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def leppard / Hits Vegas Sin City Residency Opening Night

on this day - 14th August 2019

On this day in Def Leppard history the 'Hits Vegas Sin City Residency' residency opened in Las Vegas, NV.
The band's second residency featuring a massive new stage production.

Def Leppard 2019.

"Las Vegas, Sin City. Thanks for having us."


Def Leppard 2019.

This section looks at the 'His Vegas Sin City Residency' opening night in Las Vegas, NV.


"We wanted it to be a production. The lights, the lasers, the songs."

Def Leppard played the first show of the Sin City Residency in Las Vegas, NV on this day in 2019.

The show took place at the 7,000 capacity Zappos Theater at Planet Hollywood.

The opening night of the 12 show residency. The second of the band's career after 2013's VIVA! Hysteria.

The first visit to Las Vegas since September 2018 and a return to the site of their first Las Vegas show in September 1982 of the Pyromania tour (see below).

A stage featuring an array of video screen, ramps and a satellite thrust stage were used along with lasers and the usual impressive light show.

Two songs were played for the very first time and others included for the first time in many years.

'Die Hard The Hunter' was played for the first time since Vivian's first show in Dublin 1992.

It was also used to open the show following the usual video countdown and the curtains opening to the sound of the album version intro music.

A 23 song setlist was performed. the longest show played since the 2013 VIVA! Hysteria show.

The first time at this venue and 26th time overall in Las Vegas.


Def Leppard 2019.



Def Leppard 2019. Screenshot

2019 Setlist/Staging

A 23 song setlist played.

'Let Me Be The One' and 'We Belong' were played for the very first time. Played during a lengthy semi-acoustic section as previewed recently by Vivian where the band showcased their vocal skills including Rick Allen for the very first ime.

Pyromania tracks 'Die Hard The Hunter' and 'Billy's Got A Gun' were played for the first time since 1992 and 2002.

Other expected rarities included 'Now', 'Slang' and (the slightly less rare) 'Promises'.

The staging was not unlike the 2013 residency only bigger and with more large video screens behind the and and either side of them. What Joe referred to as a 'satellite stage' was used in place of a Thrust and where the band were all seated for the semi-acoustic section.

The visuals for many songs were updated including 'Photograph' which still features...photos but used in a slightly different way and not all old 1980s era shots. See videos for details including footage of the live debut songs and the intro.


Def Leppard 2019.



Def Leppard 2019.

Joe Elliott - End Of Show Speech

"Las Vegas, Sin City. Thanks for having us. Thanks for coming. Wherever you have travelled from to be here tonight. Thanks for being here. We'll catch you next time. Goodnight."

"Thank you so much. It's been a blast Vegas thanks for having us. Had a great time. One down eleven to go. Thank you so much for making it a great start. We'll see you next time. Goodnight!."

"Be good to yourselves. And until next time. And there will be a next time. Do us a big favour. Don't forget us and we won't forget you. Goodnight."


Las Vegas Weekly - The Joe Elliott Interview Quotes

Residency Production

"It’s going to be a vastly different show, a really big production because that’s the whole point of doing these shows these days. It has to be a visual feast."

Residency Setlist

"And even though it’s a bigger [room] than last time, it’s a theater, not a massive arena, so we’ll be closer to the crowd and they’ll give us a different energy as well. We can change up the set as often as we like."




Def Leppard 2019.

Def Leppard 2019 - Las Vegas, NV #1 Setlist

  • 00 - Video Countdown/Personal Jesus Intro
  • 00 - Die Hard The Hunter Album Intro

  • 01 - Die Hard The Hunter

Played for the first time in the USA since 27th October 1988 in Tacoma, WA. First performance since 15th April 1992 in Dublin, Ireland (Vivian Campbell's first show with the band).

First time ever as a show opener.

  • 02 - Animal
  • 03 - Excitable
  • 04 - Promises

Played for the first time since 18th December 2018 in London, England.

  • 05 - Foolin'
  • 06 - Slang

Played for the very first time since April 2013 in Las Vegas.

  • 07 - Billy's Got A Gun

Played for the first time since 26th November 2002 in Tokyo, Japan.

  • 08 - Bringin' On The Heartbreak (electric)
  • 09 - Switch 625 (Instrumental)

Semi-Acoustic Section

  • 10 - Let Me Be The One

Played for the first time ever.

  • 11 - We Belong

Played for the first time ever.

  • 12 - Have You Ever Needed Someone So Bad

Played for the first time since 15th September 2012 in Santa Barbara, CA during the Acoustic Medley Section. And the first time in full since 23rd June 2005 in Pittsburgh, PA.

