Def Leppard UK.

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Def Leppard Hysteria World Tour 1987/88. :: Tour Dates
Def Leppard Hysteria World Tour - 1987-1988

Band Line-Up - Joe Elliott, Rick Savage, Rick Allen, Steve Clark, Phil Collen.

Shows Listed - 243. Live Recordings - 93.

First Show - Cork Ireland 5th August 1986. Ireland.

Last Show - Tacoma WA USA 27th October 1988. USA.


"The Return Of The Thundergod"

After 3 long years Rick Allen and the band returned to live action in the summer of 1986 5 months before 'Hysteria' would be finished. Rick made his return on August 5th in Cork, Ireland with Jeff Rich as a back up drummer. He would then play his first show 'solo' in Waterford - soon to be followed by a triumphant return to the UK at the Monsters of Rock Festival in Donington Park. Rick and the band were re-introduced to the UK audiences. Rick was now truly back in the band and recieved an overwhelming reaction from the fans after his introduction (a taste of things to come).

"Selling (Out) England By The Pound"

Rick Allen Hysteria Tour 1987-1988. The band would begin the world tour proper with a sold-out 17-date UK tour where the band played to excited fans, new and old, thanks to their first Number One album (anywhere) with "Hysteria" and a first Top Ten single with "Animal". Using a new stage based on the design that was originally planned to be the main stage for the entire tour, the band would play it's best UK shows to date. Kicking off in Dublin before moving to Belfast for 2 riotous shows where Joe would suffer a back injury during an attempted drum riser jump. This would lead to mobility problems for the next few shows and plaque him for the next few years. The setlists contained many old classics including "Wasted" and "Billy's Got A Gun" along with new album songs not played much during the rest of the tour such as "Run Riot" and "Don't Shoot Shutgun".
A major highlight of the tour for the band was a three-night stand at the Hammersmith Odeon in London. Queen's Brian May joining the band for the second time to play on the Queen classic "Now I'm Here". Although suffering some technical hitches at the first Sheffield gig the band returned to close out the tour at the same venue brining an end to their most successful UK tour to date and finally showing that the myth of not being successful at home was indeed a myth, believed by many ignorant people. Who forget that this was the follow-up to the band's first big album and they hadn't done anything for three years. So in reality they were successful at home after having one major album and 3 minor hits elsewhere. And had in fact been quite successful here since they started in 1978 despite a few idiotic journalists in 1980.

"When We Hang It In The Middle..."

Rick Savage Hysteria Tour 1987-1988. The band returned to the USA in October 1987. This time for an ambitious and innovative tour playing in the center of arenas 'In The Round'. With Lights, lasers, revolving drumkit, album cover stage design - the band packed out venues and by the tours end in February 1988 they were back in the US top 10 album & singles charts. The Denver shows were captured on the very first concert film titled "Live: In The Round-In Your Face". A showcase for the most spectacular rock arena tour of the 80s. (Release delayed in true Lep fashion by 9 months). The tour culminated with their first ever performance in Puerto Rico. The tour would be dubbed 'Hys-Touria' with their private plane named Hys-Touria #1 (later to be used by Mötley Crüe in 1989/90).

"I Said Welcome To Our Show!"

Before commencing on their biggest European tour to date the band appeared at the San Remo Pop Festival in Italy with Sav, Phil and Steve joining the legendary Ben E. King on stage. A 5 week run of shows in Europe followed with the band playing at one-end due to weight restrictions. The band still played to packed houses and kept the laser light show from the US dates. April saw them play a second UK tour and their first arena tour of their homeland. Including 2 nights at the legendary Wembley Arena. They would then head to Japan for shows which included their first outdoor performance in Tokyo to over 15,000 fans. During the tour the band unusually added 2 songs from the previous album, 'Too Late For Love' & 'Die Hard The Hunter', not played on the 1983 tour. The songs became highlights of the live show.

"Sugar While The Sun Shines / Mass Hysteria!"

Steve Clark Hysteria Tour 1987-1988. Alaska was the next stop on the tour for 2 shows before the band headed back again to the USA for another 5 1/2 months of touring starting with 11 shows in Canada. Releasing 'PSSOM' as a single helped this to become the most successful period in the bands history. All shows sold out and the album started to sell 1 million copies per month until the tours end. By August the band would take the show outdoors with Europe in support. The 6 week leg called 'Hysteria Under The Stars' was as successful as the indoor shows with one date in East Troy drawing over 35,000 fans. By the end of July 'Hysteria' had reached #1 in the Billboard charts. Tragedy struck again though as 'boffin' Steve Cater died in July of a brain Haemorrhage after a motorcycle accident. The final run of In The Round shows in Sep/Oct 1988 saw Queensr˙che and LA Guns in support featuring Phil Lewis from Phil's old band Girl. The single 'Love Bites' had given the band their first ever US #1 single in October.
The last date of the tour in Tacoma, Washington would sadly turn out to be Steve Clark's last live appearance with Def Leppard. Backstage before the concert the band were presented with platinum discs after becoming the first band ever to sell back-to-back copies of 7million albums in the USA with 'Pyromania' & 'Hysteria'.

The long life of the album though meant the band would release two more singles after the tour including 'Rocket' in 1989 and make a number of TV appearances. The last one in Sep 1989 at the MTV Video Music Awards in Los Angeles would be Steve's final appearance on a stage with the band. All of these TV appearances were mimed other than Joe. The live video was finally released in the same month marking the end of this amazing period for the band also capped off by a #1 album in Australia a full two years after release. And a total of 15million copies sold.


Please contribute [ Fan Reviews/Pics ] for any dates attended. Any information for this Def Leppard tour would be greatly appreciated.



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