About a month ago DEF LEPPARD released the double disc and HD blue ray celebrating their eleven-show residency at The Joint in the Hard Rock Hotel and Casino in Las Vegas, Nevada which commenced on March 22, 2013 . The "VIVA! Hysteria" show featured an elaborate set design created uniquely for this establishment. They performed the super successful, but lackluster "Hysteria" in its entirety to celebrate its 25^th anniversary.

The pyromaniacs had "the best DEF LEPPARD cover band in the whole damn world, no shit!" serve as the opening act, according to Joe Elliot. Right before playing "Mirror, Mirror" the lead vocalist encourages fans to remove whatever clothing they desire and to later meet the band in their dressing rooms, after the show. What is amusing is that as the cover band called DED FLATBIRD played on through the night, as several photographs were taken, I guess they thought that they were foolin' their audience, because this was in fact DEF LEPPARD themselves. They selected the name based on a mispronunciation they had heard of their own appellative They played two separate opening sets highlighting material from their earlier albums, many tracks not heard in decades, as well as some surprise cuts.

It was just after this amazing experience that the Metal Milieu heard the news and became hysterical over Vivian Campbell's cancer scare of Hodgkin's Lymphoma, which now he claims has gone into remission. I was never a big fan of "Hysteria", and I am still unfamiliar with the non-hits, but they are growing on me. When I first heard this release, I considered this album to be a total betrayal after the exceptional "Pyromania". I accepted drummer Rick Allen's limitations, but c'mon these songs were just not Metal. After "Steamin" Steve Clark passed, I gave up on LEP entirely until I saw them live up close about five years ago. Now I can respect what they have accomplished over the years. Clearly Rick hammers away quite well on the Classics today - two plus decades later, so why was "Hysteria", so damn radio friendly with seven singles which sky rocketed them straight to the top! Those videos like "Love Bites" and "Animal" were god-awful! With so many Metal acts finding their sound in the 80's, for me LEP fell two steps behind.

Because of this, I still gloss over the first disc; especially the lull of "Love And Affection", because those are not the songs I really want to hear save "Pour Some Sugar On Me", "Armageddon It", and of course the encores for "Rock Of Ages" and "Photograph". However, once I get to the second disc I am thrilled. Damn! THE BLUE MINK cover of "Good Morning Freedom" is taken from the 1980 "Hello America" single. All those vintage hits from my formative years just light me up, and I even dig hearing songs like "Slang", or the single "Undefeated" from "Mirrorball". I just wish they had included "Two Steps Behind" and revisited "(Getcha') Rocks Off!" or "Rock! Rock! ('Til You Drop)", which I am convinced, was influenced when they toured with RAVEN back in the day. However, hearing the adrenalized and updated versions of "Wasted", "Rock Brigade", "Stagefright", and "Another Hit And Run" make this more than worthwhile.

I have not viewed the DVD itself, but my friend assures me that like the new RUSH, the quality is top notch. Judging by this performance, I am sure it is well worthwhile. Talk about taking action, let's get rocked! I realize that everyone seems to be releasing a new live album lately with TED NUGENT and REO SPEEDWAGON from fellow Frontiers, as well as EUROPE, LITA FORD, and the aforementioned RUSH's "Clockwork Angels Tour" which features an incredible set list of many never before performed live cuts; however this is one die hard celebration not to be missed, so happy hunting; especially, should Vivian become ill again, and we never 'gain get to witness him Rock out and run riot.