Thursday, 1st October 2015
Poster photo by dltourhistory
Def Leppard opened their US Hysteria tour 28 years ago on this day in 1987 in Glens Falls, NY using their unique In The Round stage for the first time.
The first North American show to promote the 'Hysteria' album was performed 'In The Round' at Glens Falls Civic Center.
Def Leppard were the first band to use a dedicated In The Round concert set up for a full tour.
The main world tour had started on 27th August 1987 in Dublin, Ireland.
The new stage was placed in the center of arenas with the lighting rig hung from the ceiling. Rick Allen was sat in the middle of the stage on a rotating drum riser so he could face all four sides during the show.
The concept was thought up by then co-manager Peter Mensch after seeing an In The Round style performance by Frank Sinatra.
Lasers were bounced off mirrors located around the stage and lighting rig creating the effect of hundreds of beams (as seen in the 'PSSOM' video). The computer circuit board imagery from the album cover was painted on the stage.
The unique stage design was captured for the "In The Round-In Your Face" concert video filmed in Denver, CO in February 1988 and eventually released on VHS in September 1989.
The band would play well over 100 shows (over three separate tour legs) in the USA and Canada using the stage to almost 1 million fans from October 1987 to the end of October 1988.
A modified version was then used during the 1992/1993 Adrenalize tour in the UK/Ireland, Australia/New Zealand, USA and Canada.
Tesla were the opening band at this show and became the first act to play on the new stage. This was referenced by Phil in many 2015 interviews as they are of course opening the current tour along with Styx.
Included below are a few quotes from the band from 11th October 1987 in Hartford, CT after the first six shows. Plus Joe's tour of the stage recorded on 7th October 1988 in Atlanta, GA.
View backstage footage from the Hysteria tour filmed in 1988 in this YouTube playlist filmed by then Tour Manager Ian Jeffery.
Def Leppard - 11th October 1987 Interview/Article Quotes
Phil Collen - "It's such a buzz playing on that stage. You can spin around like an idiot and wherever you end up you're facing kids. We're a lot closer - you can actually see faces."
Joe Elliott - "There are four front rows. (Joe has) "trouble figuring out what end of the building is where." just before the curtain drops at the start of the show."
Steve Clark - "You should have seen us after the first show, we were all absolutely f**ked."
Joe Elliott - "We were panting after four songs. We've got more used to it now."
96.9 97 Rock - 18th February 2015 Phil Collen Interview Quote
Support Acts
"In fact Tesla we're the first - when we played In The Round in '87 on the Hysteria tour, they were the opening act. They were actually the first band to play you know In The Round - the first hard rock band because they went on before us so that was kind of interesting. It'll be great to have those guys back."
In The Round-In Your Face - Back Cover Quote
"Well, here it is - the final piece of the 'Hysteria' puzzle (so to speak). First the album, then the 227 date world tour, then the 'Historia' video collection and now a movie of 2 great nights in Denver (with a little help from 3 equally great nights in Atlanta)."
"We hope you enjoy this film as much as we enjoyed playing this show. Playing in the middle of the arena was a challenge for us every night as well as a challenge for Wayne Isham who directed this concert movie. No one had ever quite dealt with this setup before! For those of you who missed the show, fear not, it shall return in the near future (with a couple of modifications). Until then, enjoy 'In The Round - In Your Face'."
- Def Leppard - Glens Falls 1987 Show Page
- Def Leppard - Historia/In The Round-In Your Face
- Def Leppard - Hysteria Tour 1987/1988
- Related News - 29th September 2015