32 Years Ago STEVE CLARK's Last DEF LEPPARD Appearance At 1989 MTV Awards

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Monday, 6th September 2021

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Def Leppard 1989

Def Leppard played the MTV Video Music Awards in Los Angeles, CA on 6th September 1989 and photos/video are available.

The event took place on 6th September 1989 at the Universal Amphitheater in Los Angeles, CA.

The very first time the band had attended or played the ceremony.

They were nominated for two awards - Best Heavy Metal Video and Best Stage Performance in a Video - both for 'Pour Some Sugar On Me'.

They opted not to perform the obvious song and instead went for a playback version of 'Tear It Down' and Joe singing live. This version was the only recording released from the initial sessions for the 'Adrenalize' album featuring Steve Clark's guitar work - later scrapped and re-recorded with only Phil Collen.

The performance would also turn out to be the last time Steve Clark would appear with them on stage having played his last full live show in October 1988 at the Tacoma Dome as the Hysteria tour ended.

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).

Final Band Photo

This was the final 'Hysteria' related appearance after a small number of playback performances in the UK/Europe in late 1988/early 1989.

Steve would be found comatose in Minneapolis just a few months later after a stint in rehab.

The band were introduced on stage by comedians Richard Lewis and Arsenio Hall. Other performers included Jon Bon Jovi and Richie Sambora doing an acoustic set that inspired the MTV Unplugged series.

View a video of the performance below along with many media photos. The last taken with Steve Clark.

This venue was closed down on the same date in 2013 and then demolished on 25th September. The band had returned to play here twice in December 2002 and September 2011.

Def Leppard 1989

MTV Video Music Awards 1989 - Best Heavy Metal Video
Guns N' Roses - Sweet Child O' Mine - Winner
Def Leppard - Pour Some Sugar On Me
Aerosmith - Rag Doll
Metallica - One

MTV Video Music Awards 1989 - Best Stage Performance In A Video
Living Colour - Cult Of Personality - Winner
Def Leppard - Pour Some Sugar On Me
Bobby Brown - My Prerogative
Guns N' Roses - Paradise City

MTV Video Music Awards 1989 - Setlist

Madonna - 'Express Yourself'
Bobby Brown - 'On Our Own'
Def Leppard - 'Tear It Down' - (Introduced by Richard Lewis)
Tone-Loc - 'Wild Thing'
The Cult - 'Fire Woman'
Paula Abdul - Medley: 'Straight Up'/'Cold Hearted'/'Forever Your Girl'
Jon Bon Jovi and Richie Sambora - 'Livin' on a Prayer'/'Wanted Dead or Alive'
The Cure - 'Just Like Heaven'
Cher - 'If I Could Turn Back Time'
The Rolling Stones - 'Mixed Emotions'
Axl Rose and Tom Petty and the Heartbreakers - 'Free Fallin''/'Heartbreak Hotel'