Ready to rock? The NHL sure is

The Red Wings won't be the only guys dishing out hits in Detroit on opening night.

To kick off the 2008-09 season, the League will host NHL Face-Off Rocks 2008 concert Oct. 9, headlined by Def Leppard, the biggest arena-rock band of all-time. There also will be celebrations to start the season that day in Montreal, Toronto and Vancouver.

"This should be a big, huge grand event," said NHL Senior Vice President, Broadband and New Media Production, Andre Mika.

The biggest, grandest part will take place at Detroit's famed Fox Theatre, where Def Leppard will perform its arena-inspired hit song, "C'mon, C'mon."

"Hockey has always been 'Rock And Roll Part 2' by Gary Glitter, every hockey game you hear that,"said Phil Collen, who plays guitar for the band. "When we did that song ('C'Mon, C'Mon'), it was done in the sprit of that song."

"When Sav (bassist Rick Savage) first played me 'C'mon, C'mon,' I remember saying to him, 'I can hear this being played in every hockey arena all over the Untied States and Canada," said lead singer Joe Elliott. "Once we recorded it, I was even more convinced."

The band also will play songs from its new album, "Songs From the Sparkle Lounge," as well as some of their greatest hits.

"The game is sold out, but this gives us the ability to pull those fans that couldn't go to the game downtown," said Don Renzulli, NHL Senior Vice President of Events and Entertainment. "We'll simulcast the game inside the Fox. Those people also will get the benefit of the Def Leppard concert."

While the fans in the Fox will get the concert, the ones packed into the Joe Louis Arena will get to help the Red Wings celebrate once again their 2008 Stanley Cup championship by raising the banner to the arena's rafters prior to opening defense of their title against the Toronto Maple Leafs.

"I think this gives us the ability to stretch out of the arena and make this a bigger event," said Renzulli, "show this thing is bigger than just an arena."

Tickets for NHL Face-Off Rocks 2008 went on sale Monday morning, and can be purchased at the Fox Theatre box office, by phone at (248) 433-1515, or online at Ticketmaster.com or OlympiaEntertainment.com.

"The concert is a celebration of the launch of the season in North America," Mika said. "We thought it was a great way to activate our fan base with a concert in Detroit. We love the idea of celebrating the host city. We love the idea of having a place for our friends to come and watch the game, hear great music and celebrate the beginning of the season like an official launch party. These are the types of events that hockey fans love being a part of.

"Def Leppard is one of the legendary all-time rock bands. They're a terrific fit for our demographic. We have a demographic that loves this type of music. And we love working with Def Leppard because some of the songs off their new album are very hockey friendly."

Contact Adam Kimelman at [email protected].