waiting we ended up talking to Jamie (Disarm vocalist/guitarist) about the gig and what we thought about it, he seemed pleased to hear our opinions but was in a rush to talk to others and get a drink. When New Device were setting up people seemed eager to get a good spot in the small room, a lot more people had turned up for New Device and the room was mostly full. New Device I would say blew the room, everyone seemed into them and was giving it some ‘welly,’ especially this woman at the front.

They played songs such as ‘In Fading Light’, ‘Heaven Knows’, ‘Seven Nights, Seven Bodies’ which had the crowd’s attention as they copied actions off the singer. The atmosphere of the bands performing was clear, we could hear the singer properly the guitars weren’t loud as the other supporter’s but was just the right pitch to hear everything classing together. New Device announced some good news which was that were supporting Bon Jovi at the o2 in London, everyone was happy and pleased at this point and got into it more. They played an amazing set, which got everyone on their toes and moving about.

During the break from New Device to Dear Superstar we stood at the bar drinking free water when guitarist, Gaz Bolan, came up to us to ask how is our night going? Did we enjoy New Device? What did we think about them supporting Bon Jovi? After we talked he walked off near the merchandise stand and came back with a bag of lollipops and offered us one. Still waiting for Dear Superstar to come on we walked outside due to the stuffiness of the room about five minutes later we went back in as Dear Superstar came on stage.

The crowd became bigger and was more enthusiastic by clapping, head banging, etc. Dear Superstar did a good set list which included ‘Live Love Lie,’ ‘Anytime Anyplace,’ ‘Can’t Write A Love Song,’ and some songs from their new album, the singer really put the effort in to get the crowd going by pointing to the lyrics on his chest from live love lie, getting the crowd to clap and sing along.

The audio for Dear Superstar was spot on, everything was at the same level and perfectly clear, the singing was clear and the backing vocals from their guitarists. They played longer then the crowd expected but Jenny and me had to leave before the set finished but what we heard before we left was brilliant. They were easily the best band I would have to say that we saw.

8/10

By Kayleigh Watson

Whilst waiting for The Ocean Between Us to come on, I managed to catch up with friends that I hadn’t seen for a while, but was cramped near the floor speakers as the crowd kept coming in. When The Ocean Between Us came on at half seven Shan looked at me as if to say move or you will get killed, next thing I knew a group of lads had started head banging and wind milling in the middle of the room.

Judd Wrighton (vocals) was giving it some welly on stage by standing on speakers, giving crowd the microphone. They were enthusiastic on stage and knew what they were doing. Half way through the set list Judd ended up taking his top off which got the girls screaming, and moving. They played a set of half an hour with a really hot atmosphere around them, a lot of sweat was thrown into the crowd and the lads who head banged seemed worn out, as they never stopped for a break.

Whilst The Gold Coast was waiting to go on, Connor told me he did a gig at the plug with these guys, and apparently didn’t turn out as good as they hoped. When Gold Coast came on I thought they were amateurs as they appeared in beach shorts, vest tops and flower Hawaiian necklaces with sweat bands around their heads. But they turned out better than I thought; they were pretty great on stage and turned out to be nice guys.

They did songs from their new album ‘Black Lungs’ and older albums as well. They seemed really into it on stage and the crowd was at it again with the windmilling and head banging, they went crazy. We couldn’t move that much and we were plastered to the speakers which also blew or ears off. They played for a good forty-five mintues with an excellent set list and get crowd response. Stood outside whilst Dead & Divine was setting up, I ended up talking to everyone from Gold Coast as they were handing cd’s out, the CD was their new album ‘Black Lungs’.

Dead & Divine was last to come on (well they were headlining - Glenn). The lads were ready for this, as they’d tipped water on their heads and looking angry. The atmosphere seemed tense, as people had waited ages, as soon as they came on everyone screamed, but there was still the gap in the middle of the room, as people knew it was going to be crucial pain, or turn out like a bloodbath.

They were enthusiastic, loud, and the instruments were all the same level and could hear everything clearly. This had to be the best band so far, the crowd was at it, giving it some welly. It was a great night to end with to be honest.

8/10

By Kayleigh Watson

Their standard of songs is epic with highlights being 'When We Were 17' and many others like? In fact some songs are so good that they sound like they could have been numbers from Meatloaf's 'Bat Out Of Hell' album minus the metal cliches - lol. Tonight they were launching their brand new album, 'Know The Joy Of Good Living' where plenty of songs came from tonight. The band was completely lapped up and I think they should be playing the Arena's supporting someone big band as opposed to venues of this nature.

I expect big things for this band - there's no justice in the music industry otherwise.

10/10

By Glenn Milligan

Photos by Bernard Froggatt

Well does the name give it away to who thee guys are a tribute to? Well it does to those in the know who made it to the Boardwalk – to see the premier UK tribute to the legendary rockers in platforms, crazy costumes and make-up – yep – New York’s finest – Kiss - who are actually gracing and disgracing our UK venues in May this year. Dressed to Kill was one of Kiss’s classic 70’s albums and this ‘ere quartet certainly do just that. Strutting and posing their attributes and instruments as well like there’s no tommorow – well they do say, treat every day (and night in this case) as your last and tonight is no exception to the rule.

This band are in your face for a tribute and very f*ck*n’ loud to say the least and come on after the famous ‘You wanted the best, you got the best...’ intro and blasted the sh*t out of immediately with their deafening greetings and the ‘Detroit Rock City’ – in fact it’s a wonder that the entire state of Michigan couldn’t hear this – never mind the city of Detroit – lol.

We get a handful of greatest hits numbers from the ‘Kill and what really made it even the more special an occasion was they they even included a number called ‘Exciter’ from the ‘Lick It Up’ album that the original band don’t play anymore – hang on there’s only Gene & Paul left anyway these days. Was great to see that every single member sang lead as well and this even included a couple for Catman in the form of a number from the brand new Kiss album ‘Sonic Boom’ called ‘All For The Glory’ and later on the classic ‘Beth’ whereby the original backing track was used – sounded and looked awesome as well – even if it was a bit on the cheesey side. I loved it though as it’s one of my faves.

One of the smart alecs in the crowd decided it was a good idea to grab the set list which Paul demanded back and exclaimed that he thought this guy was the one that when he was young when into his mums wardrobe to find out what presents he had for christmas, going on to say, “Why spoil the surprises?”. Turned out this dude wanted the set signing by the band – man some fans just take it too far – I mean at least wait until the gig is over! Lol! He also commented on the good looking Yorkshire girls too much to their delight – I bet he says that at every gig – hahaha.

These boys kept the masses in here happy and gave them a set that included numbers like ‘Strutter’; ‘Crazy, Crazy Nights’; ‘Cold Gin’ with the classic Paul Stanley intro-spiel and even did the mincing as well that the permed-haired man is so popular for. We even get a chance to sing the opening lines for some of the songs such as the immense ‘Love Gun’ and the chorus of the ever-brilliant and timeless ‘Shout It Out Loud’, not to mention the old Argent classic that Kiss did for the Bill & Ted Bogus Journey Soundtrack and their Revenge album – yep, that’ll be ‘God Gave Rock ‘N’ Roll To You II’.

The dude playing Gene Simmons does all the cool stuff with the blood being spat out of his gob in the usual boom bass instrumental and spits out fire in ‘God Of Thunder’. It made my day to witness ‘2000 Man’ – the old Rolling Stones classic that Kiss covered with Ace Frehley taking care of the vocals.Anyway, a good time was had by all (credit to my buddy Bernard for that line) and it was 2 hours of fun and near-deafness. The guys even came out to meet the fans after and posed for many pictures and Paul came over & thanked us for coming as well.

A pure entertaining night and we can do it all again with the real thing in May.

8/10

By Glenn Milligan

Well I ain’t seen old Bob and his band since 1996 and was I in for a surprise or should I say shock. After the Columbia Records spoken pre-recorded intro, his band were there and then the man himself appeared – what the f*ck – he’s gone to a keyboard at the right hand side of the stage!! Most of us can only see his back and the side of his face that aint covered with his black cowboy hat (well we were on the right hand side) and those of on the left were like miles away from the stage to see his face proper– what’s all that about – surely he should be on guitar in the centre.

Anyway, ‘Cats In The Well’ opens up the show which is actually decent enough for Bob standards that’s followed up with ‘It’s All Over Now Baby Blue’ where he brings in his trademark harp late in the song. It’s onto a big old fat guitar centre stage on the next number – about time as well for the ballad 'Boots Of Spanish Leather' where about halfway in he forgets the words and picks them up after missing about 2 lines out. The backdrop was nice though – a lot of speckles – which I joked to Tony that he would have to wash off the walls when the song was done.

Oh god – back to the keyboard again for a 12-bar which I reckon was called ‘Keep On Ringin’ at the time. So are the audience that old and ugly he don’t wanna look at them any longer or what? It beats me anyway. It dragged on too long and became tedious and was more like a poor excuse for a jam session than a decent song. Just when you didn’t think it could get any worse, the next number sounds like a New Orleans Country Funeral Dirge. ‘Tweedle Dee and Tweedle Dum’, albeit as cheesey and old hat as it is was really great with Bob Dylan and a harmonica centre stage trading harp solos for guitar solos – brilliant – so why does he have to flatten the cracking atmosphere he has just built up in a matter of seconds by boring us with another tune back on that bl**dy keyboard.

