Def Leppard, Motley Crue wow fans at Suncorp Stadium

The double header of Def Leppard and Motley Crue has touched down in Brisbane, and there were some unexpected turns.

Joe Elliott out front of Def Leppard in Brisbane. Picture: Stephen Archer

• 89 headbanger pics from Suncorp show

Ninety years of rock ’n’ roll showmanship came to Brisbane’s Suncorp Stadium on Wednesday night as Brit band Def Leppard and their Californian rivals Motley Crue put on a double-head-banger show that wowed fans.

After claiming they had a cast-iron contract that meant they never had to play again, Nikki Sixx and his Motley crew were tempted back to the stage in 2022, after a seven-year hiatus, due to the success of Netflix’s biopic The Dirt.

The result: The World Tour, a double-header that touched down in Brisbane.

John 5 on guitar for Motley Crue in Brisbane. Picture: Stephen Archer

With only two other Australian gigs, in Sydney on Saturday and Melbourne next week, it was a brief glimpse for hardcore fans now into a second generation.

The Crue quickly got things pumping, with their mega hit Shout at the Devil firing up the crowd.

Vince Neil, whose voice unfortunately doesn’t project as well these days, made up for that with stage banter, two athletic dancing girls and band mates who were on fire — particularly John 5, resplendent in a flowing white cape with a big “5’’ on it.

His extended electric riff led spectacularly into Smoking in the Boys Room, which quickly morphed into Helter Skelter and Anarchy, firing up a crowd that had been a bit lacklustre until then.

“Stand the f*** up,’’ Neil implored them at one point.

Mötley Crüe performing at Suncorp Stadium. Photo: Stephen Archer.

There were some great local references, including a chant of “Brissie, Brissie, Brissie, oi, oi, oi.’’

It was classic Crue and at one point when Tommy Lee invited the female audience members to show off their wares.

“I haven’t seen one pair of titties,’’ he cried out before a bloke up the front bared his man boobs, which prompted a few ladies to oblige.

89 pic mega headbanger gallery: Motley Crue, Def Leppard rock Suncorp

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The 19-song set touched on staples such as Looks That Kill and Dr Feelgood before wrapping up with Kickstart My Heart and an explosive drum finale that got the crowd in the mood for Def’s turn to strut.

Frontman Joe Elliott’s voice meanwhile had no problem reaching the back of the stadium.

He commanded the stage, with a slick big screen ensuring the rest of the band made their presence felt as well.

Def Leppard’s Joe Elliott performing on stage at Suncorp Stadium. Photo: Stephen Archer.

There was a great moment early on with a sea of smart phones lighting up for Love Bites.

Elliott also boned up on Australian culture, sharing with the audience that due to jet lag flying in from Japan he had stayed up to watch the cricket until 3am that morning.

As big a presence as Elliott was up front, all five Leppards did their bit.

A standout had to be one-armed drummer Rick Allen, who was smiling the whole night.

Despite a horrifying injury in a 1984 car crash, he showed he could belt it out better than most drummers with two arms.

His solo on Bringin’ on the Heartbreak was simply incredible and had the crowd in raptures.

It was all hands in the air by the time Def got to Hysteria and when the lights went on in the finale, Photograph, everyone was happy and left Suncorp with only minor eardrum damage.

Vince Neil out front of Mötley Crüe in Brisbane. Picture: Stephen Archer

Originally published as Def Leppard, Motley Crue wow fans at Suncorp Stadium