So, tonight I got to see two legends of Rock, Mötley Crüe and Def Leppard at one of the holiest venues in Brisbane, Lang Park, otherwise known as Suncorp Stadium. It was a little odd donning makeup, boots, and concert finery on a Wednesday afternoon but life is a little weird sometimes. This was my first time in Lang Park and also my first time witnessing the rock gods of Def Leppard. I had previously seen the almighty Mötley Crüe with KISS years ago so I knew I was in for a wild ride. The only question I and everyone else had, was who would be first at a co-headlining concert?
As I approached the stadium I was welcomed by the familiar sea of black-clad metal and rock concert-goers. The crowd ranged from entire families, to old rockers, to the usual crowd of metalheads. Once I was settled in with a Bourbon and some fried chicken it was time for the show to start. First up was the video DJ Scotty, literally beaming in to spin party metal tunes from Metallica, Möterhead, and Scorpions. Once he signed off with “It’s About That Time” we had half an hour to settle in before the first co-headliner.
The sun had finally set, it ticked over to 7:00 PM and the lights dimmed across the stadium and the spiky futuristic stage set. A string overture with an intense choir began followed by a news broadcast on the giant video screens. It was a P.S.A. proclaiming that in these rough times Mötley Crüe were here to Rock. And rock they did, beginning with Wild Side then Shout at the Devil. Despite the families in attendance Mötley Crüe still brought that same old sex appeal we love them for in the form of two rather limber backup dancers. Never change Mötley Crüe. Next up was Too Fast for Love then Don’t Go Away Mad (Just Go Away), Live Wire, Looks That Kill (with the dancers steadily wearing less), and The Dirt. After Nikki Sixx got a selfie with some fans and ribbed us for sitting down it was back to business with a rocking guitar solo from John 5 (including a brief riff from Thunderstuck). This led to a medley version of Smokin’ in the Boys Room with Helter Skelter, Anarchy in the U.K., Blitzkrieg Bop, and Fight for Your Right.
The last part of Mötley Crüe’s 90 minute set began with Tommy Lee getting women in the crowd to flash for everyone. Like I said before, never change. He then played the piano intro to Home Sweet Home and the stadium lit up with the modern version of lighters (phone torches). After the ballad sing-a-long of course it was back to rocking out with Dr Feelgood and finally an introduction to the Dancers, Hannah and Ari. To finish were the hits Same Ol’ Situation, Girls, Girls, Girls, Primal Scream, and of course, Kickstart my Heart which ended with the obligatory rock finish punctuated with explosions. Mötley Crüe showed they can still rock out with elaborate sets, glam outfits, amazing visuals, and go-go dancers. It was all too easy to forget that there was still another concert to go.
After an intermission the Def Leppard show began. Compared to the Mötley Crüe stage, Def Leppard’s set-up was minimal but made up for it with more video screens. Their set was heralded by a countdown on the screens then they appeared and started with Take What You Want, Let’s Get Rocked, and Animal. Despite rocking for longer than I’ve been alive they showed that they had lost none of their passion. Their set spanned their 40+ year career with Foolin”, Armageddon It, Kick, Love Bites, Promises, then singer Joe Elliot picking up a guitar appropriately for the acoustic This Guitar.
Like Mötley Crüe before, Def Leppard also went for 90 minutes giving everyone their money’s worth. After When Love and Hate Collide they went into Rocket, Bringin’ On The Heartbreak, Switch 625, and Hysteria with an outro that led onto their big hit Pour Some Sugar On Me. They ended with Rock Of Ages and Photograph, playing so long that the stadium lights came on before they finished. Def Leppard were a class act, putting on a show that could only be achieved with a lifetime of rock.
And with that it was time to either wander up to Caxton Street to continue drinking with the sea of metalheads and rockers or somehow find my way home amidst the chaos of yet more rockers flooding Milton train station. It was an absolute blast finally being in Lang Park and perfection to do so seeing gods of metal, Def Leppard and Mötley Crüe. Both bands rocked out effortlessly blasting through their hits both new and old for a crowd both new and old. Like both Vince Neil and Joe Elliot kept saying, it has been too long between visits and we all hope to see you again soon.
Reviewed by William Ferguson
Photos by Just Ignore the Camera
Mötley Crüe photos:
Def Leppard photos;