‘Highway 61 Revisited’ is a one of his best tunes but again this is ruined when he is on the keyboard and makes it worse by seemingly going over and over again with the same 2 or 3 notes – dire is not the word! Tonight the killing needs to be done rather closer to home. On ‘Great White Wonder’ I think it was called (since he introduces absolutely nothing) you get the impression that his 2 guitarists or bassists have got any idea what he is gonna play next or in what key or tempo and do not appear at all relaxed to be there and are maybe putting on a brave smile. They watch him like hawks and it seems that only the drummer seems to know whats going on.

Oh no – double trouble again with another boring 12-bar number on the dreaded keyboard and he sounds like Klaus Wunderlich doing a bad impression of a slowed down Jerry Lee Lewis – for f*cks sake man. ‘Like A Rolling Stone’ on a keyboard kills any emotion and atmosphere that the song used to have – very sad indeed – Judas I hear you shout!!! In fact Tony didn’t even recognise the song until he heard Bob sing ‘Rolling Stone’, after which, Mr. Dylan & the band leave the stage. The crowd cheers and claps for more – after such a terrible set I am surprised.

Funnily enought they return and it’s back again to that grisly keyboard - again!!!!! For ‘All Along The Watchtower’ – no reason to get excited – you don’t say Bob – no truer words spoken there. It kinda sums up about ¾ of this entire gig. It’s a great band as well but they just stand there like card-board cut-outs welded to the stage floor making the spectacle utterly and completely a visually boring experience indeed. ‘Thank You Friends’ he says to us (the man speaks !!) and introduces all his band members.

Last number of the night is the classic ‘Blowin’ In The Wind’ but in this case it was anything but and was hardly recognisable apart from the lyrics themselves, a bit of its chorus and a slight offering of the original riff (but not much to talk about), where he come comes out for the whole of the song with his harp centre of the stage. After this number they all (with Bob in the middle came centre stage and bowed to the audience amid cheers, shouts and claps which I was mystifeid and personally didnt get up to clap or anything as this show certainly wasn’t worthy of one.

Probably the worst concert I have ever witnessed at Sheffield Arena which is sad to say as I am a big Bob Dylan fan and own the majority of his albums. He is completely passed it or he just simply can’t be bothered to put a good show on. I get the impression that his fans (who have paid good money for this travesty) show their OTT appreciation because of who he is and not because the gig was any good.

As Anne Robinson would say on her game show, “Bob, you are the weakest link – goodbye”. Get a decent frontman lads, you deserve far better – it must be worth the money he pays you for the tour, that’s all I can say. Bob Dylan - 'Bored Dullan' more like!

5/10

By Glenn Milligan (with input from Tony Watson)

Sheffield Arena, Monday 23rd June 2008

Normally it’s three - five years we wait for a visit to Sheffield by either of these two bands but this latest arrangement has craftily facilitated a return for both of Blighty’s top names in hard rock after only two and (just) even less than that in Coverdale and co’s case, I might add.

Unfortunately due to an untimely foul up with schedules - regarding both stage time and Stagecoach (supertram) - I miss a large part of Black Stone Cherry’s set but what I still catch pleases and the rising popularity of their 70’s-eighties balanced material shows - their cover of Hendrix’s ‘Voodoo Chile Slight Return’ seems ruined by the PA sound however.

Being reduced to only playing an eighty minute slot this time round -the one downer to a co-headlining tour - doesn’t rub off badly on David Coverdale at all. Celebrating 30 years in the business as are the Leps tonight, Whitesnake choose all the right candles for the cake with tonight’s list and a couple of new ones make appealing decoration too. Maintaining a large fraction of the incarnation that has been intact over the past half decade, Reb Beach, Doug Aldritch and ex-Eagles keyboardster Timothy Drury still remain.

What generates the greatest vibe about the Snakes nowadays is that DC seems no longer in the habit of parting company with the rest of his troupe after one tour with his current sidemen knowing ‘Fool For Your Loving’, ‘Is This Love’, ‘Give Me All Your Love’ ‘Here I Go Again’, ‘Ain't No Love In The Heart Of The City’ and ‘Still Of the Night’ off by heart by this stage . The big man’s pipes themselves seem to have been given a new lease of life- as long in fact as the previous one – but this comeback as the tunes from ‘G.T. B.B.’ accurately testify as he revisits his roots and we are talking right back to Deep Purple days here guys.

Our friends Reb and Doug are on typically fine form too as expected but when we come to a spectacular solo ‘duel’ between them, it's the ex-Winger/Dokken man marginally sporting the upper hand. One or two further classics follow and then after the shortest headlining show they have probably ever played in Blighty in 25 years, they disappear with their traditional bow down at the front end of the stage ramp (yes you read those last two words right) and a fair fraction of the 12000 in house disappear to the bar.

Sense does however prevail in the form of those on the floor opting to stay put in their place rather than lose it for the sake of a pint of marginally undrinkable beer, and welcome the hometown boys back once again to the stage they relish their cue to walk onto more than any other in the world.

The trimming of their set length this year may come at the expense of ‘Rock Rock’ and ‘Action’, live mainstays for fourteen years but even more surprsing is the decision taken to open the night with ‘Rocket’, not that there are any complaints obviously. New material from the ‘Sparkle Lounge’ disc is met with low amounts of resentment too - ‘C’mon, c’mon’ being played in superb synchrony with the single’s video projected on the screen which for the uninformed is the basis for the album’s front sleeve pic. Amp gremlins suddenly take hold and it takes until Joe begins singing to identify ‘Animal’ in its accidentally re-made drum/bass/vocal only form. Phil’s widdlnig can however just be deciphered halfway along.

My favourite newie ‘Nine Lives’ - and not just because of the pretty looking lady who features throughout the prom vid – is already a crowd-pleaser and pogoing appears in progress but then the golden oldies return. Not quite remembering in what order they came, does it really matter when ‘Hysteria’, ‘Rock Of Ages’, ‘Make Love Like A Man’, ‘When Love And Hate Collide’ and ‘Two Steps Behind’ remain such infallible Def Lep anthems all these years down the line. Pre-Pyromania years have to be remembered of course for those who have followed since 78 and a fantastic acoustic re-treat of ‘Bringing On The Heartbreak’ more than duly obliges while their version of ‘Sweet Home Alabama’ coupled on the back keeps up enough noise to warrant its potential as a live mainstay for the future.

Resuming electric services again, the classics come thick and fast in round tow as Joe Elliot makes god use of the ramp though the other guys also pay the crowd the occasional up close visit as well. ‘Photograph’ and ‘Pour Some Sugar’ are both present and correct as is required of two of the Leps best-etched cornerstones and already after 80 minutes the Sheffield public are shamefully kn*ck*r*d in their worship of the city’s national treasures.

‘Bad Actress’ anther popular ’08 pressed offering gets said offenders halfway back into form again and then they are faced with the question everyone at a Def Leppard show dreads ‘Do You Wanna Get Ro-o-o-o-CKED?!!!’ If you happen to be in search of the answer - just listen to them and you’ll get the picture. Joes’ routine utterance of ‘Til The next time .... and There will be a next Time’ followed by a band photo with the arena’s uncalm-able clientele as background sadly hints that they won’t be making any further returns to the boards tonight, but a well-engineered and pristinely executed set for the shorter time allocated to them this time allows them to get away with this in their native town.

They as always ask us never to forget them as of course they will never forget us. Like we would! Another unforgettable night with the Steel City lads- hope there’s still another in 30 years.

9.5/10

By Dave Attrill

Def Leppard/Whitesnake/Black Stone Cherry –

Sheffield Arena, Monday 23rd June, 2008

Now its not very often you get a concert of this high calibre every week is it, one that features 2 major headliners and a getting very well known newcomer – well that's exactly David & Joe came up with the idea of. Good on them too as tonights gig at the 2nd largest live venue in Sheffield is a complete sell-out.

The first up on stage newcomer if I can still call them that after all the publicty & press they have had over the last few months prove that they've got this city by the balls. I am of course about those fine USA boys, Black Stone Cherry, a quartet with plenty of hair and energy and the retro sounds of the well-missed Soundgarden, slight hints of Staind & Nickelback and fire of Zakk Wylde's 'Black Label Society'.

Good to see that these boys were provided with plenty of light and enough space to perform in (well obviously not to the extent of the headliners of course but more about them in a bit). There were a few problems with holding down bits of the drumkit and sound problems with one of the guitars but these gremlins were soon ironed out. “It's great to be back in Sheffield”, their frontman/guitarist told us, “It's our 2nd time here” and went on to introduce their latest single 'Lonely Train' that was very typically heavy of the USA retro-grunge sounds that are happening at the current moment.

It was brilliant to hear him thank our local Rock Club, Corporation (on Milton St. just off the bottom of The Moor) which was the 1st time they ever played Sheffield – no doubt a large handful of peeps who witnessed that gig were here tonight to show their love and dedication for the band.

