ROCKERPARIS: hellfest 2013

Def Leppard @ Hellfest in Clisson, June 21 2013

Def Leppard @ Hellfest in Clisson, June 21 2013

The band has been rehearsing near Paris for the last two weeks, probably the same rehearsals space as The Rolling Stones in Bondy.
it's a Classic Rock day with Saxon, Twisted Sister, Europe & Whitesnake, all playing on the very same stage.
DEF LEPPARD is headlining the day. It's been 17 years since they've played in France. We saw them in London in 1999-2000.
Nice stage with a big screen in the back and stairways on both sides. As it's now dark the lightshow looks fantastic and also do have a great sound.
Weird choice for the first song: "Good morning freedom" luckily we have "Waysted" just next.
Vivian has shaved his head, he's been treated for his cancer, hope he's doing ok.

Joe Elliott put some scarves around his mike-stand like Steven Tyler and also has a fancy hat.
the playing is neat but I'm a bit suspicious about some of the Backing vocals and even on some parts of Joe's lead vocals.
Not the best setlist to start the show with (" Good Morning Freedom", "Let's get rocked", "Action") but we had a fantastic version of "Switch 625".
After this mini set the band is leaving the stage.
Why is the intro so long ? as we had to endure a more than 5 min long footage and interview on the video screen before they played the first song of the album.

"Hysteria "is not their heaviest album but the songs are fantastic so hearing the album from start to finish is a real treat, Can they do this with "High& Dry" ?

setlist:
Good Morning Freedom
Wasted
Let's Get Rocked
Foolin'
Action (Sweet )
Bringin' on the Heartbreak
Switch 625
----------Hysteria-----------------
Woman
Rocket
Animal
Love Bites
Pour Some Sugar on Me
Armageddon It
Gods of War
Don't Shoot Shotgun
Run Riot
Hysteria
Excitable
Love and Affection
---------------------------------------------
Encore:
Rock of Ages
Photograph

We really thought that the band had left the stage for good when they started playing a song through the PA after" Love & Affection" and people started leaving.
Fortunately there was an Encore with some great renditions of "Rock of ages" & "Photograph".

Great set

Whitesnake @ Hellfest in Clisson, June 21 2013

Whitesnake @ Hellfest in Clisson, June 21 2013

Jesus...WHITESNAKE, can't remember the last time we saw them on a stage.
They've played @ Casino de Paris on June 04 2009 but we didn't go as Neil Young was playing @ Zénith on the same night.

Last time we saw them was, in fact, with Denny Carmassi on drums , Warren Di Martini & Adrian Vandenberg on guitars, Rudy sarzo on bass @ Elysée Montmartre on July 05 1994 and @ Geraardsbergen Fest on July 16 1994. Almost 20 years.

Now the line-up is Reb Beach & Doug Aldrich on guitars, Michael Devin on bass AND Tommy Aldridge back on drums.

Hard to follow Twisted Sister who did a fantastic show once again.

The sun is shinning it's warm and the sound is great, songs are classics , we also have some new ones ( see setlist below for details).

What's the point of having useless guitar solos in the middle of the set when you're only playing for an hour ? I guess David Coverdale needs to rest his voice as it's far from being perfect specially when he's trying to push it.

Needless to tell you that Tommy Aldridge is fantastic on drums.
Towards the end of the set the sun is down so we can now appreciate a bit of light show but it is freezing cold for the last few songs.
Luckily we have some good rocking & Rolling on stage to keep us warm.

Very nice set.

SETLIST:

· Give Me All Your Love

· Ready an' Willing

· Can You Hear the Wind Blow

· Don't Break My Heart Again

· Is This Love

· Gambler

· Love Will Set You Free

· Pistols at Dawn (Guitar solos)

· Steal Your Heart Away (with Drum Solo)

· Forevermore

· Best Years / Bad Boys

· Fool for Your Loving

· Here I Go Again

· Encore:

· Still of the Night

TWISTED SISTER @ Hellfest in Clisson, June 21 2013

TWISTED SISTER @ Hellfest in Clisson, June 21 2013

Second time that TWISTED SISTER is playing the Hellfest, last time we were there, in 2010,(check our review) and they probably did the best show of the whole Festival.
Glad that they're back this year and, ain't it funny, KISS is also back this year 3years latter. Kiss is playing on saturday.

Great start with "You can't stop Rock'n Roll", the weather is sunny after we had a few showers, sound is awsome.
Good too hear some real Rock'n Roll after all these useless heavy Metal bands.
The audience is wild with some old geezers and some youngsters too , all singing the lyrics to everysong like one big family.
The band is kicking ass and Dee Snider, running like an animal, has a strong and clear voice.
With a great showmanship and a few jokes , TS wan the audience over with the best performance for the whole day.Dee even joked about it.
" We're not gonna take it" had the audience singing the chorus like one man, there's a link to a great video below so you can feel the atmosphere, too bad the video is cut before the reprise.
Can't go wrong with all those fantastic songs, maybe instead of doing a 10 min version of The Rolling Stones' "It's only Rock'n Roll" i would have preferred 2 TS songs instead.
Perfect show !