Well I ain’t seen old Bob and his band since 1996 and was I in for a surprise or should I say shock. After the Columbia Records spoken pre-recorded intro, his band were there and then the man himself appeared – what the f*ck – he’s gone to a keyboard at the right hand side of the stage!! Most of us can only see his back and the side of his face that aint covered with his black cowboy hat (well we were on the right hand side) and those of on the left were like miles away from the stage to see his face proper– what’s all that about – surely he should be on guitar in the centre.

Anyway, ‘Cats In The Well’ opens up the show which is actually decent enough for Bob standards that’s followed up with ‘It’s All Over Now Baby Blue’ where he brings in his trademark harp late in the song. It’s onto a big old fat guitar centre stage on the next number – about time as well for the ballad 'Boots Of Spanish Leather' where about halfway in he forgets the words and picks them up after missing about 2 lines out. The backdrop was nice though – a lot of speckles – which I joked to Tony that he would have to wash off the walls when the song was done.

Oh god – back to the keyboard again for a 12-bar which I reckon was called ‘Keep On Ringin’ at the time. So are the audience that old and ugly he don’t wanna look at them any longer or what? It beats me anyway. It dragged on too long and became tedious and was more like a poor excuse for a jam session than a decent song. Just when you didn’t think it could get any worse, the next number sounds like a New Orleans Country Funeral Dirge. ‘Tweedle Dee and Tweedle Dum’, albeit as cheesey and old hat as it is was really great with Bob Dylan and a harmonica centre stage trading harp solos for guitar solos – brilliant – so why does he have to flatten the cracking atmosphere he has just built up in a matter of seconds by boring us with another tune back on that bl**dy keyboard.

‘Highway 61 Revisited’ is a one of his best tunes but again this is ruined when he is on the keyboard and makes it worse by seemingly going over and over again with the same 2 or 3 notes – dire is not the word! Tonight the killing needs to be done rather closer to home. On ‘Great White Wonder’ I think it was called (since he introduces absolutely nothing) you get the impression that his 2 guitarists or bassists have got any idea what he is gonna play next or in what key or tempo and do not appear at all relaxed to be there and are maybe putting on a brave smile. They watch him like hawks and it seems that only the drummer seems to know whats going on.

Oh no – double trouble again with another boring 12-bar number on the dreaded keyboard and he sounds like Klaus Wunderlich doing a bad impression of a slowed down Jerry Lee Lewis – for f*cks sake man. ‘Like A Rolling Stone’ on a keyboard kills any emotion and atmosphere that the song used to have – very sad indeed – Judas I hear you shout!!! In fact Tony didn’t even recognise the song until he heard Bob sing ‘Rolling Stone’, after which, Mr. Dylan & the band leave the stage. The crowd cheers and claps for more – after such a terrible set I am surprised.

Funnily enought they return and it’s back again to that grisly keyboard - again!!!!! For ‘All Along The Watchtower’ – no reason to get excited – you don’t say Bob – no truer words spoken there. It kinda sums up about ¾ of this entire gig. It’s a great band as well but they just stand there like card-board cut-outs welded to the stage floor making the spectacle utterly and completely a visually boring experience indeed. ‘Thank You Friends’ he says to us (the man speaks !!) and introduces all his band members.

Last number of the night is the classic ‘Blowin’ In The Wind’ but in this case it was anything but and was hardly recognisable apart from the lyrics themselves, a bit of its chorus and a slight offering of the original riff (but not much to talk about), where he come comes out for the whole of the song with his harp centre of the stage. After this number they all (with Bob in the middle came centre stage and bowed to the audience amid cheers, shouts and claps which I was mystifeid and personally didnt get up to clap or anything as this show certainly wasn’t worthy of one.

Probably the worst concert I have ever witnessed at Sheffield Arena which is sad to say as I am a big Bob Dylan fan and own the majority of his albums. He is completely passed it or he just simply can’t be bothered to put a good show on. I get the impression that his fans (who have paid good money for this travesty) show their OTT appreciation because of who he is and not because the gig was any good.

As Anne Robinson would say on her game show, “Bob, you are the weakest link – goodbye”. Get a decent frontman lads, you deserve far better – it must be worth the money he pays you for the tour, that’s all I can say. Bob Dylan - 'Bored Dullan' more like!

5/10

By Glenn Milligan (with input from Tony Watson)

Sheffield Arena, Monday 23rd June 2008

Normally it’s three - five years we wait for a visit to Sheffield by either of these two bands but this latest arrangement has craftily facilitated a return for both of Blighty’s top names in hard rock after only two and (just) even less than that in Coverdale and co’s case, I might add.

Unfortunately due to an untimely foul up with schedules - regarding both stage time and Stagecoach (supertram) - I miss a large part of Black Stone Cherry’s set but what I still catch pleases and the rising popularity of their 70’s-eighties balanced material shows - their cover of Hendrix’s ‘Voodoo Chile Slight Return’ seems ruined by the PA sound however.

Being reduced to only playing an eighty minute slot this time round -the one downer to a co-headlining tour - doesn’t rub off badly on David Coverdale at all. Celebrating 30 years in the business as are the Leps tonight, Whitesnake choose all the right candles for the cake with tonight’s list and a couple of new ones make appealing decoration too. Maintaining a large fraction of the incarnation that has been intact over the past half decade, Reb Beach, Doug Aldritch and ex-Eagles keyboardster Timothy Drury still remain.

What generates the greatest vibe about the Snakes nowadays is that DC seems no longer in the habit of parting company with the rest of his troupe after one tour with his current sidemen knowing ‘Fool For Your Loving’, ‘Is This Love’, ‘Give Me All Your Love’ ‘Here I Go Again’, ‘Ain't No Love In The Heart Of The City’ and ‘Still Of the Night’ off by heart by this stage . The big man’s pipes themselves seem to have been given a new lease of life- as long in fact as the previous one – but this comeback as the tunes from ‘G.T. B.B.’ accurately testify as he revisits his roots and we are talking right back to Deep Purple days here guys.

Our friends Reb and Doug are on typically fine form too as expected but when we come to a spectacular solo ‘duel’ between them, it's the ex-Winger/Dokken man marginally sporting the upper hand. One or two further classics follow and then after the shortest headlining show they have probably ever played in Blighty in 25 years, they disappear with their traditional bow down at the front end of the stage ramp (yes you read those last two words right) and a fair fraction of the 12000 in house disappear to the bar.

Sense does however prevail in the form of those on the floor opting to stay put in their place rather than lose it for the sake of a pint of marginally undrinkable beer, and welcome the hometown boys back once again to the stage they relish their cue to walk onto more than any other in the world.

The trimming of their set length this year may come at the expense of ‘Rock Rock’ and ‘Action’, live mainstays for fourteen years but even more surprsing is the decision taken to open the night with ‘Rocket’, not that there are any complaints obviously. New material from the ‘Sparkle Lounge’ disc is met with low amounts of resentment too - ‘C’mon, c’mon’ being played in superb synchrony with the single’s video projected on the screen which for the uninformed is the basis for the album’s front sleeve pic. Amp gremlins suddenly take hold and it takes until Joe begins singing to identify ‘Animal’ in its accidentally re-made drum/bass/vocal only form. Phil’s widdlnig can however just be deciphered halfway along.

My favourite newie ‘Nine Lives’ - and not just because of the pretty looking lady who features throughout the prom vid – is already a crowd-pleaser and pogoing appears in progress but then the golden oldies return. Not quite remembering in what order they came, does it really matter when ‘Hysteria’, ‘Rock Of Ages’, ‘Make Love Like A Man’, ‘When Love And Hate Collide’ and ‘Two Steps Behind’ remain such infallible Def Lep anthems all these years down the line. Pre-Pyromania years have to be remembered of course for those who have followed since 78 and a fantastic acoustic re-treat of ‘Bringing On The Heartbreak’ more than duly obliges while their version of ‘Sweet Home Alabama’ coupled on the back keeps up enough noise to warrant its potential as a live mainstay for the future.

Resuming electric services again, the classics come thick and fast in round tow as Joe Elliot makes god use of the ramp though the other guys also pay the crowd the occasional up close visit as well. ‘Photograph’ and ‘Pour Some Sugar’ are both present and correct as is required of two of the Leps best-etched cornerstones and already after 80 minutes the Sheffield public are shamefully kn*ck*r*d in their worship of the city’s national treasures.