Their last song “Maybe Some Day” was something of a highlight that sequed into Jimi Hendrix's 'Voodoo Chile (Slight Return) that saw the Bassist going up to the Drummer and having his thick strings bashed for a while by the sticks, while their lead vocalist/guitarist play his axe with his teeth and then on his back, which saw the other 6-stringer stick his instrument on his back too. Quite a cool thing to see these days.

A terrific short set was enjoyed by a few thousand and no doubt a few new fans were created as well – plenty of applause were guaranteed and a bow or two to all and sundry ensued as well sticks thrown to the crowd too. Looking forward to seeing them do a headlining set in future.

8/10

20 mins later and the 1st headliners of the night hit the stage – Whitesnake - Sir. David is back in the city and you can't escape his almighty big powerful voice. Opening up with one from the new album 'Good To Be Bad' we get the impressive pounding of rock 'Best Days Of My Life' followed by the classic 'Fool For Your Lovin' the creates an instant of deafening applause in the packed room. Since he now has the crowd in the palm of his hands he risks it with another newie 'Can you hear the wind blow' that is immediately lapped up so Mr. Coverdale needn't had worried at all.

'Who told you about my f*ck*n' nipple show?', he jokily asks some of his buddies in the crowd and dutifully introduces them to everyone. Nice to see my fave 'Snake number is still in there too – the magnificient 'Love Ain't No Stranger' that he says is for his friend, Mel Galley (a former band member who is sadly dying of cancer) – a touching moment for David indeed.

'What only 1 f*ck*n' box of Yorkshire Tea?' he jokes later to a fan – no doubt he took it anyway - ya can't beat a nice cuppa can you! 'Even at 56, it's good to be back' – wow is he really that old – well he did start in the mid 70's with Deep Purple, so it must be true. Anyways, the new line-up of Whitesnake play out new & old material with highlights being the 3rd newie of the night (if I got that correct) 'Lay Down Your Love' – that's very 1987 meets Slip Of The Tongue sorta stuff.

What's this – 3 of them members dissapear and out comes the an acoustic guitar with just David Coverdale & Doug Alrich on the stage for 'The Deeper The Love' where everyone in the room joins in on the chorus and more much to David's delight. 'Thank you Sheffield', he says to us and asks, 'Is this the city of love' – funnily enough many shout yes and it's another sloppy ballad in 'In this love' that sees both guitarists come to the end of the walkway to solo in splendour for us.

It seems that the man from Redcar likes to sit down a bit more – well he is getting on a bit and needs to rest those weary legs of his. 'What a nice piece of furniture it is', he says about his stool – 'look here' and shows us the label on the seat, 'Whitesnake' which he and all chuckle 'n' snigger at and then perform a perfect rendition of the not heard too often 'Ain't Gonna Cry No More Today'. We all love it – absolutely splendid it was darlings.

'This goes back to the beginning – 30 years' – now I wonder whats up next? – woohoo 'Ain't No Love In The Heart Of The City' that I just realised was a cover song (thanks to being informed by Mick Hucknall of Simply Red who was on The Jools Holland Show a few weeks ago) – well Whitesnake continue to make it their own and always will do.

So what do you think was the last song of the set – well it don't take much guessing – it's the one that all the Rock Club DJ's play when they need the toilet due it being so long – yep – that's the one – the epical, 'In The Still Of The Night' of which a barnstorming version is delivered and everyone is in joyful mood as a result – especially those Rock DJ's – you know who you are – hahaha !

As David Coverdale says to us , 'Be Safe, Be Happy And Don't Let Anyone Make You Afraid'. Before all bow and leave the stage to mass applause. Yes I can definitely say that the Dirty Old Blonde Debonaire has still got it – hope I have at his age too.

10/10

The 2nd headliners of the night come on after some AC/DC and Thin Lizzy, 2 of their fave artists them the house lights go down - a massive video screen with images from their past up to their present coupled with a long introduction for 'Rocket' and then Def Leppard hit the stage with the song to rapturous applause, playing the new single, the 70's glam-like 'C'Mon C'Mon' that goes down well with the crowd and a bit later 'Nine Lives' (a new one of theirs - not a cover by another famous rock band begining with A.)

They are real pleased to be back in their hometown of Sheffield with Joe Elliott saying the name of his City like it was going out of fashion - hahaha even telling us that his Mum and Dad were up there watching the gig and asked us all to wave to them - of course all 12,500 obliged.

It was frikkin' loud and a bit too bassy for my liking at times but sound can vary from venue to venue can't it - a lot of the hits were included with faves such as 'Animal'; 'Armageddon It'; 'When Love & Hate Collide'; Pour Some Sugar on Me (with it's 'Bomb, Bomb, Bomb intro); a nice bit of David Essex in 'Rock On'; 'Photograph' and much more.

A cool bit of the concert was to hear 'Bringin' On The Heartbreak' where Joe told us about when he went to various concerts at the City Hall and joked about climbing through the bathroom window to see Lynyrd Skynyrd - Viv Campbell even played us part of a Budgie riff too! The song started on acoustic with just Joe, Phil & Vivian and then went into full electric band version about 1/2 way into the number - utter brilliance it was too.

'Two Steps Behind' was a monentous moment too - on acoustic of course - the way it sounds best which many of us joined in on - easily a major highlight of the entire set. At one particular point Rick Savage gave us a bass solo that saw him run around on the high part of the massive stage on either side of Rick Allen and his legendary electric kit who've been part of the band since 1977 and 1978.

They closed the night with 'Let's Get Rocked' - a superfine ending to a killer show. My only qualm is that they didn't include any material from the 1st album that I was looking forward to as they usually throw at least one in - oh well - you can't have everything can you. Joe asked us to do one small favour, "Don't forget us because we won't forget you" - as if we'd do that!

9/10

By Glenn Milligan

10/10

By Glenn Milligan

DEEP PURPLE + Styx + Thin Lizzy –
Hallam FM Arena, Sheffield, Wed. 2/5/07

Having hosted three visits by the reformed Thin Lizzy in about as many years, the good ol’ classic rock loving people of Sheffield now go one better - they show up to share a bill with fellow legends, the almighty Deep Purple, only 29 months since they themselves last visited Steel City, a record for Gillian and co of late.

Being limited to forty minutes rather than eighty does not dishearten the Liz one little bit, they cram a colossal twelve numbers into the space, kicking off once more with ‘Jailbreak’ and bombing into ‘Waiting For an Alibi’ and ‘Cold Sweat before we have time to draw breath. My all time favourite ‘Don’t Believe A Word’ is already criminally short enough at about 2 minutes 20 but they find it necessary to speed it up several more notches, and it flies by in about 1:50 this evening. (You think you could have played it twice, to make up for that, lads).

Further anthems ‘Sarah’, ‘Emerald’, ‘Are You Ready’ and that immortal signature tune ‘Boys Are Back In Town’ (and I’ve just found out they are, in December.) follow and Scott Gorham takes undisputed advantage of having the best PA sound of the night to rake off those riveting lead lines. Unrecognisable now even from his pics on the 21 Guns sleeves, he looks more like Quo’s Rick Parfitt every year I see them but plays his proverbial ploppy-hole off as if he’s going to be around til about 90. Sadly it all comes to an end too soon, and without an encore they are gone, but with only seven months to wait before they return, it doesn’t seem all that disheartening.

Fellow seventies legends, Styx are probably the most anticipate act of the three today. Housing only guitarists/vocalists Jimmy Young and Tommy Shaw from the original line-up, the set seems to leave no concern for purists of who plays within the ranks at present. I’m quite new to their material myself although the songs all sounded familiar, the ones I could put a name to straight away were 'Too Much Time On My Hands'; 'Babe'; ‘Blue Collar Man and closer ‘Renegade’ – no offence intended to other fans by this, by the way.

If that keyboard player looks familiar to anyone that’ll be because it is Canadian AOR legend Lawrence Gowan who steals the show with his stage presence, taking over lead vocals at quite regular intervals and amusingly introducing a cover of Beatle’s ‘I am, The Walrus’ by saying ‘We’re gonna something we should never do right now, play a song by an English band’.

The Chicago fivesome become a six-some for the last third of the show with original bassist Chuck Panozzo arriving on stage, the current four-string swapping for a third guitar and the party really begins from there. Younger portions of the audience appear to enjoy too - there is lip synching visible all around so obviously congratulations are due to those who copy their dad’s taste in music. Leaving to an even noisier applause than the one that greeted them, I don’t think it will be the last we see of these lads just yet.

Consequently the noise doesn’t appear to get any louder than this for the Purple boys as they take to the stage, and this is more to do with Shaw and co’s set than the Londoners opening with a handful of songs from the new album ‘Rapture Of The Deep’ . Not to be translated as ‘the new songs are load of old ****’ however, there is a lot of retread into the classic Purple sound and it sounds good by the way, but it is still always an advisable more to begin the night with an established favourite.

Gradually sliding into the sing-along numbers, things to pick up as the pogoing begins down the front. ‘Fireball’ makes a very welcomed re-appearance on the set - they opened with this when I saw them, back in 96 – and is treated as integral a part of the set as are ‘Strange Kind Of Woman’, ’Lazy’, ‘Hush’, ‘Black Night and ‘Space Trucking’. One would be a fool to tease the newly shorn Ian Gillan about his age (61 by the way) as the looks every bit the proverbial brick s***house striding up and down the boards.

