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Def Leppard Tour History Fan Archive.
27 Years Ago Def Leppard End Hysteria Tour/Steve Clark's Last Show

Tuesday, 27th October 2015





Def Leppard 1988.
Backstage 1988

Def Leppard ended their 14 month Hysteria world tour in Tacoma, WA, USA 27 years ago on this day in 1988.

The 227th show took place at the Tacoma Dome in Tacoma, WA, USA. A venue that had already been played in December 1987.

The longest tour in the band's career at that point had started in Dublin, Ireland on 27th August 1987.

This show turned out to be the last full live concert with Steve Clark as a member of the band.

He eventually died in January 1991 after his long battle with alcoholism came to a sad end whilst on a six month leave of absence from the making of the 'Adrenalize' album.

Steve continued to perform and record with the band through late 1988 and into 1990. His final recorded guitar solo was later released on the demo recording of 'When Love & Hate Collide' in 1995. Included as a bonus track on the UK CD single for the the band's biggest UK hit.

Steve appeared in the promo video for 'Rocket', filmed one month after the tour ended. He then performed with the band on various UK/European TV shows. Most of these happened in January/February 1989 including the Brit Awards at London's Royal Albert Hall and his last ever UK performance on Top Of The Pops three days later.

His last ever appearance on a stage was in September 1989 at the MTV awards.

All performances after the Hysteria tour were done using playback apart from this one where Joe's vocals were live. The music was a new recording of the song that was eventually scrapped and re-recorded in 1991 as the band finished off the 'Adrenalize' album.

The band were supported by L.A. Guns during this final leg of the tour who featured Phil's ex-Girl band mate Phil Lewis on lead vocals.

The In The Round stage had been unveiled on 1st October 1987 in Glens Falls, NY. This stage was seen in promo videos and the "In The Round-In Your Face" concert video filmed in Denver, CO.

Between that date and 27th October 1988 the band played to over 1.5 million fans in the USA alone and almost 2 million during the entire tour.

View backstage footage from the Hysteria tour filmed in 1988 (including the last show) in this YouTube playlist filmed by then Tour Manager Ian Jeffery.

It shows the soundcheck and features parts of the band playing 'Die Hard The Hunter'. Steve's solo can be heard and he is shown briefly wearing baggy white trousers and holding one of his white twin-neck Gibson guitars.

Shown below is a quote from Joe taken from an interview with journalist Mick Wall conducted backstage in Tacoma.

Steve Clark/Hysteria Gallery

Steve Clark Tacoma 27th October 1988. Steve Clark w/ Tesla 1987. Hysteria 1987/1988.

Tacoma 1988 - Joe Elliott Interview Quotes

Out On Top

It was a hell of a time to be finishing the tour. Backstage at the Tacoma Dome, Joe puts it like this: "At least we're quitting while we're still ahead. It would be awful to hang around like some bands have done and keep playing until we've completely flogged the album to death, and people have started to get bored with us and stopped coming to see the show."

"Hopefully, when we come back we'll be able to pick up where we left off."

With a year to play with, the temptation to go in the studio with 'Mutt' (Lange, Leppard's regular producer and, some say, the genius behind all their best material) and make a proper follow-up to Hysteria is very strong.

"Who knows, you'll have to ask me in six months. Right now all I can think about is getting home. I know it sounds boring, but after the last fourteen months I think I could stand a little boredom. It should make for a nice change."






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