‘Bad Actress’ anther popular ’08 pressed offering gets said offenders halfway back into form again and then they are faced with the question everyone at a Def Leppard show dreads ‘Do You Wanna Get Ro-o-o-o-CKED?!!!’ If you happen to be in search of the answer - just listen to them and you’ll get the picture. Joes’ routine utterance of ‘Til The next time .... and There will be a next Time’ followed by a band photo with the arena’s uncalm-able clientele as background sadly hints that they won’t be making any further returns to the boards tonight, but a well-engineered and pristinely executed set for the shorter time allocated to them this time allows them to get away with this in their native town.

They as always ask us never to forget them as of course they will never forget us. Like we would! Another unforgettable night with the Steel City lads- hope there’s still another in 30 years.

9.5/10

By Dave Attrill

Def Leppard/Whitesnake/Black Stone Cherry –

Sheffield Arena, Monday 23rd June, 2008

Now its not very often you get a concert of this high calibre every week is it, one that features 2 major headliners and a getting very well known newcomer – well that's exactly David & Joe came up with the idea of. Good on them too as tonights gig at the 2nd largest live venue in Sheffield is a complete sell-out.

The first up on stage newcomer if I can still call them that after all the publicty & press they have had over the last few months prove that they've got this city by the balls. I am of course about those fine USA boys, Black Stone Cherry, a quartet with plenty of hair and energy and the retro sounds of the well-missed Soundgarden, slight hints of Staind & Nickelback and fire of Zakk Wylde's 'Black Label Society'.

Good to see that these boys were provided with plenty of light and enough space to perform in (well obviously not to the extent of the headliners of course but more about them in a bit). There were a few problems with holding down bits of the drumkit and sound problems with one of the guitars but these gremlins were soon ironed out. “It's great to be back in Sheffield”, their frontman/guitarist told us, “It's our 2nd time here” and went on to introduce their latest single 'Lonely Train' that was very typically heavy of the USA retro-grunge sounds that are happening at the current moment.

It was brilliant to hear him thank our local Rock Club, Corporation (on Milton St. just off the bottom of The Moor) which was the 1st time they ever played Sheffield – no doubt a large handful of peeps who witnessed that gig were here tonight to show their love and dedication for the band.

Their last song “Maybe Some Day” was something of a highlight that sequed into Jimi Hendrix's 'Voodoo Chile (Slight Return) that saw the Bassist going up to the Drummer and having his thick strings bashed for a while by the sticks, while their lead vocalist/guitarist play his axe with his teeth and then on his back, which saw the other 6-stringer stick his instrument on his back too. Quite a cool thing to see these days.

A terrific short set was enjoyed by a few thousand and no doubt a few new fans were created as well – plenty of applause were guaranteed and a bow or two to all and sundry ensued as well sticks thrown to the crowd too. Looking forward to seeing them do a headlining set in future.

8/10

20 mins later and the 1st headliners of the night hit the stage – Whitesnake - Sir. David is back in the city and you can't escape his almighty big powerful voice. Opening up with one from the new album 'Good To Be Bad' we get the impressive pounding of rock 'Best Days Of My Life' followed by the classic 'Fool For Your Lovin' the creates an instant of deafening applause in the packed room. Since he now has the crowd in the palm of his hands he risks it with another newie 'Can you hear the wind blow' that is immediately lapped up so Mr. Coverdale needn't had worried at all.

'Who told you about my f*ck*n' nipple show?', he jokily asks some of his buddies in the crowd and dutifully introduces them to everyone. Nice to see my fave 'Snake number is still in there too – the magnificient 'Love Ain't No Stranger' that he says is for his friend, Mel Galley (a former band member who is sadly dying of cancer) – a touching moment for David indeed.

'What only 1 f*ck*n' box of Yorkshire Tea?' he jokes later to a fan – no doubt he took it anyway - ya can't beat a nice cuppa can you! 'Even at 56, it's good to be back' – wow is he really that old – well he did start in the mid 70's with Deep Purple, so it must be true. Anyways, the new line-up of Whitesnake play out new & old material with highlights being the 3rd newie of the night (if I got that correct) 'Lay Down Your Love' – that's very 1987 meets Slip Of The Tongue sorta stuff.

What's this – 3 of them members dissapear and out comes the an acoustic guitar with just David Coverdale & Doug Alrich on the stage for 'The Deeper The Love' where everyone in the room joins in on the chorus and more much to David's delight. 'Thank you Sheffield', he says to us and asks, 'Is this the city of love' – funnily enough many shout yes and it's another sloppy ballad in 'In this love' that sees both guitarists come to the end of the walkway to solo in splendour for us.

It seems that the man from Redcar likes to sit down a bit more – well he is getting on a bit and needs to rest those weary legs of his. 'What a nice piece of furniture it is', he says about his stool – 'look here' and shows us the label on the seat, 'Whitesnake' which he and all chuckle 'n' snigger at and then perform a perfect rendition of the not heard too often 'Ain't Gonna Cry No More Today'. We all love it – absolutely splendid it was darlings.

'This goes back to the beginning – 30 years' – now I wonder whats up next? – woohoo 'Ain't No Love In The Heart Of The City' that I just realised was a cover song (thanks to being informed by Mick Hucknall of Simply Red who was on The Jools Holland Show a few weeks ago) – well Whitesnake continue to make it their own and always will do.

So what do you think was the last song of the set – well it don't take much guessing – it's the one that all the Rock Club DJ's play when they need the toilet due it being so long – yep – that's the one – the epical, 'In The Still Of The Night' of which a barnstorming version is delivered and everyone is in joyful mood as a result – especially those Rock DJ's – you know who you are – hahaha !

As David Coverdale says to us , 'Be Safe, Be Happy And Don't Let Anyone Make You Afraid'. Before all bow and leave the stage to mass applause. Yes I can definitely say that the Dirty Old Blonde Debonaire has still got it – hope I have at his age too.

10/10

The 2nd headliners of the night come on after some AC/DC and Thin Lizzy, 2 of their fave artists them the house lights go down - a massive video screen with images from their past up to their present coupled with a long introduction for 'Rocket' and then Def Leppard hit the stage with the song to rapturous applause, playing the new single, the 70's glam-like 'C'Mon C'Mon' that goes down well with the crowd and a bit later 'Nine Lives' (a new one of theirs - not a cover by another famous rock band begining with A.)

They are real pleased to be back in their hometown of Sheffield with Joe Elliott saying the name of his City like it was going out of fashion - hahaha even telling us that his Mum and Dad were up there watching the gig and asked us all to wave to them - of course all 12,500 obliged.

It was frikkin' loud and a bit too bassy for my liking at times but sound can vary from venue to venue can't it - a lot of the hits were included with faves such as 'Animal'; 'Armageddon It'; 'When Love & Hate Collide'; Pour Some Sugar on Me (with it's 'Bomb, Bomb, Bomb intro); a nice bit of David Essex in 'Rock On'; 'Photograph' and much more.

A cool bit of the concert was to hear 'Bringin' On The Heartbreak' where Joe told us about when he went to various concerts at the City Hall and joked about climbing through the bathroom window to see Lynyrd Skynyrd - Viv Campbell even played us part of a Budgie riff too! The song started on acoustic with just Joe, Phil & Vivian and then went into full electric band version about 1/2 way into the number - utter brilliance it was too.

'Two Steps Behind' was a monentous moment too - on acoustic of course - the way it sounds best which many of us joined in on - easily a major highlight of the entire set. At one particular point Rick Savage gave us a bass solo that saw him run around on the high part of the massive stage on either side of Rick Allen and his legendary electric kit who've been part of the band since 1977 and 1978.

They closed the night with 'Let's Get Rocked' - a superfine ending to a killer show. My only qualm is that they didn't include any material from the 1st album that I was looking forward to as they usually throw at least one in - oh well - you can't have everything can you. Joe asked us to do one small favour, "Don't forget us because we won't forget you" - as if we'd do that!

