Def Leppard News - DEF LEPPARD Start 2019 European Tour At SWEDEN ROCK (Show Report)

Friday, 7th June 2019

DEF LEPPARD Start 2019 European Tour At SWEDEN ROCK (Show Report)

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Def Leppard played the first show of the 2019 European tour last night in Solvesborg, Sweden with 17 songs performed.

The show took place at the 30,000 plus capacity Festival Stage at the Sweden Rock Festival.

The opening night of the Def Leppard 2019 European tour and first performance since the Rock An Roll Hall Of Fame Induction ceremony in March. And first full show since 18th December in London.

15 shows will be played in all during June and July in 12 different countries. The first major European run of shows since May/June 2015.

Def Leppard headlined a bill of four bands on the main Festival Stage playing from 10:30pm to 12am.

The band's first time in Solvesborg and Sweden since 4th June 2015 on the 2015 world tour.

The fourth appearance by the band in this city and as headliners of this festival.

Previous Appearances At Sweden Rock

4th June 2015 - Sweden Rock Festival, Solvesborg, Sweden

The third headline appearance at this festival with a longer 18 song setlist played. Featuring the rarely played 'Paper Sun'.

Also on the bill were Toto, Slash and Spike's Free House.

6th June 2008 - Sweden Rock Festival, Solvesborg, Sweden

The second headline appearance here on the Songs From The Sparkle Lounge tour.

The bill also included Whitesnake, Ace Frehley and Tesla.

9th June 2006 - Sweden Rock Festival, Solvesborg, Sweden

The first visit to Solvesborg was in June 2006 on the short YEAH! European tour.

The first headline festival show by the band in Europe or the UK since the Rock Am Ring show of May 1993 on the Adrenalize tour.

The setlist included rarities like 'Hell Raiser', 'High 'N' Dry (Saturday Night)' and 'Wasted'. The lineup also included Venom, Gotthard and Queensryche who had supported them on the 1988 Hysteria tour.

2019 Setlist/Staging

The setlist remained much the same as the North American shows of 2018 starting with the Hysteria album Intro followed by 'Rocket' as song #1. 'Man Enough' was played for the first time in Sweden.

'Let It Go' was played after only appearing a handful of times in 2018. Basically this song was added in as song #3 to the 16 song setlist from the 60 date USA/Canada tour of 2018. 'Animal', 'Let It Go' and 'Foolin'' were also played in this order as songs #2 to #4 on the 2015 tour including at Sweden Rock.

The same Hysteria album intro used during the UK/Irish tour in 2018 was played before 'Rocket'. The band logo appeared on the screen as it had before 'Women'.

The staging and lighting was almost the same as in 2018 with video screens also on Rick's drum riser plus ramps either side of him. His drum kit now features the classic Hysteria era triangular band logo on a black background.

A large video screen was in place as usual and two massive screens at either side of the stage. Also used by the other acts on the Festival Stage during the day.

Other Bands

Blackberry Smoke opened the Festival Stage at 1:15pm before Krokus who last toured with Def Leppard in 1983 on the Pyromania tour. They left the tour early after various incidents as described in the 'Animal Instinct' official biography from 1987.

Swedish melodic death metal band Amon Amarth followed these two acts at 7 pm playing a 90 minute slot. There was then a two hour wait before Def Leppard's own 90 minute show which began at 10:30pm local time CET.

Watch some Fan Videos from the show here.

Joe Elliott - Pre-Rock Of Ages Speech

"This is the first show we've played since December so thank you so much for welcoming us back. What a fantastic place to start. We won't forget this one any time soon. All the way to the back look at you guys. Let's see those hands in the air one more time come on everybody. Light 'em up Kenji. Look at that it's beautiful."

"Thank you looks amazing. I'd like to introduce you to somebody that really needs no introduction but he's gonna get one anyway because he's an amazing person. On the drums stand up Mr. Rick Allen!. And as ever he shall introduce this one for ya."

Joe Elliott - End Of Show Speech

"Sweden!. Thanks for having us. Thanks for coming. Thanks for being here. We will see you again one day. Goodnight."

View the current Setlist Statistics in the next news update.

The next show takes place near Helsinki, Finland on 9th June.