Def Leppard Lip Synch

A lot of you are commenting about Def Leppard's performance tonight on Dancing with the Stars. I don't watch that show, but I knew the performance would be on YouTube and I was correct. I wonder why the band felt the need to lip synch? Why not just play and sing?

Here is Def Leppard performing "Pour Some Sugar on Me."  

Comments

[don]

it's probably much easier for the production of the show if they lip sync.

[Christian]

Yeah, Don, that's what I was going to say. Running a tape and getting them to mime is far easier for the show. There's footage of Iron Maiden in the 80s lip synching on a German show, and they keep swapping instruments, leaving the fans in no doubt that they were not trying to fool anyone. It happened because the show would not allow live performance. I know the Aussie music show Countdown did not allow any live performances after Cold Chisel played a song slamming Countdown instead of what they said they would play, but usually, I think it has more to do with convenience and knowing that the song will be xx in length, no mistakes, etc.

[Amber]

I saw Def Leppard on Ellen Tuesday (which was taped Monday). They sang Hysteria. It was definitely sung live, without a doubt. But, as I was listening, I thought to myself that it sounded as though Joe Elliott had a cold. Then, sure enough, when Ellen came to greet them afterward, she hugged everyone, but only kind of half-hugged him and said, "Stay away from me," then they both laughed. I imagine they lip-synched on Dancing with the Stars because he was sick. They sound great live! I just saw them in Atlanta last August.

[Evo Prime]

Joe is just getting better from an upper respiratory tract infection. They canceled 6 shows because of it. He may not be fully over it. If they lip synced, it would be because of of that and the show asked them to because of the dancers. Hopefully he will be back at 100% when I go see them in August.

[Vicky]

even if Joe didn't have this "cold"...they still would have lip synched on DWTS. His voice ain't what it used to be.

I'm SO unbelievably disappointed that they did Dancing.

Even my almost-70 year old mother called me after and said, "I wonder why they feel the need to play on such a silly show? Are they trying to reach the soccer moms that watch the show?"

ugh.

[kz]

how are we so sure that joe did lip sync? sure, he's losing his voice and he has been sick, but. . .lip syncing just doesn't seem like something these guys would do. :/

[Vicky]

trust me. it was completely lip synched.

[Chey]

oh yeah that is exactly what i listen to when i listen to that song. they definatly did. They are one of the last bands i ever thought i would hear did that. BUT since they are one of my faves, i am totally willing to give them the benefit of the doubt.

[lesh]

I had to cringe when I watched DWTS. Miming!? NOOOOO the horror! But judging from the Ellen performance, Joe's voice is no longer in tiptop shape. It hasn't been for a number of years, if you ask me.

To be honest, I'm pretty worried about Joe. Six concerts is a lot of shows to postpone ( I was due to attend 4 of them, might I add) and who is to say he's going to have more problems for the rest of the tour? They're going to be touring right until the end of August. Phil could totally take over lead vocals if Joe doesn't mind tambourine duty! Why not, seriously? I feel like his awesome voice goes to waste!

[Matt]

I'm glad that the band has a new album and is promoting it on national television. I don't care if they do a live show on Super Nanny for crying out loud...let them promote their album!

[don]

joe's voice is extremely doctored on the new record. it changes from song to song, sometimes drastically. i agree that it seems as if he can't quite do it anymore.

[Mrlee]

probably because of the dangers, they probably learned to the studio version so the studio didnt wanna risk anything going wrong. live is unpredictable.

add to the fact joe probably couldnt sing it aswell now either. ill judge when i see them in july.

[MICHAEL SERAN]

UPDATE, JOE ELLIOT WAS IN FACT ILL THE NIGHT OF DANCING WITH THE STARS, BUT AS FAR AS ANY LOSS OF VOICE IS ALL IN PEOPLES HEADS! LOOKING FOR SOMETHING TO BE OFF,WHEN IN FACT. THE BAND AND JOE ARE AS TIGHT AS EVER AND AS STRONG AS EVER! SAW A COUPLE OF SHOWS ABOUT A MONTH AND A HALF AGO AND ALL FACHT'S OF THE SHOW WERE TOTALY FAB!

[Neli]

I remember seeing Faith No More doing Epic on Top Of The Pops TV show in the UK back in the day, and Mike Patton was just sticking his tongue out and pulling faces.....superb. As long as Def Leppard are live when i see them (which they will be of course) in a couple of weeks with Whitesnake.

[Mikw]

Yes it was lip synced, this is nothing new to them. Granted I have seen them live many times and they are great live, but the money involved in playing one song live on a show like DLTS isn't worth it. And who is what they were 20 years ago, Lep still kicks ass live but they need to get over it and get back to what the did best. Pyro and High and Dry are unreal. I guess Pete Willis was the true balls behind behind Def Leppard, yes I like them after he left but Pete was the poo. So Joe take a sniff.