9/10

By Glenn Milligan

10/10

By Glenn Milligan

DEEP PURPLE + Styx + Thin Lizzy –
Hallam FM Arena, Sheffield, Wed. 2/5/07

Having hosted three visits by the reformed Thin Lizzy in about as many years, the good ol’ classic rock loving people of Sheffield now go one better - they show up to share a bill with fellow legends, the almighty Deep Purple, only 29 months since they themselves last visited Steel City, a record for Gillian and co of late.

Being limited to forty minutes rather than eighty does not dishearten the Liz one little bit, they cram a colossal twelve numbers into the space, kicking off once more with ‘Jailbreak’ and bombing into ‘Waiting For an Alibi’ and ‘Cold Sweat before we have time to draw breath. My all time favourite ‘Don’t Believe A Word’ is already criminally short enough at about 2 minutes 20 but they find it necessary to speed it up several more notches, and it flies by in about 1:50 this evening. (You think you could have played it twice, to make up for that, lads).

Further anthems ‘Sarah’, ‘Emerald’, ‘Are You Ready’ and that immortal signature tune ‘Boys Are Back In Town’ (and I’ve just found out they are, in December.) follow and Scott Gorham takes undisputed advantage of having the best PA sound of the night to rake off those riveting lead lines. Unrecognisable now even from his pics on the 21 Guns sleeves, he looks more like Quo’s Rick Parfitt every year I see them but plays his proverbial ploppy-hole off as if he’s going to be around til about 90. Sadly it all comes to an end too soon, and without an encore they are gone, but with only seven months to wait before they return, it doesn’t seem all that disheartening.

Fellow seventies legends, Styx are probably the most anticipate act of the three today. Housing only guitarists/vocalists Jimmy Young and Tommy Shaw from the original line-up, the set seems to leave no concern for purists of who plays within the ranks at present. I’m quite new to their material myself although the songs all sounded familiar, the ones I could put a name to straight away were 'Too Much Time On My Hands'; 'Babe'; ‘Blue Collar Man and closer ‘Renegade’ – no offence intended to other fans by this, by the way.

If that keyboard player looks familiar to anyone that’ll be because it is Canadian AOR legend Lawrence Gowan who steals the show with his stage presence, taking over lead vocals at quite regular intervals and amusingly introducing a cover of Beatle’s ‘I am, The Walrus’ by saying ‘We’re gonna something we should never do right now, play a song by an English band’.

The Chicago fivesome become a six-some for the last third of the show with original bassist Chuck Panozzo arriving on stage, the current four-string swapping for a third guitar and the party really begins from there. Younger portions of the audience appear to enjoy too - there is lip synching visible all around so obviously congratulations are due to those who copy their dad’s taste in music. Leaving to an even noisier applause than the one that greeted them, I don’t think it will be the last we see of these lads just yet.

Consequently the noise doesn’t appear to get any louder than this for the Purple boys as they take to the stage, and this is more to do with Shaw and co’s set than the Londoners opening with a handful of songs from the new album ‘Rapture Of The Deep’ . Not to be translated as ‘the new songs are load of old ****’ however, there is a lot of retread into the classic Purple sound and it sounds good by the way, but it is still always an advisable more to begin the night with an established favourite.

Gradually sliding into the sing-along numbers, things to pick up as the pogoing begins down the front. ‘Fireball’ makes a very welcomed re-appearance on the set - they opened with this when I saw them, back in 96 – and is treated as integral a part of the set as are ‘Strange Kind Of Woman’, ’Lazy’, ‘Hush’, ‘Black Night and ‘Space Trucking’. One would be a fool to tease the newly shorn Ian Gillan about his age (61 by the way) as the looks every bit the proverbial brick s***house striding up and down the boards.

Steve Morse as ever continues to keep Blackmore’s timeless lines in check with his own pipe-solid performances and what seems like a shortened version of ‘Highway’ Star’ by the rate it roars by this time still allows for that final air-guitar-inducing solo break to take command of the crowd. ‘Smoke On The Water’ is as usual positioned exactly two thirds of the way through the set and you know what comes here don’t you. It may still be about the second most likely song to get you kicked out of a guitar shop for playing - after Zep’s ‘Stairway To Heaven’ – but you’d probably be kicked out of the Arena for NOT singing along, if Mr. Gillan caught you today.

Only time for about an hour and a half today, it still feels like the full two for those who love the Purple for what they are a band who have survived forty years and seemingly as many generations of music fans and trends and whose followers have grown up with them, still believing in what they’ve stayed around for. Their countless classic rock numbers will stay classics for years to come but it takes another classic performance from the Purps to make them that bit more special and I didn’t see tonight’s set having any reason not to count. Cheers for another great night, lads.

9.5/10

By Dave Attrill

AS I mentioned earlier, Thin Lizzy are playing the UK in December. We haven’t got the full listing on us at the time of writing but they do hit Sheffield City Hall on December 4th.

Main Set - Revolution Deathsquad; Fury Of The Storm; Operation Ground & Pound; Revelations; Trail Of Broken Hearts; Storming The Burning Fields; Soldiers of the Wasteland; Body Breakdown; My Spirit Will Go On

Encore - Through The Fire And Flames; Valley Of The Damned

If you are from Greece and your band name is Firewind, you better play Power Metal and you had better be good. Happily tonight's openers served a tasty 30 minute set that proved that Running Wild are still big in Athens.

Second up was New England Metalcore in the shape of All That Remains. Lead singer Phil Labonte wore a baseball cap. Do I need to go on? Quite the most appalling group I have had the bad luck to watch in many a long year.

America now seems completely bereft of even vaguely acceptable metal. And what luck, next week I will be seeing the horrid Trivium supporting the Maiden! I think it's time we stopped these second rate American acts from playing over here.

I last saw Dragonforce at the start of this tour, some thirteen months ago, and the relentless pace of gigging seems to have caught up with the band. Gone were the happy expressions sported last year by Sam Totman and Herman Li, to be replaced by what appeared to be a grim determination to get the show over with. All of the frantic soloing was still in place, but the passion I saw last year has turned into Joe Satriani-like muso-ness.

Naturally the sold out crowd loved every minute, but I think it is time for a rest and a rethink. It would also be nice if they dropped the Slayer opening music, and if singer Z P Theart stopped spitting water at the crowd. A poor performance that left me fearing that Dragonforce will become the Tottenham Hotspur of battle metal. Perhaps it really is best left to the Europeans. As in football, they are much better at it than we are.

By Roy Evans

Do you by any chance remember the last time Steel city's finest hit their home turf, just over three years before? They brought as a support, four sprightly lads from Lowestoft who were very noisy, had a singer called Justin, and played songs about believing in a thing called love and getting your hands off their women, and over the intervening period have visited this same venue albeit as headliners.

Enuff said, I think but that wouldn't be to say these lads haven't had their share of popularity over the last three y… well decades actually. Scots legends The Sensational Alex Harvey Band may well have been without the guy himself for that long itself, at time of writing, but the surviving members still go down a treat with most of the 10, 000 capacity. Unfortunately, yours truly walks in about halfway through the show but there's still one or two familiar numbers still to go in what remains.

Fellow veterans Cheap Trick have me hooked from the off, churning out a delightful 45 minute set of their infectious pop rock which has fans aged both 50 and 20 bopping along….. and laughing as Rick Neilsen emerges with guitar after guitar, playing about ten different ones. The main attraction is obviously the five-neck monstrosity he wields for 'I Want You To Want Me' (nutter) which I take it is a regular party-piece of his, as is walking upright under its weight probably. An entertaining evening so far, their first show over here in about fifteen years - if I heard Rick right - was earned through their tour with Leppard on the Trick's native US soil last year. I'd just better warn booking agencies across the UK, if you leave it that long before inviting them for their next visit, one or two of them might be proverbially brown bread.

And so after a predictable pairing of GNR's 'Coma' and Queen's 'We Will Rock You' over the PA, the light go down and the Lep lads go in. As you know they're currently promoting new covers album 'Yeah' and do we know it tonight, as they open with 'Hellraiser' one of about five they do tonight, sadly at the expense of sweet classic 'Action'. Don't worry, they still play 'Rock Rock, Till You Drop', still a timeless classic twenty three years on but their most anthemic ditty, 'Let's Get Rocked' is played unusually very early in the show tonight, followed in tandem by fellow 'Adrenalize' fave 'Make Love Like A Man'.

