Friday Is Music Day!

In my very dim and distant past, and living on the coast a bit of a way from any major concert venues it was a while before I saw my first big gig. And I think I picked an excellent first one to see. Def Leppard on the Hysteria tour in their home town of Sheffield. The band at the time was Joe Elliott, Rick Allen, Rick Savage, Phil Collen and the late Steve Clark.

I went along with a friend of mine that I worked with on a holiday camp. We both worked in a bar, we were both pretty geeky with daft senses of humour and got a long like a house on fire. The gig was in Sheffield City Hall and we were right in the middle at the back in the stalls (not that anywhere in there is too far from the stage). Tesla opened up for them and I remember thinking just how damn loud they were (in fact I saw Tesla again years later and they were the only band I’ve seen that I can honestly say played too loud!) I remember being pretty awestruck by Def Leppard at the time. They played a blinding set and it really had me hooked on trying to see more live shows.

Anyway – back to the music. The Hysteria album was a long, long time in coming out due to one thing and another. The major ‘thing’ being Rick Allen being involved in a car crash and losing an arm where the seat belt tore it off. But the album didn’t disappoint. Over the summer I think the music was on heavy rotation on the walkman or my friend’s tape player in his little hut from which he worked hiring out deckchairs for the beach. There was also some wooing of a pretty young thing how worked in the shop opposite (you know who you are!).

Whilst they are many good tracks on the album I wanted to pick Love Bites to share. I like the heartfelt pleas in it and, being a teenager with a good few typical unrequited feelings, this track always takes me back and makes me feel 17 again.

Remember people...Love Bites





If you've got love in your sights
Watch out, love bites

When you make love, do you look in the mirror?
Who do you think of?
Does he look like me?
Do you tell lies?
And say that it's forever?
Do you think twice, or just touch and see?

Oh yeah
When you're alone, do you let go?
Are you wild and willin', or is it just for show?
Ooh C'mon
I don't wanna touch you too much baby
'Cos making love to you might drive me crazy
I know you think that love is the way you make it
So I don't wanna be there when you decide to break it

(Love bites, love bleeds)
It's bringin' me to my knees
(Love lives, love dies)
It's no surprise
(Love begs, love pleads)
It's what I need

When I'm with you, are you somewhere else?
Am I gettin' thru or do you please yourself?
When you wake up, will you walk out?
It can't be love if you throw it about
Ooh babe
I don't wanna touch you too much baby
'Cos making love to you might drive me crazy

Chorus

(Love bites, love bleeds)
It's bringin' me to my knees
(Love lives, love dies)
It's no surprise
(Love begs, love pleads)
It's what I need

I don't wanna touch you too much baby
'Cos making love to you might drive me crazy
I know you think that love is the way you make it
So I don't wanna be there when you decide to break it

No!

(Love bites, love bleeds)
It's bringin' me to my knees
(Love lives, love dies)
(Love bites, love bleeds)
It's bringin' me to my knees
(Love lives, love dies)
It's no surprise
(Love begs, love pleads)
It's what I need
If you've got love in your sights
Watch out, love bites

© BLUDGEON RIFFOLA LTD;SONY/ATV MUSIC PUBLISHING UK LTD;OUT OF POCKET PRODUCTIONS