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12 Years Ago DEF LEPPARD/BRIAN MAY At VH1 Rock Honors In Las Vegas

Def Leppard 2006. Screenshot

Def Leppard performed live at the VH1 Rock Honors show in Las Vegas, NV on this day in 2006 and footage/photos are available.

The concert took place on 25th May 2006 at the Mandalay Bay Events Center.

Read more about the 'YEAH!' album release anniversary.

The event was later broadcast on VH1 in the USA on 31st May (later shown in the UK).

Four artists were honoured at the event - KISS, Queen + Paul Rodgers, Judas Priest and Def Leppard.

Each act performed a few of their classic and new songs after being honoured by another artist covering one of their hits.

The All-American Rejects covered 'Photograph' prior to Def Leppard's own performance.

A short three minute video was shown as an introduction to the performance. Introduced by host Jaime Pressly the clip talked about the history of the band and featured current interviews with the band members.

The three song performance featured 'Rock Of Ages', the extended version of 'Rocket' and '20th Century Boy' from 'YEAH!'.

'Rocket' was only shown on the VH1 website.

Brian May from Queen joined the band on stage for the fifth time during '20th Century Boy' and was introduced by Joe as the unofficial sixth member of the band. He had already played on stage with them in 1983, 1987, 1992 and 2003 playing covers of Queen songs.

The artists being honoured were given a special ring which the band showed off on the red carpet (see photos).

The video screens showed the visuals the band would use on their 2006 YEAH! tour of North America when they stepped up their production after the first use of video screens in 2005.

View '20th Century Boy' and 'Rocket' via the YouTube playlist and some photos courtesy of Gettyimages.

Def Leppard 2006. Screenshot

Brian May performed with the band for the fifth time. Only the second public performance of their T. Rex cover '20th Century Boy'. The opening track on the 'YEAH!' album which had been released a few days before.

Def Leppard 2006. Screenshot

Sav shown talking during the three minute introduction video where the band talked briefly about their history including how they overcame the death of Steve Clark and Rick's 1984 car accident.

Def Leppard 2006. Screenshot

Following their first appearance with the band at The Tonight Show With Jay Leno on 23rd May. The three backup singers sang with the band again during both 'Rocket' and '20th Century Boy'. These two events were their only appearances with the band.

25th May 2006 - Joe Elliott Quotes

"Thank you. Tonight there's a lot of tributes being paid which is great. We're gonna do one of our own. A track from our new album which is a tribute to the music that we grew up listening to when we were kids."

"We're gonna do a T. Rex number for ya. And we're gonna invite a very good friend of ours up on stage. The unofficial sixth member of Def Leppard. From Queen Mr. Brian May. Oh yeah!."

View all the Fan Videos available so far on this YouTube playlist.

Def Leppard Fan Videos 2006.


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Phil Collen - Guitar
Phil Collen - Guitar
Phil Collen - Guitar
Phil Collen - Guitar