Going right down the history books, they're kind enough to keep 'Let It Go' in the set - the opening tune in '03 if you remember, but still nothing from 'On Through the Night' makes the set, and - much to relief of the crowds many purists - neither does anything from 'Slang' or 'X'. 'Promises', 'Animal', 'Love Bites', 'Hysteria', 'Animal', 'Rocket', 'Photograph' and 'Rock Of Ages' (a song with one of the cheesiest videos I've ever seen) are what a proper Def Leppard set is made of, but it's still nice to hear a cover of T-Rex's '20 Century boy' slung in there given that Joe Elliot has a more than suitable range for this particular chore.

Ending the evening with their other immortal anthem 'Pour Some Sugar On Me' this is probably the shortest set I've seen them play at about 95 minutes or so (reminding me of Iron Maiden's last show here actually) so playing that many covers might probably have gone down less than well with some and one or two of my friends also in attendance tonight were less than impressed. The arrangement of the set list did however keep me well on my feet and as I recognized most of these such numbers alongside the many Leps chestnuts', I had little reason to be too disappointed. When they come back next time, they will probably have another album of their own writing to pick from so those who complained about aforementioned issues tonight should be less than disappointed -well depending on the musical direction they take next time round anyway.

Not the single most Def-initive of sets but still worth another three years wait.

9/10

By Dave Attrill

Drive By Truckers - The Leadmill, Sheffield, Thursday 6th April 2006

Now here's a cracking band that i found out about by chance to be honest via the internet - I like the name and when i heard the music these guys and a girl were offering I was hooked. I thought they were one of those USA based bands that you'd have to book a plane ticket in order to see 'em in the flesh at some redneck bar in Alabama but much to my pleasure they play a string of dates in the UK - so I could check 'em out after a 25 minute drive in my automobile on stage in my own City of Sheffield - nice one. A little mate of mine called Steve who I often bump into at gigs informed me he once saw them at the Pheasant at Sheffield Lane Top - which amazed me completely.

Anyway, back to the plot. I am pleased to say that there were plenty of people in the Leadmill to see them - I estimate it must have been a good half to three-quarters full - which goes to show that some punters do have great taste in music. If you have never heard the DBT before then I must say that you are missing out big style - a healthy slap of country blues rock 'n' roll styled stuff in their own unique way with a deep south origin.

What's cool about DBT is that they have 3 vocalists as opposed to the one so I guess you can stand them in line with artists like The Band or Crosby, Stills and Nash in that respect with each member offering his own vibe and groove to the performance - be a sad, song, a humourous number or an autobiagraphical ditty - they got 'em all. Stand-outs of the gig included 'Carl Perkin's Cadillac'. They got plenty o' stories to tell in their lyrics, teching us all about life in their part of the south.

This was a classic 2 hour is show and was real pleased to have witnessed it indeed. Truck yourselves back over very soon.

9/10

By Glenn Milligan

During the show, the new bassist, Richie Edwards was formally introduced and then performed a 2 minute long bass solo to the crowd. Throughout the show, The Darkness delivered exceptional quality music, pure energy and an excellent crowd-winning show. This concert was one not to be missed!

BOB DYLAN -

NEC, Birmingham, Friday, 18th November, 2005

Set list – Maggie’s Farm; Tell Me That It Isn’t True; Watching The River Flow; Just Like Tom Thumb’s Blues; Ballad Of A Thin Man; Highway 61 Revisited; Mr Tambourine Man; Stuck Inside Of Mobile With The Memphis Blues Again; Chimes of Freedom; Til I Fell In Love With You; Visions Of Johanna; Honest With Me; The Lonesome Death Of Hattie Carroll; Summer Days; Like A Rolling Stone; All Along The Watchtower.

The NEC was bitterly cold tonight, and the elderly crowd were still shuffling to their seats with the inevitable armfuls of warm bottled lager when the lights dimmed and the intro music (Copland's 'Hoedown') began.

Bob was dressed all in black in a Zorro-style ensemble complete with silly hat, and stood up to play keyboards throughout.One verse into 'Maggie's Farm' it was clear that Dylan's latest band were superb - apart from the Mick Taylor/Ian McLagen combo in '84, this was the best group I have seen him play with.

The much feared Dylan vocal, err, 'rephrasing' was prominent on some of the first few songs, but by 'Ballad Of A Thin Man' it all made sense. I particularly enjoyed how he made 'Rue Morgue Avenue' all one word on 'Just Like Tom Thumb's Blues'. I need to get more bootlegs, because these versions edged out the originals!

As the setlist shows, tonight's songs were drawn heavily from the 'big three' albums, and I was not complaining about finally hearing 'Visions Of Johanna' live! - it was magnificent.

In terms of songs played, this show was probably the best I have ever seen him.
The old folks in the crowd were squirming in their seats through most of the set, this was a show for the more committed Dylan fan, and it was all the better for it. Spot the song from 'Nashville Skyline' - I confess that I had to look it up, I haven't heard it in a while.

The audience was a bunch of stiffsthough ! It's the price you pay for going to a megadrome venue - I heard that a lot of folks walked out, probably cos not every song was from 'The Essential Bob Dylan'!! That’s people for ya !!

9/10

By Roy Evans

Incidentally the band line-up was Bob Dylan - keyboard, harmonica; Stu Kimball - lead guitar; Denny Freeman – guitar; Donnie Herron - violin, banjo, electric mandolin, pedal steel, lap steel; Tony Garnier – bass; George Recile - drums

So, it’s been a long time coming, The Diamond Dogs back in the UK. Tonight would kick off the second wave of birthday celebrations for my good self. Don’t get me wrong, last weekend was great, but this one promised to be the weekend of weekends. Knowing for months that the Diamond Dogs were coming to my hometown, I’d obviously told everybody I knew. Friends being friends, I set off on my lonesome (don’t worry, I’m big enough and old enough for that matter to look after myself).

Before I get the chance to see Swedens finest rock ‘n’ roll reprobates, Canadian punk ‘n’ rollers The Pariahs hit the stage to a slender and seemingly uninterested crowd. But I needn’t have shown my concern, The Pariahs walk nonchalantly onto the stage one by one and kick into their opener in fine style. They effortlessly sway from ballsy rock ‘n’ roll to punktastic riffs and angsty vocal’s - but you know what - it works so well. It’s not long before every foot is tapping and the guys get the appreciation they deserve from all present. It’s a blinding and supercharged 40 minute set, well done guys, I wanted more!

A quick stage change while the crowd mingle at the bar and its time for the ‘ Dog’s. The stage is empty except for the Duke of Honk (Henrik on keys), looking cool as I don’t know what, sat in a dining chair, one foot in a beer crate and his trusty keyboard on his lap. A short verbal introduction and he’s straight into the honky tonk we’ve all been waiting for. In a similar style to their predecessors, on come the rest of the band one by one, each picking up their weapons of choice – and we’re off. The line up has changed considerably since I last saw them with new guys on guitar (only one guitarist now) and bass plus the introduction of a sax player. ‘Does it detract from the Diamond Dogs sound’ I hear the purists cry, well surprisingly no! If anything it feels a little more soulful and the guitarist style seems very bluesy in parts but the unmistakeable swagger and raw edge is all there – trust me.

Sulo’s presence and vocal performance tonight is infallible. The small crowd whimper on his every word – when asked to clap – they clap, when asked to sing – they sing, when asked to dance – they dance. The man is in complete control. He and his new guitarist venture into the ‘masses’ and invite them to singalong to 'Somebody Elses Lord'– and they all gladly oblige. Were treated to songs old and new, borrowed and blue, honest and true – it’s a match made in heaven. Tonight’s 60 minute blinder of a set includes 'Bound to Ravage', 'Goodbye Miss Jil'l, 'Sad to Say I’m Sorry', 'Bite Off' and 'Hardhitter' to name a few. But, it’s all over in a flash, encore complete and band leave in reverse order – one by one – leaving just the Duke and Jesper on drums to bow out on 'Bloodshot'.

Comparisons and influences would be all too easy to mention, but that’s not what matters. What does matter is that a band can bring together a small crowd of strangers and give them the party they’ll never forget – and does it matter that all ya mates didn’t show? – Hell no, tonight we all came together as one to support and truly enjoy rock ‘n’ roll played with pure passion. Surely that’s what it’s all about – I think so!