Steve Morse as ever continues to keep Blackmore’s timeless lines in check with his own pipe-solid performances and what seems like a shortened version of ‘Highway’ Star’ by the rate it roars by this time still allows for that final air-guitar-inducing solo break to take command of the crowd. ‘Smoke On The Water’ is as usual positioned exactly two thirds of the way through the set and you know what comes here don’t you. It may still be about the second most likely song to get you kicked out of a guitar shop for playing - after Zep’s ‘Stairway To Heaven’ – but you’d probably be kicked out of the Arena for NOT singing along, if Mr. Gillan caught you today.

Only time for about an hour and a half today, it still feels like the full two for those who love the Purple for what they are a band who have survived forty years and seemingly as many generations of music fans and trends and whose followers have grown up with them, still believing in what they’ve stayed around for. Their countless classic rock numbers will stay classics for years to come but it takes another classic performance from the Purps to make them that bit more special and I didn’t see tonight’s set having any reason not to count. Cheers for another great night, lads.

9.5/10

By Dave Attrill

AS I mentioned earlier, Thin Lizzy are playing the UK in December. We haven’t got the full listing on us at the time of writing but they do hit Sheffield City Hall on December 4th.

Main Set - Revolution Deathsquad; Fury Of The Storm; Operation Ground & Pound; Revelations; Trail Of Broken Hearts; Storming The Burning Fields; Soldiers of the Wasteland; Body Breakdown; My Spirit Will Go On

Encore - Through The Fire And Flames; Valley Of The Damned

If you are from Greece and your band name is Firewind, you better play Power Metal and you had better be good. Happily tonight's openers served a tasty 30 minute set that proved that Running Wild are still big in Athens.

Second up was New England Metalcore in the shape of All That Remains. Lead singer Phil Labonte wore a baseball cap. Do I need to go on? Quite the most appalling group I have had the bad luck to watch in many a long year.

America now seems completely bereft of even vaguely acceptable metal. And what luck, next week I will be seeing the horrid Trivium supporting the Maiden! I think it's time we stopped these second rate American acts from playing over here.

I last saw Dragonforce at the start of this tour, some thirteen months ago, and the relentless pace of gigging seems to have caught up with the band. Gone were the happy expressions sported last year by Sam Totman and Herman Li, to be replaced by what appeared to be a grim determination to get the show over with. All of the frantic soloing was still in place, but the passion I saw last year has turned into Joe Satriani-like muso-ness.

Naturally the sold out crowd loved every minute, but I think it is time for a rest and a rethink. It would also be nice if they dropped the Slayer opening music, and if singer Z P Theart stopped spitting water at the crowd. A poor performance that left me fearing that Dragonforce will become the Tottenham Hotspur of battle metal. Perhaps it really is best left to the Europeans. As in football, they are much better at it than we are.

By Roy Evans

Do you by any chance remember the last time Steel city's finest hit their home turf, just over three years before? They brought as a support, four sprightly lads from Lowestoft who were very noisy, had a singer called Justin, and played songs about believing in a thing called love and getting your hands off their women, and over the intervening period have visited this same venue albeit as headliners.

Enuff said, I think but that wouldn't be to say these lads haven't had their share of popularity over the last three y… well decades actually. Scots legends The Sensational Alex Harvey Band may well have been without the guy himself for that long itself, at time of writing, but the surviving members still go down a treat with most of the 10, 000 capacity. Unfortunately, yours truly walks in about halfway through the show but there's still one or two familiar numbers still to go in what remains.

Fellow veterans Cheap Trick have me hooked from the off, churning out a delightful 45 minute set of their infectious pop rock which has fans aged both 50 and 20 bopping along….. and laughing as Rick Neilsen emerges with guitar after guitar, playing about ten different ones. The main attraction is obviously the five-neck monstrosity he wields for 'I Want You To Want Me' (nutter) which I take it is a regular party-piece of his, as is walking upright under its weight probably. An entertaining evening so far, their first show over here in about fifteen years - if I heard Rick right - was earned through their tour with Leppard on the Trick's native US soil last year. I'd just better warn booking agencies across the UK, if you leave it that long before inviting them for their next visit, one or two of them might be proverbially brown bread.

And so after a predictable pairing of GNR's 'Coma' and Queen's 'We Will Rock You' over the PA, the light go down and the Lep lads go in. As you know they're currently promoting new covers album 'Yeah' and do we know it tonight, as they open with 'Hellraiser' one of about five they do tonight, sadly at the expense of sweet classic 'Action'. Don't worry, they still play 'Rock Rock, Till You Drop', still a timeless classic twenty three years on but their most anthemic ditty, 'Let's Get Rocked' is played unusually very early in the show tonight, followed in tandem by fellow 'Adrenalize' fave 'Make Love Like A Man'.

Going right down the history books, they're kind enough to keep 'Let It Go' in the set - the opening tune in '03 if you remember, but still nothing from 'On Through the Night' makes the set, and - much to relief of the crowds many purists - neither does anything from 'Slang' or 'X'. 'Promises', 'Animal', 'Love Bites', 'Hysteria', 'Animal', 'Rocket', 'Photograph' and 'Rock Of Ages' (a song with one of the cheesiest videos I've ever seen) are what a proper Def Leppard set is made of, but it's still nice to hear a cover of T-Rex's '20 Century boy' slung in there given that Joe Elliot has a more than suitable range for this particular chore.

Ending the evening with their other immortal anthem 'Pour Some Sugar On Me' this is probably the shortest set I've seen them play at about 95 minutes or so (reminding me of Iron Maiden's last show here actually) so playing that many covers might probably have gone down less than well with some and one or two of my friends also in attendance tonight were less than impressed. The arrangement of the set list did however keep me well on my feet and as I recognized most of these such numbers alongside the many Leps chestnuts', I had little reason to be too disappointed. When they come back next time, they will probably have another album of their own writing to pick from so those who complained about aforementioned issues tonight should be less than disappointed -well depending on the musical direction they take next time round anyway.

Not the single most Def-initive of sets but still worth another three years wait.

9/10

By Dave Attrill

Drive By Truckers - The Leadmill, Sheffield, Thursday 6th April 2006

Now here's a cracking band that i found out about by chance to be honest via the internet - I like the name and when i heard the music these guys and a girl were offering I was hooked. I thought they were one of those USA based bands that you'd have to book a plane ticket in order to see 'em in the flesh at some redneck bar in Alabama but much to my pleasure they play a string of dates in the UK - so I could check 'em out after a 25 minute drive in my automobile on stage in my own City of Sheffield - nice one. A little mate of mine called Steve who I often bump into at gigs informed me he once saw them at the Pheasant at Sheffield Lane Top - which amazed me completely.

Anyway, back to the plot. I am pleased to say that there were plenty of people in the Leadmill to see them - I estimate it must have been a good half to three-quarters full - which goes to show that some punters do have great taste in music. If you have never heard the DBT before then I must say that you are missing out big style - a healthy slap of country blues rock 'n' roll styled stuff in their own unique way with a deep south origin.

What's cool about DBT is that they have 3 vocalists as opposed to the one so I guess you can stand them in line with artists like The Band or Crosby, Stills and Nash in that respect with each member offering his own vibe and groove to the performance - be a sad, song, a humourous number or an autobiagraphical ditty - they got 'em all. Stand-outs of the gig included 'Carl Perkin's Cadillac'. They got plenty o' stories to tell in their lyrics, teching us all about life in their part of the south.

This was a classic 2 hour is show and was real pleased to have witnessed it indeed. Truck yourselves back over very soon.

9/10

By Glenn Milligan

During the show, the new bassist, Richie Edwards was formally introduced and then performed a 2 minute long bass solo to the crowd. Throughout the show, The Darkness delivered exceptional quality music, pure energy and an excellent crowd-winning show. This concert was one not to be missed!

BOB DYLAN -

NEC, Birmingham, Friday, 18th November, 2005

Set list – Maggie’s Farm; Tell Me That It Isn’t True; Watching The River Flow; Just Like Tom Thumb’s Blues; Ballad Of A Thin Man; Highway 61 Revisited; Mr Tambourine Man; Stuck Inside Of Mobile With The Memphis Blues Again; Chimes of Freedom; Til I Fell In Love With You; Visions Of Johanna; Honest With Me; The Lonesome Death Of Hattie Carroll; Summer Days; Like A Rolling Stone; All Along The Watchtower.

The NEC was bitterly cold tonight, and the elderly crowd were still shuffling to their seats with the inevitable armfuls of warm bottled lager when the lights dimmed and the intro music (Copland's 'Hoedown') began.

Bob was dressed all in black in a Zorro-style ensemble complete with silly hat, and stood up to play keyboards throughout.One verse into 'Maggie's Farm' it was clear that Dylan's latest band were superb - apart from the Mick Taylor/Ian McLagen combo in '84, this was the best group I have seen him play with.

The much feared Dylan vocal, err, 'rephrasing' was prominent on some of the first few songs, but by 'Ballad Of A Thin Man' it all made sense. I particularly enjoyed how he made 'Rue Morgue Avenue' all one word on 'Just Like Tom Thumb's Blues'. I need to get more bootlegs, because these versions edged out the originals!

