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Show Notes -- In The Round. A return here after the two night stand in September 1983 on the Pyromania tour. The full show and a higher quality 1CD version of the show are available. The 1CD version only has the show up to and including 'Rocket'.

Fan Review -- By Joan

Highlights I remember from this show were that it was Viv's first tour with the band and he did a great job of playing and made his personality fit in with the band. I remember they did a great version of "Have You Ever Needed Someone So Bad?" that sounded just like the record. Joe really got into it and was dancing around at the end while Phil and Viv did some really pretty guitar work. It was also the first tour that they broke away and did a short acoustic thing, performing "Two Steps Behind," which was awesome. Joe referred to it as Def Leppard Unplugged, as the MTV Unplugged show was really popular at the time. It's a shame they were never invited to do one. It was another great gig up to their usual standards.

Media Review -- By Brian Brandes Brinkerhoff

Years ago. Def Leppard ceased being a dangerous band. When they first came to America - supporting the likes of Pat Travers, Blackfoot amd others - Joe Elliott & Co. weren't on auto-pilot. They were sloppy at times, aggressive and earthy. It's only fair, of course, to point out that back then they weren't touring in support of multi-million selling albums either!

Somewhere along the way, things changed. Personnel, music, the live show vibe - nothing's what it used to be. But, as the Lepps brought their Adrenalize show into Los Angeles, it was obvious that one thing hadn't changed over the near-decade since the release of Pyromania (the band's third album, and the one that made them a household name) - there are loads of people who like arena rock shows which are long on style and short on surprises!

"Do you wanna get rocked?" asks vocalist Elliott, and the resounding crowd reaction made it clear that "Let's Get Rocked" was a perfect opening number. And newest Leppard member Vivian Campbell sported a smile that let his adopted hometown know it was good to be home again.

Relying mainly on current material, such as the moody "White Lightning", "Tear it Down", "Make Love Like a Man" and "Have You Ever Needed Someone So Bad", Leppard ran through two hours of hits that spanned a generation of MTV. "Foolin'" sounded great, "Pour Some Sugar On Me" rode it's gargantuan riff and chorus to new heights, and "Bringin' On The Heartbreak" was as punchy as ever.

Elliott still won't ever be considered one of Rock's great frontmen, still walking the boards as opposed to having any real presence. But his voice was more than adequate, and having seen Joe struggle through a few nights in the past, tonight was about as good as he gets. Phil Collen was as solid as ever, with the presence of fellow guitarist Campbell seemingly having inspired him to a new level of lead playing. And bassist Rick Savage was the epitome of the term 'rock star'. Together with drummer Rick Allen, Savage anchored the bottom end, also proving to be a strong visual point.

An acoustic interlude, that saw da Lepps adapt MTV's Unplugged format, was sadly out of place musically, but did provide a welcome moment for me to catch a couple of brews, fortification for the homestretch run. America's been good to the band, and "Rock of Ages", "Women", "Animal", etc. all inspired singalongs from a large part of the crowd.

Inevitably, the question of whether the band employ backing tapes raised it's head. I won't venture an opinion, suffice it to say that I don't feel it should be an issue. Just because a band sounds like their records doesn't make them criminals. Def Leppard are in the entertainment business and that's just what we got tonight - a big stage, a big sound and a big time. Long live the Lepps!.
Brian Brandes Brinkerhoff © Kerrang! 1993.

Recording -- Los Angeles 2CD