8/10

By Jon Hardcastle (Drummer of Silverjet)

7.5/10

By Glenn Milligan

When Ronnie James Dio announced in January of this latest visit to blighty, it spelt the end of what seemed an eternal wait, for those in Sheffield, in particular. Most of his loyal and long-time fans today were probably still sitting their GSCEs when the former Rainbow/Sabbath frontman had last managed to set foot in Steel city. It is probably more than due compensation then that Ronnie’s legendary ‘Holy Diver’ album be subjected to an entire-length airing.

Kicking on with a couple or so from the rest of his vast CV, the legend tears into that blinding ’83 solo disc and the five-hundred –odd punters tear into it full stop - cue a considerable sea of devil signs forming above the countless heads, mouths loudly following or at very least lip-synching every solitary syllable. Qintessential Dio nuggets ‘Stand Up And Shout’ and ‘…Diver’ both have stood everything fashion has thrown at them over the last twenty two years and the line up including Tracy G on guitar plus legends Simon Wright (AC/DC, UFO) and Rudy Sarzo (Whitesnake, and God-knows-what-else) leave it as raw and classy as the versions you hear on disc.

Wright’s drum solo, placed recklessly a third of the way through the set is one of only too small things that spoils the hour-and-three quartet set - the unadventurous stint falling way short of his best - but as a considerable portion of the throng queue up for the bar, the guys all return and rock away once more, pulling the rest of the album off in style. Despite his ridicule welcoming name, Tracey G is a decent axeman who can pull off his now Def Leppard based predecessor Viv Campbell’s solos effortlessly, especially on ‘Don’t Talk To Strangers’, ‘Straight Through The Heart’ and ‘Rainbow In The Dark’ and his own solo bit later in the show underlines how underrated this fella really is. R.J.D himself rarely fails to disappoint and even if the PA had been barely a shadow of its working best, this man’s throat would have been as unstoppable as always.

Still with the energy after the ‘Diver’ set concludes with another snippet from that immortal title track, our Ron is of course up for more and finishes off the mixed bag he started earlier which includes ‘Heaven and Hell’, ‘Long Live Rock n’ Roll’ and ‘One Night In The City’ and one or two Rainbow classics I can’t quite remember the name of. What happened to ‘We Rock’ or ‘Last In Line’ tonight though serves as the set’s biggest mystery - those two numbers from his second album having normally been live staples since. Another half-point lost but Ronnie still proudly keeps the other nine for an otherwise unbelieveable evening from one of hard rock’s most formidable frontmen who in the ruthlessly style-sucking music scene we suffer at the hands of, today.

Whilst a certain other Ronnie, (our friend Mr. Barker) recently departed this earth, we will still keep hold of this one for a fair old time to come yet. And when Ronnie James Dio’s turn comes, he will have one hell of a struggle to take that voice with him.

9/10

By Dave Attrill

A mere ten days since I witnessed an equally astounding performance from one of metal's greatest institutions, fronted by their original and best loved vocalist, and now one of melodic hard rock's prime goliaths, Danger Danger, entertain by way of similar principle.

Thirteen years since Sheffield, or the UK for that matter saw the New York boys as fronted by the legendary Ted Poley, the ol' blonde chappie has been little short of busy whilst away with Bone Machine, Melodica and Poley/Pichler so it's little surprise to find his voice in such riveting form this evening.

Though the 'Screw It' intro has to be played a second time through in awaiting his arrival (come on mate, don't be shy), once our man appears, resplendent in his famous flowing waist-length mane and rip's into the opening chords of 'Crazy Nite', there's no looking back. Well, except to the days before a chap called Paul Laine appeared. 'Under The Gun' and 'Bang Bang' sound as superb today as they did on that first album sixteen years past as do subsequent airings of 'Rock America', 'Don't Walk Away' and 'Boys Will Be Boys' and an intermediate belt through 'Going Going Gone' one of only two Laine-era numbers tonight cuts in-between ruining nothing.

Poley and Bruno Ravel look more chuffed than a fly around a colostomy bag as they alternate their inter-song chat with the small but heaving crowd. This could be amongst other things because they have found a sterling occupant for Andy Timmons' old post in Mr Rob Marcello esquire who though having only been in the band a couple of years or so at this stage, knows the notes to classics like 'Still Think About You' and 'Beat The Bullet' upside down. To the immense rapture of the punters a relatively unexpected rendition of 'Don't Blame It On Love' back to back with dancefloor anthems 'Monkey Business' and encore 'Naughty, Naughty' are the three tunes used to wind up a solid hour-and-half of party rock utopia, rendered only possible by Ted Poley's return to the band that first made his name.

Whether this is a full blown reunion with the band or a crafty way to a few quid in his pocket on Ted's account remains to be seen but either way, zero percent of tonight's gig would be ruined by anything…. well apart from the non-inclusion of 'Horny SOB perhaps'.

A classic evening, made all the more so by Deadline, notching up their first slot since Statetrooper in January and with the absence of the other support band Double Cross, they have the luxury of their slot extended to 45 minutes. All the favourites are there including corking newie 'Everything' and the first time I've heard them play their finest tune 'Just One Night' on a support gig for a long time, and as a bonus tonight, it even replaces 'Losing Myself' as set closer.

With their first single imminent this summer, these lads look set to dominate the scene even further in '05. (By the way, nice guitar, Steve.)

10/10

By Dave Attrill

With Chrimbo only a week away, a visit from yet another of these reformed 'party' rock acts of yesteryear could be hardly more appropriate. The turn of the British this time, Birmingham's Dogs D'amour have brought back quite a star-studded line-up with them this time, with ex Wildhearts man Danny McCormack and Magnum's Mark Stanway on board the ship. Also joining to complete a now six-strong act is a mysterious purple-haired beauty on backing vox who also entertains with her fire eating and bizarre sexual act on herself involving a metal codpiece and hand-held circular saw - which would make up for the less than entertaining behaviour from this band's frontman this evening.

A well-chosen support act, hyperactive Sheffield newcomers Silverjet play the Corp's big room for the first time tonight, their tight half-hour set of very well accepted by the 2-300 present by that time. Playing all three tunes off their EP again amongst other impressive Black Crowes/Stones/Quireboys influenced delights, they don't put a single foot wrong for a second. Unlike the headliners, and that's putting it mildly.

9/10

Tyla initially blames their apparent lack of sound quality on the people at the desk not pulling his weight and has a good rant across the room. Five songs into the set however the situation seems still un-remedied at which point the geezer loses his rag, storming across the room to give the blokes behind the board a piece of his mind. At this point I'm still laughing it off as he returns to the stage and apologises and the set goes on but some people's mouths are eventually turned down as word gets round that Tyla took the appalling liberty of missing the soundcheck for the sake of a visit to the tattoo parlour, thus in looking back, the tone of the entire night is lowered by most as if it wasn't enough by his behaviour throughout the eighty minute set.

Musically, there's little to complain about in performance or selection, all their hits such 'Satellite Kid' and 'I Don't Want You To Go' filling the lion's share of the list. Danny looks to be still enjoying it but I can't help but feel the embarrassment he is faced with here as is Mr Stanway. We are not unused to technical f***-ups taking place on the spot during sets, avoidable or not but when this band's usually popular charismatic frontman behaves like this, it mars just about everything pleasant about this sort of music.

I must finally apologise to those who picked up one of our Metalliville flyers on the night - which advertised this review on the back - for the content of my write-up here not being as quite expected, but for those who were there on the night, and like me, appalled by Tyla's attitude, most should understand.

5/10

By Dave Attrill

We'd be lying to assume that the current closure of the City Hall hasn't played into the hands of all bands headed towards Sheffield turf lately. In the case of Deep Purple, putting them in a five times bigger venue just up the road is pretty much a boost to the legendary British act's career as it is to the other acts joining them at Broughton Lane this evening. Despite what I've just said about the Arena's relative capacity, we're only given half the room tonight but 5-6000 is still the best night these bands could wish for in Steel City today.

Dean Howard (whoever he is), opens the bill with a brief five-tune set dominated by his brand of freestyle melodic rock though peppered with totally Purple-esque keyboard harmonics, and a cover of an Ian Gillan solo number finds itself well settled in the pack as well, making a sizeable impression on the so-far rather skeletal gathering.