As the setlist shows, tonight's songs were drawn heavily from the 'big three' albums, and I was not complaining about finally hearing 'Visions Of Johanna' live! - it was magnificent.

In terms of songs played, this show was probably the best I have ever seen him.
The old folks in the crowd were squirming in their seats through most of the set, this was a show for the more committed Dylan fan, and it was all the better for it. Spot the song from 'Nashville Skyline' - I confess that I had to look it up, I haven't heard it in a while.

The audience was a bunch of stiffsthough ! It's the price you pay for going to a megadrome venue - I heard that a lot of folks walked out, probably cos not every song was from 'The Essential Bob Dylan'!! That’s people for ya !!

9/10

By Roy Evans

Incidentally the band line-up was Bob Dylan - keyboard, harmonica; Stu Kimball - lead guitar; Denny Freeman – guitar; Donnie Herron - violin, banjo, electric mandolin, pedal steel, lap steel; Tony Garnier – bass; George Recile - drums

So, it’s been a long time coming, The Diamond Dogs back in the UK. Tonight would kick off the second wave of birthday celebrations for my good self. Don’t get me wrong, last weekend was great, but this one promised to be the weekend of weekends. Knowing for months that the Diamond Dogs were coming to my hometown, I’d obviously told everybody I knew. Friends being friends, I set off on my lonesome (don’t worry, I’m big enough and old enough for that matter to look after myself).

Before I get the chance to see Swedens finest rock ‘n’ roll reprobates, Canadian punk ‘n’ rollers The Pariahs hit the stage to a slender and seemingly uninterested crowd. But I needn’t have shown my concern, The Pariahs walk nonchalantly onto the stage one by one and kick into their opener in fine style. They effortlessly sway from ballsy rock ‘n’ roll to punktastic riffs and angsty vocal’s - but you know what - it works so well. It’s not long before every foot is tapping and the guys get the appreciation they deserve from all present. It’s a blinding and supercharged 40 minute set, well done guys, I wanted more!

A quick stage change while the crowd mingle at the bar and its time for the ‘ Dog’s. The stage is empty except for the Duke of Honk (Henrik on keys), looking cool as I don’t know what, sat in a dining chair, one foot in a beer crate and his trusty keyboard on his lap. A short verbal introduction and he’s straight into the honky tonk we’ve all been waiting for. In a similar style to their predecessors, on come the rest of the band one by one, each picking up their weapons of choice – and we’re off. The line up has changed considerably since I last saw them with new guys on guitar (only one guitarist now) and bass plus the introduction of a sax player. ‘Does it detract from the Diamond Dogs sound’ I hear the purists cry, well surprisingly no! If anything it feels a little more soulful and the guitarist style seems very bluesy in parts but the unmistakeable swagger and raw edge is all there – trust me.

Sulo’s presence and vocal performance tonight is infallible. The small crowd whimper on his every word – when asked to clap – they clap, when asked to sing – they sing, when asked to dance – they dance. The man is in complete control. He and his new guitarist venture into the ‘masses’ and invite them to singalong to 'Somebody Elses Lord'– and they all gladly oblige. Were treated to songs old and new, borrowed and blue, honest and true – it’s a match made in heaven. Tonight’s 60 minute blinder of a set includes 'Bound to Ravage', 'Goodbye Miss Jil'l, 'Sad to Say I’m Sorry', 'Bite Off' and 'Hardhitter' to name a few. But, it’s all over in a flash, encore complete and band leave in reverse order – one by one – leaving just the Duke and Jesper on drums to bow out on 'Bloodshot'.

Comparisons and influences would be all too easy to mention, but that’s not what matters. What does matter is that a band can bring together a small crowd of strangers and give them the party they’ll never forget – and does it matter that all ya mates didn’t show? – Hell no, tonight we all came together as one to support and truly enjoy rock ‘n’ roll played with pure passion. Surely that’s what it’s all about – I think so!

8/10

By Jon Hardcastle (Drummer of Silverjet)

7.5/10

By Glenn Milligan

When Ronnie James Dio announced in January of this latest visit to blighty, it spelt the end of what seemed an eternal wait, for those in Sheffield, in particular. Most of his loyal and long-time fans today were probably still sitting their GSCEs when the former Rainbow/Sabbath frontman had last managed to set foot in Steel city. It is probably more than due compensation then that Ronnie’s legendary ‘Holy Diver’ album be subjected to an entire-length airing.

Kicking on with a couple or so from the rest of his vast CV, the legend tears into that blinding ’83 solo disc and the five-hundred –odd punters tear into it full stop - cue a considerable sea of devil signs forming above the countless heads, mouths loudly following or at very least lip-synching every solitary syllable. Qintessential Dio nuggets ‘Stand Up And Shout’ and ‘…Diver’ both have stood everything fashion has thrown at them over the last twenty two years and the line up including Tracy G on guitar plus legends Simon Wright (AC/DC, UFO) and Rudy Sarzo (Whitesnake, and God-knows-what-else) leave it as raw and classy as the versions you hear on disc.

Wright’s drum solo, placed recklessly a third of the way through the set is one of only too small things that spoils the hour-and-three quartet set - the unadventurous stint falling way short of his best - but as a considerable portion of the throng queue up for the bar, the guys all return and rock away once more, pulling the rest of the album off in style. Despite his ridicule welcoming name, Tracey G is a decent axeman who can pull off his now Def Leppard based predecessor Viv Campbell’s solos effortlessly, especially on ‘Don’t Talk To Strangers’, ‘Straight Through The Heart’ and ‘Rainbow In The Dark’ and his own solo bit later in the show underlines how underrated this fella really is. R.J.D himself rarely fails to disappoint and even if the PA had been barely a shadow of its working best, this man’s throat would have been as unstoppable as always.

Still with the energy after the ‘Diver’ set concludes with another snippet from that immortal title track, our Ron is of course up for more and finishes off the mixed bag he started earlier which includes ‘Heaven and Hell’, ‘Long Live Rock n’ Roll’ and ‘One Night In The City’ and one or two Rainbow classics I can’t quite remember the name of. What happened to ‘We Rock’ or ‘Last In Line’ tonight though serves as the set’s biggest mystery - those two numbers from his second album having normally been live staples since. Another half-point lost but Ronnie still proudly keeps the other nine for an otherwise unbelieveable evening from one of hard rock’s most formidable frontmen who in the ruthlessly style-sucking music scene we suffer at the hands of, today.

Whilst a certain other Ronnie, (our friend Mr. Barker) recently departed this earth, we will still keep hold of this one for a fair old time to come yet. And when Ronnie James Dio’s turn comes, he will have one hell of a struggle to take that voice with him.

9/10

By Dave Attrill

A mere ten days since I witnessed an equally astounding performance from one of metal's greatest institutions, fronted by their original and best loved vocalist, and now one of melodic hard rock's prime goliaths, Danger Danger, entertain by way of similar principle.

Thirteen years since Sheffield, or the UK for that matter saw the New York boys as fronted by the legendary Ted Poley, the ol' blonde chappie has been little short of busy whilst away with Bone Machine, Melodica and Poley/Pichler so it's little surprise to find his voice in such riveting form this evening.

Though the 'Screw It' intro has to be played a second time through in awaiting his arrival (come on mate, don't be shy), once our man appears, resplendent in his famous flowing waist-length mane and rip's into the opening chords of 'Crazy Nite', there's no looking back. Well, except to the days before a chap called Paul Laine appeared. 'Under The Gun' and 'Bang Bang' sound as superb today as they did on that first album sixteen years past as do subsequent airings of 'Rock America', 'Don't Walk Away' and 'Boys Will Be Boys' and an intermediate belt through 'Going Going Gone' one of only two Laine-era numbers tonight cuts in-between ruining nothing.

Poley and Bruno Ravel look more chuffed than a fly around a colostomy bag as they alternate their inter-song chat with the small but heaving crowd. This could be amongst other things because they have found a sterling occupant for Andy Timmons' old post in Mr Rob Marcello esquire who though having only been in the band a couple of years or so at this stage, knows the notes to classics like 'Still Think About You' and 'Beat The Bullet' upside down. To the immense rapture of the punters a relatively unexpected rendition of 'Don't Blame It On Love' back to back with dancefloor anthems 'Monkey Business' and encore 'Naughty, Naughty' are the three tunes used to wind up a solid hour-and-half of party rock utopia, rendered only possible by Ted Poley's return to the band that first made his name.

Whether this is a full blown reunion with the band or a crafty way to a few quid in his pocket on Ted's account remains to be seen but either way, zero percent of tonight's gig would be ruined by anything…. well apart from the non-inclusion of 'Horny SOB perhaps'.

A classic evening, made all the more so by Deadline, notching up their first slot since Statetrooper in January and with the absence of the other support band Double Cross, they have the luxury of their slot extended to 45 minutes. All the favourites are there including corking newie 'Everything' and the first time I've heard them play their finest tune 'Just One Night' on a support gig for a long time, and as a bonus tonight, it even replaces 'Losing Myself' as set closer.

With their first single imminent this summer, these lads look set to dominate the scene even further in '05. (By the way, nice guitar, Steve.)

