Def Leppard @ BEC

Def Leppard Photo Pass

Love is like a bomb, baby, c’mon get it on
Livin’ like a lover with a radar phone
Lookin’ like a tramp, like a video vamp
Demolition woman, can I be your man?
Razzle ‘n’ a dazzle ‘n’ a flash a little light
Television lover, baby, go all night
Sometime, anytime, sugar me sweet
Little miss ah innocent sugar me, yeah

I did think about leaving it there for my review of the night, it’s all you really need to know.  Sure it ain’t Dylan but then Dylan isn’t as much fun.  Although I have Pyromania and Hysteria I was never that big Def Leppard fan back in my obligatory teenage metal years, much preferring Iron Maiden and Van Halen.  I would say it’s safe to say that I haven’t listened to them since the 1980s.  But despite the 20 year gap between listens, it’s amazing how rock music so unashamedly stupid (all things considered) can suddenly unlock the door to long lost memories and provide flashbacks to the summer of 1987, memories of six weeks in France, drinking cider with school mates and when life was a lot simpler.  Memory recall is made somewhat easier by the fact that Def Leppard look pretty much the same as they did in the late 1980s, in scarily good looking shape for a bunch of guys in their late 40s – early 50s.  There is obviously some sort of Def Leppard intensive fitness regime going on…  

Contracts reared their ugly heads once again, with the Def Leppard contract restricting usage to the named publication (with some conflict between saying portfolio usage was allowed but specifying that the photos couldn’t be anywhere on the internet other than the named publication.  Don’t they know that portfolio books are so 20th century…).  But at least the Def Leppard contract didn’t plumb the depths of the Cheap Trick contract, which was so bad that it resulted in the promoter not allowing photographers to sign it.

Thanks to the photo contract restrictions, the photos are up on Rave’s website.

And thanks to Stephen for the spare ticket, which was greatly appreciated and meant that I got to see Cheap Trick (although they weren’t that good) and the whole Def Leppard set, instead of being kicked out of the venue after the two songs I was allowed to photograph for.

5 Responses to “Def Leppard @ BEC”

  1. Great pics mate. I heard that they wrote those deep lyrics referenced above with Mutt Lange in 5 minutes to add a ‘rockier’ song to Hysteria…Ended up being the song that got everyone in Australia’s attention (I was in grade 6 or 7- and loving it!)

    The desire to restrict photographers fascinates me…seriously, who is going to buy live pics of Cheap Trick? Do people think that music shooters in Australia are making massive amounts of cash that is rightfully theirs? Do we all have a list of buyers bidding for our pics of heritage acts? I recieved a good contract recently from Cog recently…will whinge about it one day…glad I got it in advance, saved me a drive to the venue.

  2. Justin says:

    Cheers Adam. The photos are so-so I think. Two songs just wasn’t long enough to be relaxed about it and there was so much going on on stage, especially with the long ramp out into the audience. I didn’t venture around to the other side of the stage as I worried about taking too long getting around but in retrospect probably should have.

    Was also the first time at the BEC in about 15 months (The Cure and Heaven & Hell being the last times that I was there in Aug/Sept 2007) and I think it helps to be at a venue that you’re familiar with and relaxed about being at, even more so when you’ve only got 2 songs.

    The thing about contracts is that it becomes a self-fulfilling industry standard; it starts at the top with the big major international bands but over the last few years has permeated down to much smaller bands, who are just following suite. Hence, why pretty insignificant bands like Cog and The Vines are doing it and why Birds Of Tokyo managed to get photography banned at The Zoo after something like 15 years of them not having any photo policy at their venue.

    Which all reminds me that I must get around to adding my 2c to that thread on FasterLouder…

  3. Stephen says:

    Photos do look excellent, Justin. I rather like #28 in particular. I still can’t quite decide – even after finally finishing my fucking review – whether I had a brilliant time, but I certainly know I had a good one.

  4. Just finished reading that thread on FL/Flickr etc. I like to come in on things 3 weeks late…which I guess is why I miss out on so many ‘big’ gigs (and some bands whole careers for that matter). Glad I left it for a Saturday morning…now I’m off to get the papers.

    Didn’t know you were at H&H…we hadn’t met. I loved that show.

  5. Justin says:

    Still not gotten around to adding to the FL thread. FL is blocked at work and haven’t got much internet access at the moment.

    H&H was cool, although I got booted after 3 songs, which was a bit disappointing. Was a bit dark and didn’t get what I wanted for an Iommi shot but got a couple of ok Dio ones. The blog is here if you haven’t already seen it. http://www.notaphoto.com/heaven-hell

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