Quite frankly even more than the overall one that Thunder make on their sixth show in this town in nearly a decade. The Londoners six-song slot mainly disappoints, especially those who had shelled out the thirty quid to come and see them in particular, as apart from 'Love Walked In', 'Low Life In High Places' and 'River Of Pain' - some class that as a hit too - the other half of the set is less familiar material though plenty seem to enjoy forthcoming single 'I Love You But I Love My Rock n' Roll'. However failing to include 'Dirty Love', 'Backstreet Symphony' and 'Everybody Wants Her' is simply suicidal and as Danny and the lads say their goodbyes and disappear behind the curtain, most don't know whether to cheer or boo.

A chap who has been on the scene for about as long as the headliners, Peter Frampton has also accounted for a considerable fraction of this tour's ticket sales and is welcomed like the hero straight away, even by quite a few younger audience members (then probably only because their dads told them to). Grooving through an hour of faves, most of which are drawn from his Solo and Humble Pie Days, Peter even includes one that he had just composed in the tour bus overnight which is also pretty well received. The one thing which ruins the set for me is his long drawn use of the voice box - apparently his trademark for decades - towards the end of 'Show me the way', which does my head in after about four minutes but weighed against his talent, I can't knock too many points off this chap.

Enter the Purple men again and the last two-and-a half years since they were last here seem to have been kind to them, except to Ian Gillan's hair. A new album, the bizarrely titled 'Bananas' on shop shelves and a new man in the ranks, this is not a case of picking up where they left off for D.P. this time round. The change of personnel for the uneducated is the retirement of Jon Lord who at 61 decided he had other things on his mind, perhaps musically - he recently featured on TV's 'South Bank Show' where he was discussing his current pastures - but they certainly found royalty replaced him, alright. Enter erstwhile Rainbow/Whitesnake/Ozzy/Ten ivory-whacker Don Airey into the fold and boy washis presence felt tonight or what, as they romp through timeless classics like 'Woman From Tokyo', 'Fools', 'Strange Kind Of Woman' and 'Highway Star', once more but the unusually short 1hr 35 set is unfortunately hogged by a little too much in the way of new/less familiar fodder. Hence again there is no time - again - for 'Black Night' and neither 'Child In Time or Hush' - cue muffled moanings by people standing around me on the tram journey home later. 'Imagine if 'S***e On T*e W***r' had also been excluded (oh, don't.).

Encore consists of a stretched out version of 'Speed King' allowing for seven minutes of fun between band and audience, and of course, the obligatory introduction of band members to those my side of the railings, Steve Morse, who recently cleared the big Five-O - on particularly riveting form tonight. Gillan still delights in telling the story beyond each and every song they play before they start - one new number dedicated to the victims of last year's US space shuttle tragedy as well as a mention for soccer legend Emlyn Hughes who parted this life today, which goes to distance Ian from the many couldn't care less types who front hard rock bands today. Unfortunately, they ruined things tonight by not exactly caring the greatest of deals about what their gathered worshippers wished to hear and three tunes considered staples by many throughout their 37-year regime, were left at home.

An enjoyable evening to the most but with a few holes too, I'm afraid.

8/10

By Dave Attrill

DEAD LIKE HARRY + SILVERJET + THE CRACKPOT INVENTORS

+ THE INSIDE -

The Boardwalk, Sheffield Thursday, 30th September, 2004

Though only down here to see one band in particular, having paid only 3.50 made it worth not worrying about the quality of the remaining three on this evening's little bill. Worries wash straight away when The Inside appear and their brand of Oasis-meets-The Clash rooted rock n' roll has the punters up for it from the start. 'You Can Laugh at My Overdraft' has a hook that deserves a record deal by itself- a hot nominee fro Chorus Of The Year by all accounts.

The Crackpot Inventors are introduced to us by what their name states, their guitar-based boogie pop like little I can land a tag on and as I'm beginning to really take in what they are doing, their set ends abruptly after only 20 minutes or so, apparently cut due to delays to the previous band's stage time.

Silverjet face their moment of truth now and their live debut tells no lies as the four-piece entertain solidly for half an hour with everything that was great about the sixties and seventies summarised into seven sweet little tunes, a few of which are to be heard on their new 3-track CD 'The Amalgam Sessions' (see review already on site) Guitarist/singer Dave, originally reluctant about taking up vocal duties doesn't seem too unhappy once on stage and is just grinning at the though of his band having finally made this first important milestone in his musical career, especially considering the tough-ish times they have had of late. A great start to things for a great sounding band.

Another great, and utterly unheard-of-before-sounding band, 4 parts male, 2 female, Dead Like Harry wrap the night up, delivering an enticing mix of folk, rock, indie and straight ahead pop that has earned them a considerable repute on the city's live circuit. Their bass player does especially well to get through tonight, seated through the set with his arm in a sling. Four more loud n' lively sounding outfits, not one bad tune is heard tonight and it is hoped all four are headed for higher ground in the near future. Yorkshire is definitely a place to be in, in a new and potentially successful band, today.

8/10

By Dave Attrill

The last time I came into this room it was virtually empty - but it wasn't a band who had just had a number 1 single. Completely crammed with teenagers and students galore and the odd older rocker, who was there to see what the fuss was all about, it seems pretty safe to say that The Darkness are obviously a big noise in Sheffield as only the bar area had something like a breathable area - well you can't spill beer can ya?

Even before that wavey blonde-haired frontman going by the name of Justin hit the stage the kids were up for it big style - who were screaming, dancing, signalling the devil signs and waving without a moment of stillness.The Darkness performed their entire 'Permission to Land' album plus a cover of a Radiohead song - albeit a weird choice of tune if I may say so.

It was as though rest of The Darkness were more like Justin's backing band (a bit like what Skid Row were to Sebastian Bach - but that's simply the mark of a good showman). Those wailing falsetto lead vocals were lapped up with the best songs being that opener 'Black Shirk' (or whatever the hell it's called - what the f*ck's a shirk anyway), 'Get your hands off (my woman, motherf*cker) and of course that number 1 single 'I believe in a thing called love'.

The down-points of the gig was that a lot of the material was very much 3rd rate AC/DC rip-off without the flare (it was a guessing game of 'where have they nicked each riff from'), not to mention Justin's girlie vocals gettin' on your t*ts after about ten minutes. I really wish he'd quit the constant falsetto as his straight singing voice is excellent. The duration was a con as well - 50 minutes !!! Talk about a dash for the cash. So who bought a Darkness buckle for £30?

7/10

By Glenn Milligan, BA Hons CS

Def Leppard - Doncaster Dome, Monday 27th October, 2003

Set List:

Action/Rock Rock/Make Love like A Man/Foolin/Women/Hysteria/When Love And Hate Collide/Slang/4 Letter Word/Promises/Two Steps Behind/Now/ Rocket/Armageddon It/Photograph/Animal/Pour some sugar on me/Rock Of Ages/Love Bites/Lets Get Rocked.

Starting with 'Action' was a great idea - it was hit em hard and keep hitting em, hit after hit. Leppard were on classic form tonight, but I'm still not convinced by the Dome as a venue, we stood it what seemed to be a Gymnasium, I mean without sounding nasty Def Leppard's first gig was in a Gymnasium!!!!

The banter between Joe and the audience was on a high all night, Joe kept yelling out things such as "Let me hear ya" to which every lung in the place screamed back at him.

Show highs for me personally were 'Hysteria' and 'Promises' and my usual fave live track 'When Love and hate collide' which I missed due to a lady fainted behind me during the song it!! Hope she's ok though.

The usual sing alongs being 'Pour Some sugar on me', 'Animal', ,Rocket' and 'Two steps behind' were sung with as much heart as any venue I've seen Leppard play at, It was a great atmosphere and a great performance.

All I can say is ...... Do you wanna get Rocked

8/10

By Steve Baronovich (of Sheffield based Rock band - Wicked Ways)

Danger Danger/Robin Black/China Doll -

Sheffield NMB, Tuesday June 24th 2002

With Sheffield lately becoming a new British haven for all bands big-haired, tonight's line-up keeps up the good work, unlike the crowd. Surely, we could have done better than the 120-odd who had any decency to turn up and witness the first Sheffield gig by these American melodic rock institutions in over 11 years. It's either the 14-quid entrance fee they would have had to cough up for the privilege, or the continued absence of Ted Poley - despite rumours of him rejoining to blame or probably both.

