Kiss and Def Leppard an Unlikely Pair on Tour for 2014

Kiss and Def Leppard started their North American tour last week when they kicked off in West Valley City, Utah.  A “fan” posted on Facebook said he wished there was a way to buy a ticket to half the show!  WE had a hard time figuring out which half this fan wanted to see, and it got us thinking about a show we saw almost 22 years ago to the day.

On July 18, 1992, Guns n Roses and Metallica played the second date of their North American tour and I was there.  At the time, I was addicted to Guns n Roses.  Appetite for Destruction was five years old but the songs were as new as ever.  Rolling Stone magazine named the album one of the best of the 80s and a heavier brand of music was available to the masses.

Metallica, on the other hand, was not a band fit for a clean-cut Jersey kid.  They were for the long-haired, head bangers that wore jeans jackets and were doing things in 8th grade that I didn’t find out about until my late 20s!  Nothing Else Matters released just a few weeks before the tour and hadn’t yet crossed into mainstream radio.

So I went to the concert excited to see GNR and anticipated leaving soon thereafter.   GNR played for about 45 minutes before someone threw a shoe at Axl Rose.  He walked off stage and that was that.  The performance probably wouldn’t have lasted much longer anyway.  And then Metallica took the stage.  It was clear these guys took rock to a different level.  Hearing a stadium chant “Seek & Destroy” was mesmerizing.    Master of Puppets had a precision I had never quite heard.  And the finale of Enter Sandman sold me on the band.  I’ve been a fan ever since.

For me, the lesson is clear.  You never know what you’re going to get at a performance.  Had someone offered me $20 for the second half, I would have chomped at the bit.  In hindsight, it would have been a HUGE mistake.  So for those fortunate enough to herald Kiss and Def Leppard tickets, enjoy the show.  You probably don’t get out much and who knows, you might like the one you didn’t think you’d like!

As usual, Cheapseatstickets.com has a huge selection of Kiss and Def Leppard tour tickets.  The tour runs through August 8 so look for a show near you.

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