Def Leppard News - 33 Years Ago Phil Collen's First American Show With Def Leppard

33 Years Ago Phil Collen's First American Show With Def Leppard

Friday, 18th March 2016

Def Leppard 1983.
March 1983

Def Leppard played their first American show with Phil Collen 33 years ago on this day in 1983 in Atlanta, GA.

It was also the opening night of a tour supporting Billy Squier. The first US shows after the release of the 'Pyromania' album that had come out in late January.

The first single 'Photograph' was also a few weeks away from becoming their first Top 20 hit. It had entered the Billboard Hot 100 earlier that week at Number 87 and by the tours end in late May would reach Number 12.

In the same week the 'Pyromania' album had entered the Billboard Top 200 chart's Top 10 at Number 10 only 6 weeks after entering at 69.

Phil had played his very first show with the band on 9th February 1983 in London at The Marquee Club.

Joe recalled the show in the 1987 'Animal Instinct' official biography.

18th March 1983 Atlanta Show - Animal Instinct Biography Quotes

Two weeks after the London show, Def Leppard flew to America where they were booked on twenty-four shows as the support act for Billy Squier. On the first night, in Atlanta, Leppard stood together nervously in the dressing room before going on stage.

"Phil was saying 'I'm shitting myself.' So Steve poured him a big stiff brandy. That was the first time any of us had ever drunk before going on stage."

"The lights went out, we went on and Phil later said that within two minutes of going on, he never felt more at home doing anything else - except sex."