Def Leppard UK.

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Def Leppard X/Ten World Tour 2002-2003. :: Tour Dates
Def Leppard X/Ten World Tour - 2002-2003

Band Line-Up - Joe Elliott, Rick Savage, Rick Allen, Phil Collen, Vivian Campbell.

Main Tour Shows Listed - 151. Live Recordings - 100.

First Show - Sendai Japan 17th November 2002. Japan.

Last Show - Moscow Russia 24th November 2003. Russia.


"Saturday Night - High 'n' Dry"

Following a successful promo tour the main X world tour 'finally' kicked off in Sendai in Nov 2002. The band started the tour with the first ever playing of a rare classic 'Ring Of Fire' which set the tone for the shows to come. Continuing the trend by playing 'Side One' of the seminal "High 'n' Dry" album the following night in Kanazawa and playing between 22-24 songs per show. The Japanese leg would end with 3 nights in Tokyo playing 31 different songs including Japanese favourite 'Billy's Got a Gun'. Former 'The Almighty' frontman Ricky Warwick would join the band as their long running support act, unusual for Japanese shows.

"X? or Ten?..."

The US tour kicked off with '10' shows after a promo date in San Diego and saw a spectacular new stage/lighting design after two tours with very little production. From the first gig in Las Vegas the band showed renewed enthusiasm during the shows aided by the new production and positive reaction to the rotating setlists from hardcore fans.
After a brief 6-week break the band would make it back home for a UK tour in February 2003 with 12 stunning sold-out shows to packed houses. Including a homecoming show at Sheffield Arena and two great nights in Glasgow and Brixton, the longest show of the tour at that point. The band then headed back to the States for 6 months of shows including a very successful and lengthy run of 15 dates in Canada before a final North American show again in Las Vegas. Where 'When Love & Hate Collide' got it's first (and only) play in the USA. This leg also saw Vivian joining Ricky Warwick onstage to play a song before the main Lep show. The first time any band member had done this.

"Union Jack is Back"

For the first time since 87/88 the band would then play a second UK run of 10 shows including one in Scotland. Fans at the Cambridge show were treated to the only playing of the High 'n' Dry set ever in the UK. Queen's Brian May joined the band onstage during the final amazing show at Hammersmith Apollo in London. The highlight of the whole tour (I thought so...).
Europe then got it's first taste of live Lep since 1996 with 6 shows in Germany and debut performances in 4 countries including the last two gigs in Russia. Where the band would become the first Western group ever to play a live acoustic radio show. Sadly, this would be the last world tour the band would play (until?) with all efforts after this being concentrated on one market.


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



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