10/10

By Dave Attrill

With Chrimbo only a week away, a visit from yet another of these reformed 'party' rock acts of yesteryear could be hardly more appropriate. The turn of the British this time, Birmingham's Dogs D'amour have brought back quite a star-studded line-up with them this time, with ex Wildhearts man Danny McCormack and Magnum's Mark Stanway on board the ship. Also joining to complete a now six-strong act is a mysterious purple-haired beauty on backing vox who also entertains with her fire eating and bizarre sexual act on herself involving a metal codpiece and hand-held circular saw - which would make up for the less than entertaining behaviour from this band's frontman this evening.

A well-chosen support act, hyperactive Sheffield newcomers Silverjet play the Corp's big room for the first time tonight, their tight half-hour set of very well accepted by the 2-300 present by that time. Playing all three tunes off their EP again amongst other impressive Black Crowes/Stones/Quireboys influenced delights, they don't put a single foot wrong for a second. Unlike the headliners, and that's putting it mildly.

9/10

Tyla initially blames their apparent lack of sound quality on the people at the desk not pulling his weight and has a good rant across the room. Five songs into the set however the situation seems still un-remedied at which point the geezer loses his rag, storming across the room to give the blokes behind the board a piece of his mind. At this point I'm still laughing it off as he returns to the stage and apologises and the set goes on but some people's mouths are eventually turned down as word gets round that Tyla took the appalling liberty of missing the soundcheck for the sake of a visit to the tattoo parlour, thus in looking back, the tone of the entire night is lowered by most as if it wasn't enough by his behaviour throughout the eighty minute set.

Musically, there's little to complain about in performance or selection, all their hits such 'Satellite Kid' and 'I Don't Want You To Go' filling the lion's share of the list. Danny looks to be still enjoying it but I can't help but feel the embarrassment he is faced with here as is Mr Stanway. We are not unused to technical f***-ups taking place on the spot during sets, avoidable or not but when this band's usually popular charismatic frontman behaves like this, it mars just about everything pleasant about this sort of music.

I must finally apologise to those who picked up one of our Metalliville flyers on the night - which advertised this review on the back - for the content of my write-up here not being as quite expected, but for those who were there on the night, and like me, appalled by Tyla's attitude, most should understand.

5/10

By Dave Attrill

We'd be lying to assume that the current closure of the City Hall hasn't played into the hands of all bands headed towards Sheffield turf lately. In the case of Deep Purple, putting them in a five times bigger venue just up the road is pretty much a boost to the legendary British act's career as it is to the other acts joining them at Broughton Lane this evening. Despite what I've just said about the Arena's relative capacity, we're only given half the room tonight but 5-6000 is still the best night these bands could wish for in Steel City today.

Dean Howard (whoever he is), opens the bill with a brief five-tune set dominated by his brand of freestyle melodic rock though peppered with totally Purple-esque keyboard harmonics, and a cover of an Ian Gillan solo number finds itself well settled in the pack as well, making a sizeable impression on the so-far rather skeletal gathering.

Quite frankly even more than the overall one that Thunder make on their sixth show in this town in nearly a decade. The Londoners six-song slot mainly disappoints, especially those who had shelled out the thirty quid to come and see them in particular, as apart from 'Love Walked In', 'Low Life In High Places' and 'River Of Pain' - some class that as a hit too - the other half of the set is less familiar material though plenty seem to enjoy forthcoming single 'I Love You But I Love My Rock n' Roll'. However failing to include 'Dirty Love', 'Backstreet Symphony' and 'Everybody Wants Her' is simply suicidal and as Danny and the lads say their goodbyes and disappear behind the curtain, most don't know whether to cheer or boo.

A chap who has been on the scene for about as long as the headliners, Peter Frampton has also accounted for a considerable fraction of this tour's ticket sales and is welcomed like the hero straight away, even by quite a few younger audience members (then probably only because their dads told them to). Grooving through an hour of faves, most of which are drawn from his Solo and Humble Pie Days, Peter even includes one that he had just composed in the tour bus overnight which is also pretty well received. The one thing which ruins the set for me is his long drawn use of the voice box - apparently his trademark for decades - towards the end of 'Show me the way', which does my head in after about four minutes but weighed against his talent, I can't knock too many points off this chap.

Enter the Purple men again and the last two-and-a half years since they were last here seem to have been kind to them, except to Ian Gillan's hair. A new album, the bizarrely titled 'Bananas' on shop shelves and a new man in the ranks, this is not a case of picking up where they left off for D.P. this time round. The change of personnel for the uneducated is the retirement of Jon Lord who at 61 decided he had other things on his mind, perhaps musically - he recently featured on TV's 'South Bank Show' where he was discussing his current pastures - but they certainly found royalty replaced him, alright. Enter erstwhile Rainbow/Whitesnake/Ozzy/Ten ivory-whacker Don Airey into the fold and boy washis presence felt tonight or what, as they romp through timeless classics like 'Woman From Tokyo', 'Fools', 'Strange Kind Of Woman' and 'Highway Star', once more but the unusually short 1hr 35 set is unfortunately hogged by a little too much in the way of new/less familiar fodder. Hence again there is no time - again - for 'Black Night' and neither 'Child In Time or Hush' - cue muffled moanings by people standing around me on the tram journey home later. 'Imagine if 'S***e On T*e W***r' had also been excluded (oh, don't.).

Encore consists of a stretched out version of 'Speed King' allowing for seven minutes of fun between band and audience, and of course, the obligatory introduction of band members to those my side of the railings, Steve Morse, who recently cleared the big Five-O - on particularly riveting form tonight. Gillan still delights in telling the story beyond each and every song they play before they start - one new number dedicated to the victims of last year's US space shuttle tragedy as well as a mention for soccer legend Emlyn Hughes who parted this life today, which goes to distance Ian from the many couldn't care less types who front hard rock bands today. Unfortunately, they ruined things tonight by not exactly caring the greatest of deals about what their gathered worshippers wished to hear and three tunes considered staples by many throughout their 37-year regime, were left at home.

An enjoyable evening to the most but with a few holes too, I'm afraid.

8/10

By Dave Attrill

DEAD LIKE HARRY + SILVERJET + THE CRACKPOT INVENTORS

+ THE INSIDE -

The Boardwalk, Sheffield Thursday, 30th September, 2004

Though only down here to see one band in particular, having paid only 3.50 made it worth not worrying about the quality of the remaining three on this evening's little bill. Worries wash straight away when The Inside appear and their brand of Oasis-meets-The Clash rooted rock n' roll has the punters up for it from the start. 'You Can Laugh at My Overdraft' has a hook that deserves a record deal by itself- a hot nominee fro Chorus Of The Year by all accounts.

The Crackpot Inventors are introduced to us by what their name states, their guitar-based boogie pop like little I can land a tag on and as I'm beginning to really take in what they are doing, their set ends abruptly after only 20 minutes or so, apparently cut due to delays to the previous band's stage time.

Silverjet face their moment of truth now and their live debut tells no lies as the four-piece entertain solidly for half an hour with everything that was great about the sixties and seventies summarised into seven sweet little tunes, a few of which are to be heard on their new 3-track CD 'The Amalgam Sessions' (see review already on site) Guitarist/singer Dave, originally reluctant about taking up vocal duties doesn't seem too unhappy once on stage and is just grinning at the though of his band having finally made this first important milestone in his musical career, especially considering the tough-ish times they have had of late. A great start to things for a great sounding band.

Another great, and utterly unheard-of-before-sounding band, 4 parts male, 2 female, Dead Like Harry wrap the night up, delivering an enticing mix of folk, rock, indie and straight ahead pop that has earned them a considerable repute on the city's live circuit. Their bass player does especially well to get through tonight, seated through the set with his arm in a sling. Four more loud n' lively sounding outfits, not one bad tune is heard tonight and it is hoped all four are headed for higher ground in the near future. Yorkshire is definitely a place to be in, in a new and potentially successful band, today.

8/10

By Dave Attrill

The last time I came into this room it was virtually empty - but it wasn't a band who had just had a number 1 single. Completely crammed with teenagers and students galore and the odd older rocker, who was there to see what the fuss was all about, it seems pretty safe to say that The Darkness are obviously a big noise in Sheffield as only the bar area had something like a breathable area - well you can't spill beer can ya?

Even before that wavey blonde-haired frontman going by the name of Justin hit the stage the kids were up for it big style - who were screaming, dancing, signalling the devil signs and waving without a moment of stillness.The Darkness performed their entire 'Permission to Land' album plus a cover of a Radiohead song - albeit a weird choice of tune if I may say so.

It was as though rest of The Darkness were more like Justin's backing band (a bit like what Skid Row were to Sebastian Bach - but that's simply the mark of a good showman). Those wailing falsetto lead vocals were lapped up with the best songs being that opener 'Black Shirk' (or whatever the hell it's called - what the f*ck's a shirk anyway), 'Get your hands off (my woman, motherf*cker) and of course that number 1 single 'I believe in a thing called love'.

The down-points of the gig was that a lot of the material was very much 3rd rate AC/DC rip-off without the flare (it was a guessing game of 'where have they nicked each riff from'), not to mention Justin's girlie vocals gettin' on your t*ts after about ten minutes. I really wish he'd quit the constant falsetto as his straight singing voice is excellent. The duration was a con as well - 50 minutes !!! Talk about a dash for the cash. So who bought a Darkness buckle for £30?

