DEF LEPPARD / “Viva! Hysteria” (2013)

With 100 million records sold worldwide, Def Leppard continues to be one of the most potent forces in global rock and one of my all time favorite hard rock bands. “Viva! Hysteria”, is the band's brand new live cd/dvd. Over the course of their career, Def Leppard produced a series of classic groundbreaking albums and with the release of HYSTERIA the band set the sound for a generation of music fans and artists alike.


Released in August 1987, the album went on to sell over 20 million copies worldwide, spawning seven hit singles including “Pour Some Sugar On Me,” “Love Bites,” “Women,” “Rocket” and the album’s classic title track. HYSTERIA was produced by Robert John "Mutt" Lange and following its release the album reached No. 1 on Billboard’s Top 200 chart in the U.S. and also No. 1 on the U.K. Album chart. The album also included by the famous Rolling Stone Magazine as one of the 500 Greatest Albums of All Time.

For the first time ever, Def Leppard played HYSTERIA in its entirety during an eleven-show residency which started on March 22, 2013 at The Joint in the Hard Rock Hotel And Casino in Las Vegas. The band played also under the fictitious name of DED FLATBIRD (which came about after someone once mispronounced Def Leppard as "Dead Flat Bird"). Two different opening sets of 35 mins. on each of the nights. The band showcased some fan favourite and rare songs from the early years of the band besides playing  a selection of their greatest hits, highlighting classic material from throughout their career. The “Viva! HYSTERIA” show featured an elaborate set design created only for Def Leppard 's Las Vegas residency.

So, the first cd includes the full "Hysteria" album and that means the whole classic album is performed live in the same song sequence as the original. It's really a great pleasure to hear one of my all time favorite records live; all the classic Lep hits are here. From the heavy opening tune of "Women" to the the huge commercial "Animal", the amazing ballad "Love Bites" and to the one of my beloved tunes ever "Hysteria" every single track here wrote the name of Def Leppard in the rock history as one of the biggest hard rock bands ever. "Photograph" and "Rock Of Ages", from "Pyromania" are, also, included in this first cd. The second cd features a mix of the band's earlier but also later hits and some rare tunes such as "Slang", "Action", "Promises" and "Wasted" to name a few. The special deluxe edition also includes a bonus DVD which is a must have for each and every single fan of this great band. There's nothing more to add here except maybe that this is a huge live album all the way....get your copy NOW!!!!
Heavy Paradise's Rating : 10/10

Track List :
Cd1
Women; 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; Rock of Ages; Photograph.
 
Cd2
Ded Flatbird Set#1: Good Morning Freedom; Wasted; Stagefright; Mirror Mirror (Look Into My Eyes); Action; Rock Brigade; Undefeated; Promises - Ded Flatbird Set#2: On Through The Night; Slang; Let It Go; Another Hit And Run; High 'n' Dry (Saturday Night); Bringin' On The Heartbreak; Switch 625.

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DVD adds bonus content – Acoustic Set
When Love and Hate Collide
Have You Ever Needed Someone So Bad
Two Steps Behind You
 
DVD / Blu Ray menu includes:
- Viva Hysteria
- Ded Flatbird Night 1
- Ded Flatbird Night 2
- Acoustic Set- Photo Montage