Def Leppard News - Rare Footage Of Def Leppard/Tesla From The 1988 Hysteria Tour

Rare Footage Of Def Leppard/Tesla From The 1988 Hysteria Tour

Friday, 2nd September 2016

Def Leppard 1988.
Odessa 1988

Def Leppard played a Hysteria world tour show in Odessa, TX in February 1988 and rare footage has been posted online.

This footage comes from the end of the first five and half month leg of the Hysteria US In The Round tour.

The date of this show is (probably) the 15th February (new evidence suggests Albuquerque, NM took place on this date but more about that another time...).

This footage was filmed in Odessa on the last night though and is name checked as they are introduced on stage.

They played a show in San Juan, Puerto Rico at one end after this gig (19th February) before heading to Europe.

Tesla would return for more shows in June/July in Canada/USA. There are some photos in US rock magazines of band members on stage with them. Possibly from this show or from 14th July in Green Bay, WI. The last show of the second batch of In The Round gigs before Def Leppard played outdoors with Europe opening.

A series of videos from Tesla's opening set have been posted and one from Def Leppard's own set. This sees Joe thank the band for being the only ones willing to play on the new stage before bringing them up during 'Travellin' Band'.

Other videos see Tesla playing 'Rock Of Ages' along with songs from 'Mechanical Resonance' like '2 Late 4 Love', 'Little Suzi' and 'Changes'.

View 7 videos on this YouTube playlist featuring other songs from Tesla's opening set and backstage footage.

They had played 'Rock of Ages' with both Steve Clark/Phil Collen in Amsterdam in May 1987 and later with Rick Savage in 1989 in Phoenix, AZ (Sav's only known solo guest appearance).

Many thanks to Eddie Lance who posted this rare footage.

You may recognise someone from the 1988 Tour Managers video introducing them, Def Leppard stage manager Charlie Hernandez (in the 'Say A Prayer for Tesla' clip).

The main spine of the Hysteria stage was not added until after Tesla opened. So their own drum riser in the middle makes the stage look very different.