7/10

By Glenn Milligan, BA Hons CS

Def Leppard - Doncaster Dome, Monday 27th October, 2003

Set List:

Action/Rock Rock/Make Love like A Man/Foolin/Women/Hysteria/When Love And Hate Collide/Slang/4 Letter Word/Promises/Two Steps Behind/Now/ Rocket/Armageddon It/Photograph/Animal/Pour some sugar on me/Rock Of Ages/Love Bites/Lets Get Rocked.

Starting with 'Action' was a great idea - it was hit em hard and keep hitting em, hit after hit. Leppard were on classic form tonight, but I'm still not convinced by the Dome as a venue, we stood it what seemed to be a Gymnasium, I mean without sounding nasty Def Leppard's first gig was in a Gymnasium!!!!

The banter between Joe and the audience was on a high all night, Joe kept yelling out things such as "Let me hear ya" to which every lung in the place screamed back at him.

Show highs for me personally were 'Hysteria' and 'Promises' and my usual fave live track 'When Love and hate collide' which I missed due to a lady fainted behind me during the song it!! Hope she's ok though.

The usual sing alongs being 'Pour Some sugar on me', 'Animal', ,Rocket' and 'Two steps behind' were sung with as much heart as any venue I've seen Leppard play at, It was a great atmosphere and a great performance.

All I can say is ...... Do you wanna get Rocked

8/10

By Steve Baronovich (of Sheffield based Rock band - Wicked Ways)

Danger Danger/Robin Black/China Doll -

Sheffield NMB, Tuesday June 24th 2002

With Sheffield lately becoming a new British haven for all bands big-haired, tonight's line-up keeps up the good work, unlike the crowd. Surely, we could have done better than the 120-odd who had any decency to turn up and witness the first Sheffield gig by these American melodic rock institutions in over 11 years. It's either the 14-quid entrance fee they would have had to cough up for the privilege, or the continued absence of Ted Poley - despite rumours of him rejoining to blame or probably both.

Those of the more cynical of you who missed it missed out big time as the New York outfit's 75 minute was nearly three-quarters dominated by material from the first two classic albums, and classics is what we got all night long. Canadian current frontman Paul Laine doesn't appear to have made too many enemies with the fans through the decade he's now fronted the double-D boys, and offering a few of my mates down by the front a splash of whiskey in their beer glasses ("Don't say I never share anything") shows what a popular and pleasant chap he actually is, as is Bassist, Bruno Ravel who finds time for between-tune banter.

Laine's voice is contrastable to Poley's but does not a dent to the bonnets of 'Beat The Bullet', 'Bang Bang', 'Rock America', 'Naughty Naughty', 'I Still Think About You' and of course sing-a-long standard 'Monkey Business', as ever one of hard rock's greatest dancefloor ditties, and still the ultimate show-closer for this band today. Only about three songs are played from Laine's period, sadly not including 'Grind' or 'I Do' but 'Dead Drunk & Wasted' and 'Going Going Gone' are great numbers in their own rights.

New guitarist, Rob Marcello visibly knows what he is doing and what filling the boots of one long departed MR Timmons requires of him but is made to feel welcome by his precise performance. Danger Danger have survived thick and thin and although a shadow of the line-up whom I saw as a 14-year old school kid, supporting Kiss at Sheffield Arena, in 1992, delivered a spot on performance tonight and the words 'Ted who?' might have just been trying to squeeze out between a few pairs of lips at the end of the evening. I just can't understand what Powerplay's Matt Stevenson found so bad about this gig for the reasons he gave. Superb.

Let's not forget the evening's two openers. Brit newies China Doll have a sound moulded round early D.D. but sometimes with a more nu-breed approach a la Raine. Robin Black & The Intergalactic Rock Stars, the Canadian glam metal hotshots who opened for - and almost blew Pretty Boy Floyd off the boards four months earlier were back for another bite of the British cherry and once again, the soldiers present took to them on the spot. Tearing through thirteen songs in 40 minutes, they made themselves a good houseful of new fans for their collection.

A great night for Glammies - well those who showed up, anyway.

9/10

By Dave Attrill

Saturday May 31st

Murderdolls
Due to good old timing constraints the 1st band I caught at the festival was 'The Murderdolls' who looked brilliant in their creepy sleazy vampire image but vocally and musically left a lot to be desired. They played a song called something like 'My Girlfriends a teenage vampire' - yeah, whatever - every song sounded virtually identically to the next - kinda nu metal blasting stuff with 3rd rate Alice Cooper bawling vocals. Very much of a let down to say the least - I can't see what all the fuss is about - who cares if there's a member of Slipknot in the band - I certainly don't.

5/10

Ministry
Now this was the first band the old school metal fans had come to see and they didn't let down either - although the sound was a bit cack due. Anyway, Ministry belted out an hour of Industrial Metal that only frontman 'Al Jourgensen' (correct me if I spelt that wrong!!) and his guys can. Equipped with a oddly shaped silver coated mike stand we were rewarded with a blisterer of a set that of course included the classics 'New World Order' and 'Just One Fix' but no 'Jesus built my hotrod' - now that's criminal !!!

7.5/10

Marilyn Manson
With his backing band of freaks, the double M had a better sound but again the vocals could have been louder. Dressed in black stockings and looking like Frankfurter from 'The Rocky Horror Picture' crossed with a member of Hitler's War Party. He's a nutter even in the light and gets the Nazi styled red knicker wearing sluts to dance on-stage with him in 'mOBSCENE'. The funky popped up 'Dope Show' from the 'Mechanical Animals' album was an instant crowd pleaser as was his recent cover of Soft Cell's 'Tainted Love' and the firm Rock Club staple number 'The Beautiful People'. Good set and highly enjoyable, especially when the girls were on the stage as well - or is that just a male thing?

8/10

Iron Maiden
Not many would like to follow Manson but then again, this is Iron Maiden we are talking about who simply couldn't give a f*ck who's on the bill because they are likely to upstage them anyway - now anyone who says the double M was better is completely talking out of their arsehole. Like Beef, the Irons are British at its best who slam out a classic greatest hits set that started with 'The Number of the Beast' and closely followed by many other likewise earthstoppers such as 'The Trooper' and 'Die with your boots on' alongside a stack of album backdrops where the songs come from.

'Scream for me Donnington' was heard from Bruce a number of times which came with a roaring response from the fans, needless to mention the crowd singalongs that Iron Maiden concerts have become legendary for in songs that tonight included 'The Clairvoyant'; 'Fear of the Dark' and the closer 'Run to the Hills'. The three axe attack of Janick Gers, Adrian Smith and Dave Murray was quite simply a full-on Scream-dream of 6-string (or should I say 18-string) beauty which was complimented by the bombastic bass rumblings of Steve Harris, the brutal drum bashings of Nicko Mcbrain and the Air Raid Siren himself who needs no introduction - Bruce Dickinson.

'Maiden even debuted a new song entitled 'Wildest Dreams' that Brucey Babes stated would be on their forthcoming album 'Dance of Death' (much to the humourous guffaw of the crowd and actually 'Dicky-bow' himself, I mean, surely this must be the worst album title the band have ever come up with - complete Spinal Tap or what?). It was just like classic old Iron Maiden and could have been released 20 years ago - but that's the way we like 'em so why should they change the habit of a lifetime - they let the songs do the talking, not the album titles when all is said and done.

They played after the curfew as well - 'F*ck the curfew', says Bruce - I mean who are the band gonna upset the planes - 'nuff said. A Great set from Metals elder statesmen proving that they still rule the stage and can blow off any band !!! So that's the Irons - the band whose frontman can entertain you one week and take you on holiday the next.

9/10

Sunday June 1st

Metallica

Unfortunately I missed 'Shadows Fall' and 'The Darkness' but was please to say that I was one of the fortunates to witness the surprise set of Metallica - that James Hetfield claimed was the worst kept secret of the year so far!!! Many unsuspecting fans walked in thought with a face of complete surprise and shock and you could read their lips instantly 'F*ckin' Hell it's Metallica' they were screaming.

With new bassist to the fold 'Robert Trujillo' who perfectly fitted the gaping hole left by Jason Newstead (now in Voivod and bassist for Ozzy Osbourne - ironically taking the place of Robert Trujillo).

'Blackened'opens the set that sees a paint by thrash numbers hour come immediately to life before our unbelievable eyes and ears - but this is Metallica, so to expect the unexpected is always a good way to go. Other numbers included 'Sad but true'; the epic 'Master of Puppets'; the surprising 'No remorse' and even a couple of new songs from the St. Anger album like 'Frantic'. You just don't get any more powerful and tighter than Metallica and let's just say that any punter who witnessed this set well and truly got their day or weekends moneys worth. The energy on the stage was limitless and it's just a pity that they didn't have time to play 'One' or 'Seek and Destroy' but give 'em some credit - they've got such a large repitoire and hardly enough time to play it in.

Finishing off though with the old-schooler 'Damage Inc.' Metallica proved that they were back and ready for business - now this band cannot be followed and should have headlined Sunday night - but there is Leeds and Reading to think about in August, 2003 and no doubt further dates to follow.

