DEF LEPPARD News Round Up (19th-26th May 2019)

This update highlights the most recent Def Leppard News with links to stories and updates from this week in the band's history.

As mentioned by Joe last night on his Planet Rock radio show the band will soon be getting together to rehearse for their upcoming European/UK festival tour.

The tour starts on 6th June in Solvesborg, Sweden at the Sweden Rock festival.

Vivian Campbell took part in many interviews recently when touring and promoting Last In Line across the USA. He will soon play a UK show with the band as well as be on the same bill as Def Leppard at the Download Festival.

During the various interviews he mentioned topics ranging from his joining of the band in 1992, the Last In Line band and their current "II" album to his illness which thankfully is still being taken care of by his ongoing Immunotherapy treatments.

Phil Collen was also recently interviewed and in addition to discussing his new PC1 guitar he also said that work on new music is still taking place for the next Def Leppard studio album.

Work on new music has been ongoing since 2017 and recorded during the 2018 tour. These sessions already provided two new releases in the form on 'Personal Jesus' and the 'We All Need Christmas' single.

This past week alone saw many anniversaries of major events in the band's history.

These included their first ever American show in Santa Monica. The start of the hugely successful 2018 tour in Hartford, CT and their appearance on American Bandstand in 1983.

Another anniversary, of their second US show, in Fresno, CA in 1980 also highlighted some recently unearthed ultra rare footage of the Steve Clark and Pete Willis era band lineup. An 11 song show which features the only known live footage of up to seven of the songs including 'When The Walls Came Tumblin' Down', 'It Could Be You', 'Answer To The Master', 'It Don't Matter' and 'Getcha Rocks Off'.

View the various stories from this week below.

Plus a few others from pasts weeks you may have missed in this first of many weekly updates to follow.

Visit the Tour News section. For more news on future tour plans.

Visit the Album News section. For more news on new music (based on band member quotes).

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Joe's show included a song by Phil Collen's band Delta Deep. He also mentioned the band will soon start to rehearse for their 2019 tour which begins on 6th June.

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In a recent interview Vivian went into great detail about joining Def Leppard in early 1992. He also spoke about how much he is enjoying his career at this point and how his illness has influenced this. Plus a mention of his rock star dog Stuart!.

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The anniversary of when the band were honoured by VH1 at a short lived event held in Las Vegas alongside Queen, Judas Priest and KISS. 3 songs were played including a guest spot by Brian May and following the band The All-American Rejects very decent tribute performance of 'Photograph'.

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Vivian appeared on a US morning TV news show to promote Last In Line along with the entire band. The very entertaining chat covered the band's history, some funny stories, the anniversary of Ronnie James Dio's passing and Vivian's own health situation which remains very positive.

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In another interview Vivian showed his excellent musical taste by declaring Def Leppard's own Hysteria album as a "fantastic masterpiece" when giving his thoughts on it and his time as a fan of the band before joining them. Another entertaining chat also covered Last In Line's past and most recent history, his own musical influences and his signature Gibson Les Paul guitar and the future copy of his original DIO era guitar.

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When interviewed during the 2018 UK tour (alongside Vivian) for the Guitar Interactive website Phil talked about the impact Vivian had on the band when he joined in 1992. A very brief update on the band's next studio album. He also detailed his current new PC1 guitar model and current live equipment setup. His love of music by various other bands including Coldplay. Mutt Lange's huge influence on the band especially during the making of the 'Hysteria' album and the Rock And Roll Hall Of Fame Induction.

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The anniversary of the band's second appearance on The Tonight Show with Jay Leno which was filmed during a time when the band's profile was increasing and they returned to US TV screens after the long gap from 1996 to 2005.

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During a radio interview Vivian talked about Steve Clark's talent and how he approached playing his guitar parts and solos when he joined Def Leppard in 1992 for the Adrenalize tour. He also spoke of the then upcoming Rock And Roll Hall Of Fame induction and why he has previously felt unsatisfied with his guitar playing in the studio compared to his current work.

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One year had passed since the very successful 2018 tour had started in Hartford, CT. The spectacular new show intro and staging was first unveiled here before being taken around the world for over 80 shows. A tour which would see the band play the full 'Hysteria' album for the first time outside of the 2013 residency and select European shows. Relive the first night with the many high quality Fan videos posted.

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The anniversary of a very important TV appearance by the band filmed just ahead of the start of their debut headline tour of the USA and Canada for 'Pyromania'. The album was at Number 2 in the charts whilst the single 'Photograph' was about to peak at Number 12. Watch the playback performances of 'Photograph' and the follow up single 'Rock Of Ages' as well as an interview with the legendary Dick Clark.

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Another 'Pyromania' era anniversary from the same day with the band's first ever hit single in the USA. 'Photograph' was to be the start of over 290 non consecutive weeks spent inside the Billboard Hot 100 singles chart for the band from 1983 to 1995.

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The anniversary of the second American concert of which ultra rare footage has emerged in full in 2019 with 11 songs featured and the only full video of any show featuring the guitar lineup of Steve Clark and Pete Willis. And in fact of any live show played before February 1983.

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The 39th anniversary of the band's first ever show on American soil as support to the Pat Travers Band in Santa Monica, CA. Read some of the band's reflections on this momentous show taken from the Animal Instinct biography of 1987 and various interviews given since.

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Fan Photos taken from the recent Last In Line touring legs in the USA played from January to May. More up to date coverage of their touring will follow when they resume in June in the UK. View the ever expanding Last In Line section of the Tour History. Soon to be joined by their own section in the Discography.

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The anniversary of the first TV appearance of the YEAH! covers album era and the debut of the updated version of the David Essex cover 'Rock On'. Which would go on to become a staple of the band's live shows for many years.

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The recently announced festival appearance in Manchester, TN. The latest show to be confirmed for the 2019 tour which may yet include another return to South American as mentioned over the last year by Phil Collen in various interviews.

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• Def Leppard - Def Leppard Tour 2019
• Def Leppard - CD/Vinyl Collection Volume 2 Album Section
• Previous News - 25th May 2019
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