Monday, 15th April 2019
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27 Years Ago VIVIAN CAMPBELL's First DEF LEPPARD Show In Dublin

Def Leppard 1992. Def Leppard 1992

Vivian Campbell made his first public appearance as a guitarist for Def Leppard on this day in 1992 in Dublin, Ireland.

The show at McGonagles Club in Dublin on 15th April 1992 was a warm-up before the band appeared at the Freddie Mercury tribute concert five days later.

That show was to be the official unveiling of the replacement for the late Steve Clark who had died in January 1991.

Vivian was actually unveiled via a short press release the day before this show (14th April 1992).

This show was also notable for the only playing of the song 'Die Hard The Hunter' with Vivian in the band which was not included in the setlist for the main Adrenalize world tour.

A song that will be played again during a Pyromania album residency in Las Vegas, should it ever happen.

As a warm-up for the Freddie Mercury tribute concert the band played their three song set as the first encore (LGR played first), including Queen's 'Now I'm Here'.

In all 17 songs were performed with 'Let's Get Rocked' making its live debut and the rest of the set very similar to that played on the 13-Day club tour. 'Rock! Rock!' was played and would not return to the set until June 1993.

Vivian had played this venue many times with his first band Sweet Savage in the late 70s/early 80s. U2 also played many of their early shows here.

Read a media review and view the setlist on the show page.

A number of new quotes from 1992 have been added with Vivian sharing his thoughts on his debut show.

Vivian Campbell - 1992 Article/Interview Quotes

It was barely six weeks from the time Vivian was recruited until Def Leppard played their first gig on Wednesday, April 15th. The surprise hour and forty minute set at a Dublin, Ireland club called McGonagles featured new tunes like Let's Get Rocked as well as old standards like Animal, Rock Of Ages, and Photograph. It went over fabulously with the 600 rock starved fans who were privileged enough to enjoy this intimate show.

"I was excited, but I wasn't at all nervous. That show was absolutely steaming. The band was really, really good. I'm really going to enjoy this tour. Def Leppard plays good music. The band feels good. The songs too...they feel very fresh on it. I feel that no matter what happens that this will be the last band I play with."

Def Leppard 1992. Def Leppard 1992

Joe Elliott - 1992 Interview Quotes

"When we played our first gig, it was like Vivian had always been in the band - Def Leppard Mach II. It was very strange in fact, because I didn't expect it to be that comfortable, especially since we were replacing a guy who died, not one we fired and all hated or something. I would be very surprised if the fans didn't accept Vivian. I mean, what do they expect? We can't bring Steve back. Steve was loved very much by everyone in the band, but we had the advantage of having 18 months since he died, so time had healed some of the wounds."

Joe Elliott - 15th April 1992 On Stage Quotes

Before Women

"Thank you very much. How ya doing?. Is it hot enough out there for ya?. Well I guess you could call this the official first night of the 1992 stroke 1993 Seven Day Weekend worldwide domination tour. We're also very proud to be in Dublin because we've been here for a while. This is our sort of thank you to you guys for putting up with us. We'd like to play you a track from the Hysteria album that goes something like this."

Before Gods Of War

"It's, it's pretty amazing really. It's hard to believe it but it's over four years since we played a gig together. It's also over five years since we wrote this last song. This next song rather and since the lyrics were written to this song a lot's happened. The wall came down in Berlin. Charlie went, Maggie went. Gorbachev went. Unfortunately there's still a few motherf**kers around that we wish there weren't. Ghaddafi for example. Saddam Hussein. How safe do you feel?."

Vivian Campbell Introduction/Before Armageddon It

"Thank you very much. You probably read in the music press. It's been pretty much, pretty well documented over the last few months. What's happened to us over the last few years. And we lost a very good friend. And I don't know how to say this but I guess as one flame dies, another one rises. We'd like you to welcome to our family Mr. Vivian Campbell."

End Of Main Set

"Thank you. It has been as they say a pleasure. We'll see you soon alright. Thanks for having us, it's been a blast. Bye."

Def Leppard 1992. Def Leppard 1992

Before Let's Get Rocked (Debut Performance)

"I've got a question for ya. Has everybody had a good time?. OK I've got another question for ya. Do ya wanna get rocked?."

Before Now I'm Here

"Thank you. By the way thanks for making the album Number One in Ireland for two weeks in a row. It's great thank you. We are forever in your debt. We're doing this Freddie Mercury benefit gig which is all for Aids Awareness on Easter Monday. So tune into BBC 2 at six o'clock. To see the likes of Guns N' Roses, Def Leppard, Extreme, Metallica, U2, doing their bit for Fred and for Aids. We have a distinct pleasure of doing a Queen number and Brian May's gonna get up and play with us. We're gonna do it for you now. We wanna make sure we know how it goes alright."

After Now I'm Here

"We'll be back real soon. We're playing The Point on the 18th of June. Hope to see you. Goodnight." - (That show was actually moved to 19th June.)

Before Photograph

"Haven't you folks got any homes to go to then?. They told us there was a curfew but we said bollocks to all that lot. First of all before we start I'd like to say thanks to everybody for helping us get this gig together at such short notice. All the guys down The Factory and whatever. And from a personal point of view it's nice to be able to show you guys what I do or a living, really. Dave Fanning if you're in here, you're cheap!. OK here's song we wrote a long time ago about a dead women. Her name's Marilyn Monroe and it goes something like this."

Vivian Campbell - 29th May 1992 Interview Quote

"With Def Leppard it's a little different. In fact it's a lot different because Def Leppard is notorious as being one of those real band situations where they kind of grew up together and went through thick and thin. So that's a much more rewarding situation than just being a guitar player in someone's band."

Dublin, Ireland 15th April 1992 - Media Review Quotes

"Although this gig took place before any official announcement was made, his appearance was not entirely unexpected."

"Popular with the crowd straight away, Joe's request for a "welcome to the family" brought roars of approval which forced a coy smile from Vivian."

"His style blended in perfectly with the Leppard sound, and he also came across well alongside Phil Collen."


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