Those of the more cynical of you who missed it missed out big time as the New York outfit's 75 minute was nearly three-quarters dominated by material from the first two classic albums, and classics is what we got all night long. Canadian current frontman Paul Laine doesn't appear to have made too many enemies with the fans through the decade he's now fronted the double-D boys, and offering a few of my mates down by the front a splash of whiskey in their beer glasses ("Don't say I never share anything") shows what a popular and pleasant chap he actually is, as is Bassist, Bruno Ravel who finds time for between-tune banter.

Laine's voice is contrastable to Poley's but does not a dent to the bonnets of 'Beat The Bullet', 'Bang Bang', 'Rock America', 'Naughty Naughty', 'I Still Think About You' and of course sing-a-long standard 'Monkey Business', as ever one of hard rock's greatest dancefloor ditties, and still the ultimate show-closer for this band today. Only about three songs are played from Laine's period, sadly not including 'Grind' or 'I Do' but 'Dead Drunk & Wasted' and 'Going Going Gone' are great numbers in their own rights.

New guitarist, Rob Marcello visibly knows what he is doing and what filling the boots of one long departed MR Timmons requires of him but is made to feel welcome by his precise performance. Danger Danger have survived thick and thin and although a shadow of the line-up whom I saw as a 14-year old school kid, supporting Kiss at Sheffield Arena, in 1992, delivered a spot on performance tonight and the words 'Ted who?' might have just been trying to squeeze out between a few pairs of lips at the end of the evening. I just can't understand what Powerplay's Matt Stevenson found so bad about this gig for the reasons he gave. Superb.

Let's not forget the evening's two openers. Brit newies China Doll have a sound moulded round early D.D. but sometimes with a more nu-breed approach a la Raine. Robin Black & The Intergalactic Rock Stars, the Canadian glam metal hotshots who opened for - and almost blew Pretty Boy Floyd off the boards four months earlier were back for another bite of the British cherry and once again, the soldiers present took to them on the spot. Tearing through thirteen songs in 40 minutes, they made themselves a good houseful of new fans for their collection.

A great night for Glammies - well those who showed up, anyway.

9/10

By Dave Attrill

Saturday May 31st

Murderdolls
Due to good old timing constraints the 1st band I caught at the festival was 'The Murderdolls' who looked brilliant in their creepy sleazy vampire image but vocally and musically left a lot to be desired. They played a song called something like 'My Girlfriends a teenage vampire' - yeah, whatever - every song sounded virtually identically to the next - kinda nu metal blasting stuff with 3rd rate Alice Cooper bawling vocals. Very much of a let down to say the least - I can't see what all the fuss is about - who cares if there's a member of Slipknot in the band - I certainly don't.

5/10

Ministry
Now this was the first band the old school metal fans had come to see and they didn't let down either - although the sound was a bit cack due. Anyway, Ministry belted out an hour of Industrial Metal that only frontman 'Al Jourgensen' (correct me if I spelt that wrong!!) and his guys can. Equipped with a oddly shaped silver coated mike stand we were rewarded with a blisterer of a set that of course included the classics 'New World Order' and 'Just One Fix' but no 'Jesus built my hotrod' - now that's criminal !!!

7.5/10

Marilyn Manson
With his backing band of freaks, the double M had a better sound but again the vocals could have been louder. Dressed in black stockings and looking like Frankfurter from 'The Rocky Horror Picture' crossed with a member of Hitler's War Party. He's a nutter even in the light and gets the Nazi styled red knicker wearing sluts to dance on-stage with him in 'mOBSCENE'. The funky popped up 'Dope Show' from the 'Mechanical Animals' album was an instant crowd pleaser as was his recent cover of Soft Cell's 'Tainted Love' and the firm Rock Club staple number 'The Beautiful People'. Good set and highly enjoyable, especially when the girls were on the stage as well - or is that just a male thing?

8/10

Iron Maiden
Not many would like to follow Manson but then again, this is Iron Maiden we are talking about who simply couldn't give a f*ck who's on the bill because they are likely to upstage them anyway - now anyone who says the double M was better is completely talking out of their arsehole. Like Beef, the Irons are British at its best who slam out a classic greatest hits set that started with 'The Number of the Beast' and closely followed by many other likewise earthstoppers such as 'The Trooper' and 'Die with your boots on' alongside a stack of album backdrops where the songs come from.

'Scream for me Donnington' was heard from Bruce a number of times which came with a roaring response from the fans, needless to mention the crowd singalongs that Iron Maiden concerts have become legendary for in songs that tonight included 'The Clairvoyant'; 'Fear of the Dark' and the closer 'Run to the Hills'. The three axe attack of Janick Gers, Adrian Smith and Dave Murray was quite simply a full-on Scream-dream of 6-string (or should I say 18-string) beauty which was complimented by the bombastic bass rumblings of Steve Harris, the brutal drum bashings of Nicko Mcbrain and the Air Raid Siren himself who needs no introduction - Bruce Dickinson.

'Maiden even debuted a new song entitled 'Wildest Dreams' that Brucey Babes stated would be on their forthcoming album 'Dance of Death' (much to the humourous guffaw of the crowd and actually 'Dicky-bow' himself, I mean, surely this must be the worst album title the band have ever come up with - complete Spinal Tap or what?). It was just like classic old Iron Maiden and could have been released 20 years ago - but that's the way we like 'em so why should they change the habit of a lifetime - they let the songs do the talking, not the album titles when all is said and done.

They played after the curfew as well - 'F*ck the curfew', says Bruce - I mean who are the band gonna upset the planes - 'nuff said. A Great set from Metals elder statesmen proving that they still rule the stage and can blow off any band !!! So that's the Irons - the band whose frontman can entertain you one week and take you on holiday the next.

9/10

Sunday June 1st

Metallica

Unfortunately I missed 'Shadows Fall' and 'The Darkness' but was please to say that I was one of the fortunates to witness the surprise set of Metallica - that James Hetfield claimed was the worst kept secret of the year so far!!! Many unsuspecting fans walked in thought with a face of complete surprise and shock and you could read their lips instantly 'F*ckin' Hell it's Metallica' they were screaming.

With new bassist to the fold 'Robert Trujillo' who perfectly fitted the gaping hole left by Jason Newstead (now in Voivod and bassist for Ozzy Osbourne - ironically taking the place of Robert Trujillo).

'Blackened'opens the set that sees a paint by thrash numbers hour come immediately to life before our unbelievable eyes and ears - but this is Metallica, so to expect the unexpected is always a good way to go. Other numbers included 'Sad but true'; the epic 'Master of Puppets'; the surprising 'No remorse' and even a couple of new songs from the St. Anger album like 'Frantic'. You just don't get any more powerful and tighter than Metallica and let's just say that any punter who witnessed this set well and truly got their day or weekends moneys worth. The energy on the stage was limitless and it's just a pity that they didn't have time to play 'One' or 'Seek and Destroy' but give 'em some credit - they've got such a large repitoire and hardly enough time to play it in.

Finishing off though with the old-schooler 'Damage Inc.' Metallica proved that they were back and ready for business - now this band cannot be followed and should have headlined Sunday night - but there is Leeds and Reading to think about in August, 2003 and no doubt further dates to follow.

10/10

Stone Sour

I caught the last 10 minutes of 'Stone Sour' who came across kinda grungey but I was impressed especially as they had there own style unlike a lot of the other nu-metal din that played which became a god-damn blur as a result.

7/10

Flint

Flint (an outfit fronted by Keith Flint of 'The Prodigy') well, well averagely OK punk rock but nothing much to brag about - he can't sing not that that's ever got in the way of his career.

5/10

Zwan were forgettable and feature ex-members of The Smashing Pumpkins. Billy Corgan is about as tuneful as a faulty generator and the only highlight was when it p*ssed it down and the crowd lifted up the rubber paths that lead towards the stage to get a bit of dryness - some pillocks even decided to surf them, causing them to fall off and crumple those underneath - it was hilarious and each and everbody was soaked through.

4/10

Audioslave

Known mainly as the band that used to be Rage Against the Machine, turned their name to Rage, then were joined by Chris Cornell (ex-Soundgarden), then to be known as Audioslave.

