Saturday, 18th March 2017
Def Leppard 1983
Def Leppard played their first American show with Phil Collen in the band during the Pyromania tour on this day in 1983 in Atlanta, GA.
It was also the opening night of a 24 date support tour with Billy Squier.
The show took place at the 16,000 capacity Omni Arena in Atlanta, GA.
The first North American shows after the release of the 'Pyromania' album which had been released there on 20th 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 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.
The show in Atlanta was his first ever in America having never played there with previous band Girl.
His only other arena show experience was opening for KISS with Girl for two nights in September 1980 at Wembley Arena in London.
In a 1993 interview Phil mentioned the band had attended a show by Bob Seger & The Silver Bullet Band at the Omni the night before. Def Leppard had supported him at Cleveland Riverfront Stadium in July 1980, their first ever concert in a stadium.
The band would return to the Omni Arena in 1987 during the Hysteria tour. This was followed up by three more shows in October 1988 where extra filming was done for the 'In The Round-In Your Face' live concert film.
The building had been opened in October 1972 and was demolished in July 1997. It was replaced by Philips Arena which was built on the same site.
Joe recalled the show in the 1987 'Animal Instinct' official biography.
Phil briefly commented on the show in an October 2015 radio interview.
Atlanta 1983
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."
The Rock 100.5 Morning Show - Phil Collen 2015 Interview Quote
1983 Atlanta, GA Show
"You know that was my first show ever in America by the way. That Omni show was the first time I ever played in America. It was definitely a special one for me as well."
Fan photos and reviews from any past tour can be submitted - Here
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- Def Leppard - Atlanta 1983 Show Page
- Def Leppard - Pyromania Tour 1983/1984
- Def Leppard - 2017 Tour News
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