10/10

Stone Sour

I caught the last 10 minutes of 'Stone Sour' who came across kinda grungey but I was impressed especially as they had there own style unlike a lot of the other nu-metal din that played which became a god-damn blur as a result.

7/10

Flint

Flint (an outfit fronted by Keith Flint of 'The Prodigy') well, well averagely OK punk rock but nothing much to brag about - he can't sing not that that's ever got in the way of his career.

5/10

Zwan were forgettable and feature ex-members of The Smashing Pumpkins. Billy Corgan is about as tuneful as a faulty generator and the only highlight was when it p*ssed it down and the crowd lifted up the rubber paths that lead towards the stage to get a bit of dryness - some pillocks even decided to surf them, causing them to fall off and crumple those underneath - it was hilarious and each and everbody was soaked through.

4/10

Audioslave

Known mainly as the band that used to be Rage Against the Machine, turned their name to Rage, then were joined by Chris Cornell (ex-Soundgarden), then to be known as Audioslave.

A good band, but that vocal mix was crap - way too low most of the time - which was a fault of most of the festival which lost a lot of the sets atmosphere. I am new man to Audioslave but to me it sounded like a cross between Soundgarden and Black Sabbath in a mellow mode.

Cornell recorded the crowd on one of the numbers but by all account he's been doing this at many of the gigs on the their tour. Audioslave were OK but hardly Festival headliner material - they haven't been out 5 mins - but then again they took the spot of Limp Bizkit and I can't be doing with Fred Durst and his backward cap rap crap anyway.

Overall, the 4 M's made the Weekend - Ministry, Manson, Maiden and Metallica - in that order.

7/10

By Glenn Milligan, BA Hons CS

The third time I've seen this lot live is the first since the birth of Metalliville and so it gives me great pleasure to finally review a performance of this city's greatest export at work, and I mean greater than steel, even.

Of the two opening acts, the first is a very welcome surprise. Ricky Warwick was seen here a decade back fronting Brit rock faves, The Almighty when they were on tour with Iron Maiden. Tonight, the man goes it alone, walking in and strapping on his acoustic for what fellow Ulsterman, Leppard's Vivian Campbell introduces as 'totally different' material. Is it, my trousers! This stuff could have as easily been written for 'Soul Destruction' twelve years back but sounds bloody good though and that's what counts.

UK newcomers The Darkness bring with them a brave attempt to topple the headliners, belting out a lethal brand of retro saturated hard rock with front-man Justin committing that said to be most heinous of crimes in this day and age, of wearing a stripy open-chested catsuit on stage. They can get away comfortably with it with material of their quality, and 'Get Your Hands Off My Woman' looks set to thrive as their anthem.

Def Leppard usually save any pre-83 material for the end of their set but 'Let It Go', the sole Willis-era number opens tonight's performance. Following it up is the dual attack of 'Rock, Rock ('til you drop)' and 'Action' which had kicked off proceedings on the band's two previous tours of the isle. For the first hour of the show, 'Hysteria' is the only tune aired from album of said name, but 'Women', 'Pour Some Sugar On Me', 'Rocket', 'Armageddon It' and least we forget 'Animal' come in almost complete succession in the last forty minutes of the two-hour slot. 'Pyromania' classics 'Photograph', 'Rock Of Ages' and 'Foolin' can not and will never be omitted from any Def Leppard show nor will Make Love like A Man', 'Slang', and 'Promises' by the looks of things.

A nice little handful from the excellent new 'X' album finds its space with 'Now', 'New four Letter Word', 'Long Way To Go' and 'You're So Beautiful' making themselves feel a lot more welcome on stage than on disc. Tonight, we witness a band who after twenty-five years, play more than solidly enough to stick two fingers at the rules about age, in the rock n' roll industry. Just before the end of the set, a very special guest in the shape of original Leps sticksman Frank Noon borrows the place behind the kit, brandishing a camera as Joe Elliot acquaints us with their old friend's current career. then asks us 'one last question DO YOU WANNA GET ROCKED???!!!" Well, what do you think?

10/10

By Dave Attrill

When they approached the stage to warm up the crowd, prior to 'System of the Down'n live performance - we thought we were in for a good set - we were wrong.

Michael Windsor from Edinburgh said,

"They're the biigest pile of crap since Slipknot - at least we could make out what Slipknot were saying!"

That said it all really - nothing could be heard over the constant booing of the crowd.

Pathetic. Sorry boys - try to enunciate.

0/10

By Simon Moorhouse

People always think nothing good happens on a Tuesday night. What?!!! Deep Purple play in your town on a Tuesday night and you call it one of the most unexciting times of the week?!!!!. Makes you wonder doesn't it. Well, these 2000-odd punters couldn't have found something better to do on this particular Tuesday if they tried. Instead of sitting half asleep in front of the TV, they're all down here at our beloved City Hall to pay homage to a carved solid gold institution in the history of rock n' roll music. 35 years after they first set foot, Deep Purple are still enjoying every minute of it, and so are we of the two hours generously afforded us tonight.

WelI I did think 27 quid was a tad questionable but as it might be the last chance to catch these living legends onstage, I happily dug deep. I was honestly overwhelmed by the sell-out, as the absence of Ritchie Blackmore over the past eight years had often said to have reduced the band's appeal of late. However, his successor Steve Morse, the second US six-stringer in the Purple ranks - the other having been the late Tommy Bolin - has filled the gap securely and tightly and the applause that the former Kansas guitarist won the band this evening demonstrated that there was and is no sad desperate clinging to past glories for the five-piece.

Steve Morse and Ian Gillan

Ian Gillan screamed his way through the entire set, as youthfully sounding now as he did nearly four decades go on that 'Shades of Deep Purple' LP. Gillan's other original bandmates, the bandana clad rhythm section of Roger Glover and Ian Paice, and keyboard genius Jon Lord, are as talented and with it today as they were the day they met. Lord may be 60 now but his put all those cruel ageist cynics who walk the earth firmly back in their seats with his scorching solo spot.

Roger Glover and Ian Paice

Jon Lord

The set was a well chosen blend as usual - why would we expect any different? - and we got some material from their future album alongside such staples as 'Highway Star', 'Hush' and of course 'Smoke On The Water'. You should have heard the crowd when the band struck the first notes of that immortal anthem of theirs. One absolutely criminal omission however was 'Black Night'.

This criticism out of the way, we tonight saw Deep Purple achieving the feared impossible, after a generation's worth of years in the business and learning that they are still writing and recording more great music today, left everyone speechless with awe at this band's will and courage in the ever-changing music industry.

Special mention must also go to their support act, The Planets, who put on a superb display of orchestral/metal/Latino instrumental experimentations. The eight members who made up the group were all about my age (24) but had obviously begun to learn their respective instruments at an insurmountably young age, and their musical talent earned them some very well deserved claps from the City Hall circles (and the stalls). I've heard that they recently had a chart single, and their debut album is out now. Well done to you, good luck.

9/10

By Dave Attrill

The little man himself is back - yes, Ronnie James Dio returns for his first shows over here, outside London, for quite a stretch. His latest album 'Magica' has been gaining some respectable reception by press and fans alike. I like this guy right from the start. I may only have one Dio album - one album more than I have by the headliner - but being reasonably familiar with some of his other offerings, I feel quite comfortable in my full appreciation of the pint-sized US veteran's performance.

Having a drum solo after only two songs may be a crime in most people's books - especially for a support group but ex UFO 'n' AC/DC skinster Simon Wright's thunderous clatters are quite passable for the four minutes they last. Ron whizzes through the catalogue tonight making sure to include selections from his legendary 'Holy Diver' album - is it really 18 years ago since it was out. The end comes with the only song from the whole fifty-minute set that I have on LP, 'The Last in Line', essential eighties metal with an all time fave chorus. Pity that great little show flew by like that.

9/10

By Dave Attrill

WOW, is the word to sum up Dream Theater's performance at the Apollo. I was blown away when I first saw them in Sheffield back in 2000, and that night fell far short of how they performed at the Manchester Apollo on their latest tour. I was glad to see that they had pulled in a decent crowd, comprising of mainly middle aged people (so I guess the younger generation have either not heard of Dream Theater or have no taste).

James LaBrie captivated the audience with a fantastic performance and great presence on stage, with the rest of the Theater boys proving that they are beyond a doubt one of the world best bands. Put this together with a show bigger than what most of the more popular bands put on and it makes for one of the best two and a half hours I've ever seen and heard. 'The Great Debate' and 'Missunderstood' were the only two songs performed off the forthcoming new album 'Six Degrees of Inner Turbulence', and by the sounds of it, it's another masterpiece. Playing stuff from 'Images and Words' right through to 'Metropolis Pt 2:Scenes From a Memory,' they unfortunately missed out one or two of their best songs like 'Metropolis Pt 1:Miracle And The Sleeper' and 'Change Of Seasons', but they did play 'Pull Me Under' so I think I can forgive them on that note (ever so slightly).

Let's just say that when a band perform material of such complexity faultlessly for up to three hours in one night, odd inclusions or non-inclusions should I say, don't overshadow it enough to take so much as even half a point away from the score. In the space of one evening, this Theater makes many Dreams come true.

10/10

By Steve Windle