A good band, but that vocal mix was crap - way too low most of the time - which was a fault of most of the festival which lost a lot of the sets atmosphere. I am new man to Audioslave but to me it sounded like a cross between Soundgarden and Black Sabbath in a mellow mode.

Cornell recorded the crowd on one of the numbers but by all account he's been doing this at many of the gigs on the their tour. Audioslave were OK but hardly Festival headliner material - they haven't been out 5 mins - but then again they took the spot of Limp Bizkit and I can't be doing with Fred Durst and his backward cap rap crap anyway.

Overall, the 4 M's made the Weekend - Ministry, Manson, Maiden and Metallica - in that order.

7/10

By Glenn Milligan, BA Hons CS

The third time I've seen this lot live is the first since the birth of Metalliville and so it gives me great pleasure to finally review a performance of this city's greatest export at work, and I mean greater than steel, even.

Of the two opening acts, the first is a very welcome surprise. Ricky Warwick was seen here a decade back fronting Brit rock faves, The Almighty when they were on tour with Iron Maiden. Tonight, the man goes it alone, walking in and strapping on his acoustic for what fellow Ulsterman, Leppard's Vivian Campbell introduces as 'totally different' material. Is it, my trousers! This stuff could have as easily been written for 'Soul Destruction' twelve years back but sounds bloody good though and that's what counts.

UK newcomers The Darkness bring with them a brave attempt to topple the headliners, belting out a lethal brand of retro saturated hard rock with front-man Justin committing that said to be most heinous of crimes in this day and age, of wearing a stripy open-chested catsuit on stage. They can get away comfortably with it with material of their quality, and 'Get Your Hands Off My Woman' looks set to thrive as their anthem.

Def Leppard usually save any pre-83 material for the end of their set but 'Let It Go', the sole Willis-era number opens tonight's performance. Following it up is the dual attack of 'Rock, Rock ('til you drop)' and 'Action' which had kicked off proceedings on the band's two previous tours of the isle. For the first hour of the show, 'Hysteria' is the only tune aired from album of said name, but 'Women', 'Pour Some Sugar On Me', 'Rocket', 'Armageddon It' and least we forget 'Animal' come in almost complete succession in the last forty minutes of the two-hour slot. 'Pyromania' classics 'Photograph', 'Rock Of Ages' and 'Foolin' can not and will never be omitted from any Def Leppard show nor will Make Love like A Man', 'Slang', and 'Promises' by the looks of things.

A nice little handful from the excellent new 'X' album finds its space with 'Now', 'New four Letter Word', 'Long Way To Go' and 'You're So Beautiful' making themselves feel a lot more welcome on stage than on disc. Tonight, we witness a band who after twenty-five years, play more than solidly enough to stick two fingers at the rules about age, in the rock n' roll industry. Just before the end of the set, a very special guest in the shape of original Leps sticksman Frank Noon borrows the place behind the kit, brandishing a camera as Joe Elliot acquaints us with their old friend's current career. then asks us 'one last question DO YOU WANNA GET ROCKED???!!!" Well, what do you think?

10/10

By Dave Attrill

When they approached the stage to warm up the crowd, prior to 'System of the Down'n live performance - we thought we were in for a good set - we were wrong.

Michael Windsor from Edinburgh said,

"They're the biigest pile of crap since Slipknot - at least we could make out what Slipknot were saying!"

That said it all really - nothing could be heard over the constant booing of the crowd.

Pathetic. Sorry boys - try to enunciate.

0/10

By Simon Moorhouse

People always think nothing good happens on a Tuesday night. What?!!! Deep Purple play in your town on a Tuesday night and you call it one of the most unexciting times of the week?!!!!. Makes you wonder doesn't it. Well, these 2000-odd punters couldn't have found something better to do on this particular Tuesday if they tried. Instead of sitting half asleep in front of the TV, they're all down here at our beloved City Hall to pay homage to a carved solid gold institution in the history of rock n' roll music. 35 years after they first set foot, Deep Purple are still enjoying every minute of it, and so are we of the two hours generously afforded us tonight.

WelI I did think 27 quid was a tad questionable but as it might be the last chance to catch these living legends onstage, I happily dug deep. I was honestly overwhelmed by the sell-out, as the absence of Ritchie Blackmore over the past eight years had often said to have reduced the band's appeal of late. However, his successor Steve Morse, the second US six-stringer in the Purple ranks - the other having been the late Tommy Bolin - has filled the gap securely and tightly and the applause that the former Kansas guitarist won the band this evening demonstrated that there was and is no sad desperate clinging to past glories for the five-piece.

Steve Morse and Ian Gillan

Ian Gillan screamed his way through the entire set, as youthfully sounding now as he did nearly four decades go on that 'Shades of Deep Purple' LP. Gillan's other original bandmates, the bandana clad rhythm section of Roger Glover and Ian Paice, and keyboard genius Jon Lord, are as talented and with it today as they were the day they met. Lord may be 60 now but his put all those cruel ageist cynics who walk the earth firmly back in their seats with his scorching solo spot.

Roger Glover and Ian Paice

Jon Lord

The set was a well chosen blend as usual - why would we expect any different? - and we got some material from their future album alongside such staples as 'Highway Star', 'Hush' and of course 'Smoke On The Water'. You should have heard the crowd when the band struck the first notes of that immortal anthem of theirs. One absolutely criminal omission however was 'Black Night'.

This criticism out of the way, we tonight saw Deep Purple achieving the feared impossible, after a generation's worth of years in the business and learning that they are still writing and recording more great music today, left everyone speechless with awe at this band's will and courage in the ever-changing music industry.

Special mention must also go to their support act, The Planets, who put on a superb display of orchestral/metal/Latino instrumental experimentations. The eight members who made up the group were all about my age (24) but had obviously begun to learn their respective instruments at an insurmountably young age, and their musical talent earned them some very well deserved claps from the City Hall circles (and the stalls). I've heard that they recently had a chart single, and their debut album is out now. Well done to you, good luck.

9/10

By Dave Attrill

The little man himself is back - yes, Ronnie James Dio returns for his first shows over here, outside London, for quite a stretch. His latest album 'Magica' has been gaining some respectable reception by press and fans alike. I like this guy right from the start. I may only have one Dio album - one album more than I have by the headliner - but being reasonably familiar with some of his other offerings, I feel quite comfortable in my full appreciation of the pint-sized US veteran's performance.

Having a drum solo after only two songs may be a crime in most people's books - especially for a support group but ex UFO 'n' AC/DC skinster Simon Wright's thunderous clatters are quite passable for the four minutes they last. Ron whizzes through the catalogue tonight making sure to include selections from his legendary 'Holy Diver' album - is it really 18 years ago since it was out. The end comes with the only song from the whole fifty-minute set that I have on LP, 'The Last in Line', essential eighties metal with an all time fave chorus. Pity that great little show flew by like that.

9/10

By Dave Attrill

WOW, is the word to sum up Dream Theater's performance at the Apollo. I was blown away when I first saw them in Sheffield back in 2000, and that night fell far short of how they performed at the Manchester Apollo on their latest tour. I was glad to see that they had pulled in a decent crowd, comprising of mainly middle aged people (so I guess the younger generation have either not heard of Dream Theater or have no taste).

James LaBrie captivated the audience with a fantastic performance and great presence on stage, with the rest of the Theater boys proving that they are beyond a doubt one of the world best bands. Put this together with a show bigger than what most of the more popular bands put on and it makes for one of the best two and a half hours I've ever seen and heard. 'The Great Debate' and 'Missunderstood' were the only two songs performed off the forthcoming new album 'Six Degrees of Inner Turbulence', and by the sounds of it, it's another masterpiece. Playing stuff from 'Images and Words' right through to 'Metropolis Pt 2:Scenes From a Memory,' they unfortunately missed out one or two of their best songs like 'Metropolis Pt 1:Miracle And The Sleeper' and 'Change Of Seasons', but they did play 'Pull Me Under' so I think I can forgive them on that note (ever so slightly).

Let's just say that when a band perform material of such complexity faultlessly for up to three hours in one night, odd inclusions or non-inclusions should I say, don't overshadow it enough to take so much as even half a point away from the score. In the space of one evening, this Theater makes many Dreams come true.

10/10

By Steve Windle