On this day, 14 July 2008, English rock band Def Leppard played Cardiff’s International Arena on their Songs From The Sparkle Lounge. Support was provided by Whitesnake and Thunder.
The first show by the band in this city since October 1999 on the Euphoria tour.
The C'mon C'mon single was released in the UK on the same day as this show as a 12 inch picture disc.
The band had recently released their first album of new studio material in six years, Songs from the Sparkle Lounge.
Review
Def Leppard, Whitesnake and Thunder, CIA By David Barnes
David Coverdale rocked and rolled back the years as the 2008 incarnation of his 1978 band Whitesnake blew away an adoring capacity audience at Cardiff's CIA after the night had been opened by an impressive Thunder.
Prowling the stage like a caged tiger on heat, ex Deep Purple Coverdale and his stupendous five-piece band powered through number after majestic number.
This was no concert for the uninitiated. It was for the hard core fans, many of whom had been following the Snake for 30 years, and boy did they just love it.
In a set which included some 14 songs plus towering guitar solos, Whitesnake served up what the customer ordered, rising to a crescendo with Is This Love and the anthem Here I Go Again until climaxing with In The Still Of The Night. Awesome.
Headlining, Def Leppard took up the gauntlet and produced a performance of epic proportions which saw energetic frontman, Joe Elliott, don a Wales rugby shirt for the encore before plunging into the seminal Let's Get Rocked.
Leppard, on full power throughout, had the entire arena vibrating to its very foundations as they delivered a 15 number set which included Two Steps Behind, Hysteria, Photograph, Pour Some Sugar On Me and the stunning Rock Of Ages.
"Don't forget us and we won't forget you" yelled Elliott at the end of almost five hours of music.
Metal fatigue? No chance on this showing.
This was metal at its very best - untarnished after over thirty years. Brilliant.
By South Wales Argus 2008.
SHOW INTRO
00 - For The About To Rock (We Salute You) - (By AC/DC) - (PA)
00 - That Was Then This Is Now Video Intro
SETLIST
01 - Rocket (Single Version)
02 - C'mon C'mon
03 - Animal
04 - Nine Lives
05 - Make Love Like A Man
06 - When Love & Hate Collide
07 - Rick Savage Bass Solo/Rock On
08 - Two Steps Behind (acoustic)
09 - Bringin' On The Heartbreak
10 - Hysteria
11 - Armageddon It
12 - Photograph
13 - Pour Some Sugar On Me
14 - Rock Of Ages
15 - Bad Actress
16 - Let's Get Rocked
