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Metal/Prog Metal DVD/Video Reviews

Def Leppard

Viva! Hysteria: Live At The Joint, Las Vegas BluRay

Review by Greg Olma

Def Leppard are the latest group to jump on the “let’s perform our most popular album from start to finish” bandwagon.  Hysteria was a huge record so it was no surprise that they would be performing this as opposed to one of their other releases.  I liked that album more when it was first released but I still do find myself occasionally going back to it and picking a song here and there for a spin.  That all being said, this DVD is well worth the purchase even if you are not a Hysteria devotee.  The performances on this disc are very good and they do a good job of recreating the sounds on the album.  The weak link in all of this is Joe Elliott.  His voice has not held up too well over the years, but then again, this is true for almost all singers.  As stated earlier, Hysteria was performed in its entirety with “Rock Of Ages” and “Photograph” thrown in for the encore.  Visually, the show is stunning.  They use a lot of great lighting effects and videos to make it all interesting without distracting from the music.  Many cameras and angles capture things perfectly so all-in-all, a worthwhile video.

The extras on this disc are what really make this a great package for me.  The guys in the band were their own opening act called “Ded Flatbird.”  During their opening slot, they performed a number of older Def Leppard songs.  Many of them have not been on the setlist for many, many years.  I really enjoyed watching them perform “Wasted” and “Rock Brigade” from their first album.  These two tracks were the reason I got into the band, so it was extra special for me to watch this DVD.  This release includes two nights of the Ded Flatbird’s support slots along with an acoustic set and a slideshow.  Although I enjoyed the main feature on Viva! Hysteria, the extras really made this package a must buy for me.

This review is available in book format (hardcover and paperback) in Music Street Journal: 2013  Volume 6 at lulu.com/strangesound.

 
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