Def Leppard have announced UK shows for June 2008. As rumoured in recent weeks the band are returning to arena venues outside of Sheffield for the first time since October 1999.
The dates (so far) include five shows in England and one show in Scotland. A show in Belfast is a strong possibility in June. This will be the bands first run of shows in the UK since October 2003. The dates begin in Glasgow before continuing through five English shows starting in Birmingham and ending up in London. Any dates after this will have to happen after June 27th as they play Belgium on this date.

This now brings the number of shows so far on the Sparkle Lounge tour to 37 - which includes two dates in India in May that are confirmed but without dates/venues as yet.

The dates will be with special guests Whitesnake - David Coverdale, Reb Beach, Doug Aldrich, Uriah Duffy, Timothy Drury, Chris Frazier.

Support comes from new US band Black Stone Cherry - Chris Robertson, Jon Lawhon, John Fred Young, Ben Weels.

Def Leppard UK Tour 2008 Show Details - Tickets are priced at £37.50

1: Tue 17th June 2008
Location: Glasgow, SCOTLAND
Venue: SECC.

2: Wed 18th June 2008
Location: Birmingham, ENGLAND.
Venue: NEC Arena.

3: Fri 20th Jun 2008
Location: Manchester, ENGLAND.
Venue: Manchester Evening News Arena.

4: Mon 23rd June 2008
Location: Sheffield, ENGLAND.
Venue: Sheffield Arena.

5: Tue 24th June 2008
Location: Newcastle, ENGLAND.
Venue: Metro Radio Arena.

6: Thur 26th June 2008
Location: London, ENGLAND.
Venue: Wembley Arena.

Tour dates page via the link below.

Press Release Excerpt

"London, Friday 11th January, Def Leppard and Whitesnake, Two of the World's greatest arena rock bands, are set to play a series of co- headline shows across the UK in summer of 2008. This is the ultimate line up for many a rock fan and be sure this tour is going to sell fast, so get your skates on!

Def Leppard remain one of the world's biggest and most successful live acts, and 2007 was another monumental year the band, playing a near sold out 50 date arena tour across the USA. Starting June 2007 and ending in September 2007, the group’s summer concert tour became a must-see phenomenon - .regularly selling out 15,000 to 20,000 capacity arenas! The show featured a stunning production and light show and saw Def Leppard using a ramp for the first time - the show featuring an acoustic in addition to Def Leppard's huge catalogue of global hits. Def Leppard remain amongst the most successful UK bands in the USA still.

Def Leppard are one of only five rock groups who can claim two separate original 10 million plus selling albums in the US. The others are The Beatles, Led Zeppelin, Pink Floyd and Van Halen.

2007 was also the 20th anniversary of Def Leppard's legendary "Hysteria" album. An album summed up by Mojo magazine in Sept 2007 as "Hard rock’s equivalent of "Thriller"".

Def Leppard are also set to release a brand new studio album in mid 2008. The album will see the band adding to their incredible legacy and promises the inclusion of a very special collaboration.

Having sold over 65 million albums worldwide since the Def Leppard debut release in 1980 and proved themselves one of rock music's hardest working and consistently powerful live bands (playing to over 50 million fans in the last 15 years alone), these dates are set to be a highlight of the summer.

Legendary front man David Coverdale is bringing Whitesnake back on the road in 2008 to celebrate the band's 30th Anniversary with a vengeance...April 2008 will see the release of the first new Whitesnake studio album in over 10 years...'Good To Be Bad' featuring 11 new, slamming Whitesnake songs, guaranteed to take their place alongside their better known multi-million selling catalogue.

"It's about time we had new songs to present to the Whitesnake Choir...This album has all the elements I enjoy about Whitesnake & more..." says Coverdale."

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The band last played Glasgow on 24th Feb 2003 at Barrowlands and the SECC on 20th Oct 1999.
Birmingham was last played on 26th Oct 2003 at the Carling Academy and the NEC on 15th Oct 1999.
Manchester was last played on 23rd Feb 2003 at the Carling Apollo. They last played the MEN as the NYNEX Arena on 22nd Nov 1996.

The MEN is also the largest indoor arena in Europe with a capacity of over 21,000 and according to it's website was named Most Popular Entertainment venue on the planet selling more tickets than any other venue in the world in 2007.

Sheffield was last played in June 2006 when the venue was still named Hallam FM Arena and this will be the band's 8th appearance there.
Newcastle was last played on 22nd Feb 2003 at the City Hall and this arena was last played on 23rd Nov 1996.
London was last played in June 2006 at the Hammersmith Apollo and Wembley Arena on 14th Oct 1999.

A 10+ date tour in large theatres later in the tour please (see 2003 section) if anyone's reading.

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Link -- UK Tour 2008