  • 13 - Two Steps Behind

    • 14 - Now

    Played for the first time since 24th November 2003 in Moscow, Russia.


    • 15 - Rocket (Album Version)
    • 16 - Let's Get Rocked
    • 17 - Hysteria
    • 18 - Love Bites
    • 19 - Armageddon It
    • 20 - Pour Some Sugar On Me

    • 21 - Let's Go
    • 22 - Rock Of Ages
    • 23 - Photograph

Def Leppard 2019.


Def Leppard Sin City Residency - Press Release Quotes

Joe Elliott - “Five years ago, we played our first ever residency in Las Vegas which was relatively new ground for a rock band giving this kind of experience…I have to say, we really enjoyed it! Being in one place for the best part of a month is vastly different to our normal city to city touring routine. Breaking this cycle adds another element to the experience for both us and the audience. We look forward to seeing you at the Zappos Theater this summer!”

“Planet Hollywood transformed the entertainment landscape in Las Vegas with the first pop residency,” said Jason Gastwirth, president of entertainment at Caesars Entertainment. “We are proud to be at the forefront of rock residencies as well and treat the city’s visitors to a new type of experience with Def Leppard.”


Def Leppard 2019. Screenshot

Julie's Rock Block - August 2019 Interview Quotes

2019 Sin City Residency Opening Night

Phil - "I was exhausted, I nap before we went on, absolutely. I usually do anyway but yeah no it's longer than we normally play. Yeah we had all these extra songs we were rehearsing and planning. So yeah that was a lot. It was great though."

"No it's all gonna be like that. But when we realised we was gonna do a residency we wanted it to look very different from a tour. We've been, we're always on tour and we wanted it to be a production. The lights, the lasers, the songs. Just a different vibe completely. And when you do this it's a lot more theatrical than say running around in a stadium or a sports arena. That's very rock an droll and all that but this is different. So we actually wanted it to be ."

Lighting Show

Phil - "Thank you. Kenji our Japanese lighting designer who's been with us for like 20 years. Me and Joe done a club tour in Japan and he done the lighting and we went oh my god this looks like a stadium, this is crazy. So he's been with us ever since. He's amazing."

Rick - "I can speak for our entire crew just what they've done to create this look and just how dimensional this whole thing is. This is really special. I'm not sure anybody could get to see something like this outside of say a venue like this."

Phil - "It's a real team thing like Rick said. It's our crew, production, arrangement. The band It's been so great. And I think 'cause everyone wants it to be better. Everyone and it's such a team so we're kind of proud of that."

Rare Songs In Setlist

Phil - "Yeah like we were rehearsing these acoustic songs. We actually wanted to do a proper acoustic set, you know, with produced acoustic songs as opposed to sitting around a camp fire type vibe. So while we was in Canada we were rehearsing on the days off. We'd be in there like four hours sometimes just sitting around getting the arrangements right. So again just very special and something that we don't normally do. So that was really cool."

Phil - "It did seem seamless unlike the day before. We were like oh my god are we gonna be able to pull this off. So yeah it actually works and now we've got that under our belt I think it's gonna get even better."


Def Leppard 2019.


August 2019 - Joe Elliott Interview Quotes

"We dug deep into our catalog and we're going back [as recent as] the latest album. And songs from High 'n' Dry that we don't play on a regular basis, songs from Pyromania that we haven't played in decades, and a couple of songs we've never played at all,”

"It's 12 shows in the same building, we're not going to play the same set twice.”

Stsge Production

"We wanted to bring big, brash, Las Vegas-style theatrical visuals. And because we don't have to keep stripping this down every night and moving it to the next town, we could really go completely hog-wild. It stays there for the three weeks that we're here, so, we could really go to town with it."


Def Leppard 2019. Screenshot

August 2019 - Rick Allen Interview Quotes

2019 Residency Opening Night

Phil - "We've really been putting a lot of time in for this reason. So that we could actually get this like that. And our crew and production and everything. A lot of the stuff was surprising to us. I mean the lasers and everything was shocking. It was amazing."

Bigger Production For Vegas

Rick - "That's what we figured. We figured it needed to be a real show and present the band in a completely different way that we've never done before. Some of the equipment that we use it doesn't always travel that well. So people are getting a real treat."

Phil - "Yeah I don't know how they'd get that in the truck on tour."

I hope this turns into a longer run

Phil - "It will. We're loving it so much. We like the vibe. We like being here and we dig it, it's great. So yes we'll be back."

Rick - "One of the most important things is my bed doesn't move."


Watch some Fan Videos from the show here.

Def Leppard 2019 Fan Videos.


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