They shared the stage with fellow rock groups Tesla and Styx.
Def Leppard began their set with the up-tempo and fun “Rock! Rock! (Till You Drop),” and they immediately broke into “Animal,” where the stage was graced in green and red lights.
“Thank you. Good evening, Jones Beach. It’s good to be back here. How you guys doing?” lead singer Joe Elliott asked, prior to introducing the fans to their lead guitarist, Phil Collen, who hails from London, England.
They took their fans on a trip down memory lane to 1983 with “Foolin'” from their Pyromania days, and they showed their audience their soft side on “Promises.”
After “Paper Sun,” they delivered a haunting rendition of the power-ballad and Billboard chart-topping single “Love Bites,” as a video of the song’s lyrics (in calligraphy) displayed on the background televised screen. They had fun with their audience with “Armageddon It” and after a killer bass solo by Rick Savage, they broke into “Rock On,” where they tipped their hats to the great David Essex.
“That’s the Jones Beach we know and love,” Elliott said, in his eloquent British accent, and brought out his acoustic guitar on stage, inviting all of the audience members to become a part of the band, as they sang along with him on “Two Steps Behind,” showcasing his rich and impressive voice. Following the warm reception of the tune, he raised his acoustic guitar high up in the air.
They continued with the upbeat “Rocket” and such tunes as “Bringin’ on the Heartbreak,” ” Switch 625″ and the crowd-favorite “Hysteria.”
They closed with “Let’s Get Rocked” and their gold-certified hit “Pour Some Sugar on Me.” Their two-song encore included “Rock of Ages” and “Photograph.”
The Verdict
Def Leppard was able to deliver at the Nikon at Jones Beach Theater last night as part of their tour with Tesla and Styx. One thing is for sure. It is not summer in New York unless Def Leppard stops by Jones Beach to perform their rock hits. Their concert garnered 4 out of 5 stars.
