Vivian Campbell returned home to Belfast on Saturday night (3rd December), bringing his band Last In Line to the city in a tour-closing finale that for fans and band alike, went straight through the heart.
Photo: Darren McVeigh MetalPlanet Belfast.
By Eamon O'Neill On 4th December 2016.
Def Leppard guitarist Vivian Campbell returned home to Belfast on Saturday night (3rd December), bringing his band Last In Line to the city, in a tour-closing finale that for fans and band alike, went straight through the heart.
Finishing off a seventeen date European run that began with an appearance at Hard Rock Hell in Wales in late October, the guitarist’s homecoming was greeted ecstatically by the crowd at the capacity Limelight venue.
Kicking off with ‘Holy Diver’ opener ‘Stand Up And Shout’, the five-piece ignited the crowd instantaneously, as singer Andrew Freeman revealed himself to be more than capable of carrying the powerful tones of the late Ronnie James Dio.
Going on to play a slew of classics culled mostly from the ‘Holy Diver’ album, plus their own ‘Heavy Crown’ debut, Last In Line’s sheer passion in their performance, was matched only by that of the audience who sang along word for word, for most of the night.
Acknowledging their debut in the city in August 2013, Freeman greeted the crowd telling them; “Good Evening Belfast, we’ve missed you”, before going on to poke fun at Campbell, warning; “lock up your daughters – he’s back in town!”
Clearly having as much fun up on stage as those watching, the band of brothers laughed, smiled, and soaked up the atmosphere in the venue, as the newer tracks - in particular, first single 'Devil In Me' - were greeted almost as feverously as the more well-know songs.
Taking to the mic during the encore, bassist Phil Soussan payed tribute to late bass player Jimmy Bain, dedicating the song 'Starmaker' to the veteran. Bain, who had been a member of the original Dio band alongside Campbell and Last In Line drummer Vinnie Appice, passed away suddenly while aboard Def Leppard’s ‘Hysteria On The High Seas’ cruise in January this year.
Running through classics 'Rainbow In The Dark', 'Invisible', and a particularly well received 'Last In Line', the band ended the night with a galvanising ‘We Rock’, before taking their final bows.
Meanwhile, Vivian Campbell has exclusively revealed to eonmusic that Last In Line are set to return to the studio in 2017, with plans in place to work on a new album at some point during the year. Click HERE for part one of eonmusic's exclusive interview with Vivian Campbell.
Def Leppard guitarist Vivian Campbell returned home to Belfast on Saturday night (3rd December), bringing his band Last In Line to the city, in a tour-closing finale that for fans and band alike, went straight through the heart.
Finishing off a seventeen date European run that began with an appearance at Hard Rock Hell in Wales in late October, the guitarist’s homecoming was greeted ecstatically by the crowd at the capacity Limelight venue.
Kicking off with ‘Holy Diver’ opener ‘Stand Up And Shout’, the five-piece ignited the crowd instantaneously, as singer Andrew Freeman revealed himself to be more than capable of carrying the powerful tones of the late Ronnie James Dio.
Going on to play a slew of classics culled mostly from the ‘Holy Diver’ album, plus their own ‘Heavy Crown’ debut, Last In Line’s sheer passion in their performance, was matched only by that of the audience who sang along word for word, for most of the night.
Acknowledging their debut in the city in August 2013, Freeman greeted the crowd telling them; “Good Evening Belfast, we’ve missed you”, before going on to poke fun at Campbell, warning; “lock up your daughters – he’s back in town!”
Clearly having as much fun up on stage as those watching, the band of brothers laughed, smiled, and soaked up the atmosphere in the venue, as the newer tracks - in particular, first single 'Devil In Me' - were greeted almost as feverously as the more well-know songs.
Taking to the mic during the encore, bassist Phil Soussan payed tribute to late bass player Jimmy Bain, dedicating the song 'Starmaker' to the veteran. Bain, who had been a member of the original Dio band alongside Campbell and Last In Line drummer Vinnie Appice, passed away suddenly while aboard Def Leppard’s ‘Hysteria On The High Seas’ cruise in January this year.
Running through classics 'Rainbow In The Dark', 'Invisible', and a particularly well received 'Last In Line', the band ended the night with a galvanising ‘We Rock’, before taking their final bows.
Meanwhile, Vivian Campbell has exclusively revealed to eonmusic that Last In Line are set to return to the studio in 2017, with plans in place to work on a new album at some point during the year. Click HERE for part one of eonmusic's exclusive interview with Vivian Campbell.
