Friday, 1st November 2019
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31 Years Ago DEF LEPPARD's JOE ELLIOTT Guests w/ BON JOVI In DUBLIN (Photos)

Def Leppard 1988. Dublin 1988

Def Leppard singer Joe Elliott made a guest appearance with Bon Jovi in Dublin, Ireland on this day in 1988.

The show took place at the R.D.S Simmons Court venue in Dublin, Ireland.

The second of two nights opening the 1988 to 1990 'New Jersey' world tour.

Joe had just arrived home from the end of the 'Hysteria' world tour which ended on 27th October 1988 in Tacoma, WA, USA.

Def Leppard played three stadium shows with Bon Jovi in June/July 2019 as part of their European tour in Denmark and Germany. The tour saw Bon Jovi return the the R.D.S. venue in Dublin.

Joe guested during the encore on the Thin Lizzy classic 'The Boys Are Back In Town'.

Whilst in Dublin Jon and his wife stayed at Joe's house and this is where they first posed for a photo in front of Joe's jukebox.

The shot would be recreated almost 30 years later in July 2016 when Jon played a private show in the city.

The setlist for this show can be viewed below and includes a rare playing of '99 In the Shade' which was only performed a handful of times on the 'New Jersey' tour.

Joe wore a leather jacket on stage and a rather curious T-Shirt...a 'joke' tour shirt with 'Adolf Hitler - European Tour 1939-1945' written on the front. By all accounts Joe isn't actually a Nazi supporter (in case you wondered...).

Joe mentioned in interviews later on that Jon and his wife Dorothea went to see U2's 'Rattle & Hum' movie at a local cinema and how surprised the young guy in the ticket booth had been when he and Jon walked in asking for 4 tickets to the film.

On the same tour leg in December 1988 Rick Allen would guest at the last of four shows at Wembley Arena playing on two Beatles classics along with Elton John and Brian May.

View some professionally shot photos from the show below.

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


Joe Elliott - 1988 Article/Interview Quotes

When the tour ended, Joe flew to Dublin to be with his girlfriend (a native Irish lass), and to pay a little onstage visit to Bon Jovi, who were just beginning their New Jersey tour. Joe and Jon sang a rollicking rendition of the Thin Lizzy classic, "The Boys Are Back in Town," and then hung out in pubs for a couple of days afterwards.

"I hope the rumours don't get started that me and Jon are going to start writing together or guesting on each other's albums. It's strictly a drinking relationship," Joe laughs. "We met a few years ago on a Monsters of Rock tour and hit it off famously, and have been friends ever since. Any time we're in the same area of a country, we try to make a trip to see each other. Nope, and please don't ask, we DO NOT have the same hair colourist! I think that people think that rock musicians spend half their lives getting their hair done and the other half getting laid. I don't get much of either," he laughs again.

Def Leppard 1988. Dublin 1988

Joe Elliott - 1988 Article/Interview Quotes

At the end of the Hysteria tour, which lasted a gruelling 14 months, Joe hopped onstage with Bon Jovi in Dublin for a rollicking performance of the early 70's Thin Lizzy hit, 'The Boys Are Back In Town'.

"Me and Jon have been friends since the 1986 Monsters Of Rock tour, explains Joe. "We hang out whenever the opportunity arises." But as far as the possibility of becoming songwriting partners goes, Joe says, "No way, we're only partying buddies!."

Def Leppard 1988. Dublin 1988

Joe Elliott - 2018 Article/Interview Quotes

After two gigs in Dublin - the second, on November 1st, featuring a cameo from Joe Elliott on a version of Thin Lizzy's The Boys Are Back In Town - Bon Jovi headed through Europe, the UK and Japan before the first leg in North America began in January 1989. Over seven months, they played 199 dates.

Jon met with his friend Joe Elliott from Def Leppard, who had recently made his home there.

"I took Jon to my local boozer. They were used to seeing me in there. But when I walked in with Jon, this woman just screamed and dropped her glass on the floor. She nearly fainted!."

Def Leppard 1988. Dublin 1988

Bon Jovi Dublin, Ireland - 1st November 1988 Setlist

  • 01 - Lay Your Hands On Me
  • 02 - You Give Love A Bad Name
  • 03 - Runaway
  • 04 - Homebound Train
  • 05 - Wild In The Streets
  • 06 - Born To Be My Baby
  • 00 - Pink Flamingos Keyboard Intro (David Bryan)
  • 07 - Let It Rock
  • 08 - I'll Be There For You
  • 09 - Blood On Blood
  • 10 - 99 In The Shade
  • 11 - Livin' On A Prayer

  • 12 - Wanted Dead Or Alive
  • 13 - The Boys Are Back In Town - ft. Joe Elliott on Co-Lead Vocals

Joe guesting with Bon Jovi for the first time. Jon had been a guest at the June 1988 show in Vancouver, Canada on the 'Hysteria' tour during 'Travellin' Band'.


  • 14 - Bad Medicine

Embed from Getty Images

Embed from Getty Images

Embed from Getty Images


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