Friday, 30th December 2016
A recap of all things Def Leppard in the year 2016 continuing with the month of July.
Another eventful year for the band is about to end and these updates look back at the major events that took place this year.
Featuring links to past news stories.
In July the Summer Tour 2016 continued and the band introduced new single 'Man Enough' into the setlist as a third new song from the current album to be played live.
A new live concert film was recorded at a show in Detroit, MI which will be released in 2017 as the 'And There Will Be A Next Time...Live From Detroit'.
Vivian also confirmed the new album from the Riverdogs would be recorded in 2016 and released in 2017.
Visit the Album News section. For more news on new music (based on band member quotes) dating back to January 2011.
1st July 2016 - Joe Elliott Says Def Leppard's Current Crowds Have Been Really Great - Read More
Joe praised the 2016 tour crowds after the start of the main summer tour on the East Coast of the USA.
Joe Elliott quote - "So far so good! Mostly on the East Coast all at the moment… but it’s been great at the moment. Great crowds, really really great crowds."
6th July 2016 - 35 Years Ago Def Leppard Release The High 'n' Dry Album In The UK - Read More
The 35th anniversary of the High 'n' Dry album was celebrated (on various dates...) having been released 'sometime' in July 1981 and featuring the singles 'Let It Go' and 'Bringin' On The Heartbreak'.
Joe Elliott quote (1981) - "We're looking forward to it a lot. We've got some great songs and Mutt Lange is an excellent producer. I think we're going to surprise a lot of people who thought we were just a sort of flash in the pan."
7th July 2016 - Joe Elliott/Def Leppard Included In Herd Of Sheffield Art Project - Read More
Joe Elliott's face turned up on an Elephant in Sheffield as part of a charity art project in the band's home city. The elephant also featured other famous musicians born in Sheffield and was located in Tudor Square outside the Winter Gardens.
News quote - "This summer a herd of elephant sculptures will descend on Sheffield for the biggest public art event the city has ever seen!."
10th July 2016 - Def Leppard Debut Man Enough In Grand Rapids, MI (Show Report) - Read More
New single 'Man Enough' was played for the first time on 9th July in Grand Rapids, MI at the Van Andel Arena. The third new song to be played live from the current DEF LEPPARD album featuring new displays on he video screens with some footage taken from the promo video. The visuals for this song would later be updated to include new content featuring snakes and water.
Joe Elliott quote - "What a f**king great way to spend a Saturday night. It really is. And look at how many people there are in here tonight. It reminds me of why we keep coming back here!."
10th July 2016 - Phil Collen Talks About Def Leppard's Man Enough Promo Video - Read More
Phil talked about the new promo videos from the current album including 'Man Enough' and working with director Frank Gryner (who also opened for the band in 2015 with sister Emm Gryner in the band Trapper).
Phil Collen quote - "This guy Frank Gryner done the last three videos. They've been amazing. They've followed a theme and you know this very kind of Tron, futuristic type style videos and that. And yeah we're loving him. He's great. He does a really good job and they've turned out amazing."
12th July 2016 - 34 Years Ago Guitarist Phil Collen Joined Def Leppard In London - Read More
The 34th anniversary of Phil Collen joining the band during the making of the 'Pyromania' album in London, England.
Steve Clark quote (1984) - "We expect better things for the future now that Phil's in the group because he's going to contribute a lot more. Playing with him on stage every night is a pleasure."
12th July 2016 - Def Leppard 2016 Summer Tour Wantagh, NY (Show Report) - Read More
'Man Enough' played for a second time at Jones Beach Theater show in Wantagh, NY. The 13th time the band had played this waterfront venue. Watch HD close up footage of the song in the linked Fan Videos section (and 60 videos in total).
Joe Elliott quote - "It's good to be back. Let's have a look at you. Let's have a look at ya. Let's have a look at ya!. When we rolled into town this morning one of the guys. One of the local crew guys said to me, said to our chief. Hey it's the Jones Beach house band back in town. We seem to come here quite a lot and it's a pleasure to do so."
13th July 2016 - Vivian Campbell's Riverdogs Confirm New Album Plans For 2017 - Read More
Vivian and his old band Riverdogs confirm plans for their new studio album to be released in 2017 by Frontiers Records who also released the Last In Line 'Heavy Crown' album. Their first new music released since the 'World Gone Mad' 8-song mini album of 2011.
Vivian Campbell quote - "Yeah we're Riverdogs. It's June 2016. This is our second writing session for what will be a Riverdogs record. Courtesy of Frontiers. Thank you very much."
16th July 2016 - Def Leppard Film For Live DVD In Detroit/Clarkston, MI (Show Report) - Read More
A new live concert film was taped on 15th July in Clarkston/Detroit, MI at the DTE Energy Music Theatre. The first full length concert filmed by the band since the 2013 VIVA! Hysteria shows in Las Vegas. Also the first one ever shot in an outdoor amphitheatre. Later confirmed to be a DVD/blu-ray and 2CD release scheduled for February 2017 as well as a one hour TV special.
Joe Elliott quote - "We'd like to do something that we don't normally do. Because we are filming this. We wanna make it extra special. So you remember the good old days when everybody got their lighters out?. Now it's cell phones."
17th July 2016 - Joe Elliott's Ian Hunter Interview For Speakeasy TV To Air In October - Read More
Joe interviewed his hero Ian Hunter in New York on 12th July and it was announced the episode of 'Speakeasy' would air on US TV in October. It would eventually premiere on 13th November on PBS. Joe talked about the experience on his radio show.
Joe Elliott quote - "But one of the things that I did was interview Ian Hunter for a TV special that's coming out in October. So I had to play the role of Graham Norton, Walter Kronkite, David Frost, it was kind of bizarre."
18th July 2016 - 38 Years Ago Def Leppard Play First Public Live Show In Sheffield - Read More
The 38th anniversary of "Deaf Leopard's" very first public live show in Sheffield, England on 18th July 1978. A show which took place at the now demolished Westfield School in the Mosborough district of the city.
Joe Elliott quote (July 2016) - "So we rapidly arranged a gig at a place called Westfield School in Sheffield where we got paid the paltry amount of five pounds straight out of a teachers pocket. But it was the beginning of a very long career."
21st July 2016 - Listen To Tesla's Save That Goodness Single Written By Phil Collen - Read More
Tesla's 'Save That Goodness' single was made available online. Co-written and produced by Phil Collen and taken from the 'Mechanical Resonance LIVE!' album.
Phil Collen quote - "It's actually the first song in Tesla's - since 30 years that it's been added to a playlist in England. So everyone's starting to freak out about this song."
Visit the July 2016 News Section to view all the news stories in full.
Related News - Def Leppard 2016 Recap Part 6 June (Are You Man Enough?)
Related News - Def Leppard 2016 Recap Part 5 May (Tour Start/Deaf Leopards)
Related News - Def Leppard 2016 Recap Part 4 (April/Side Bands/Record Store Day)
Related News - Def Leppard 2016 Recap Part 3 (March/Joe's Recovery Continues)
Related News - Def Leppard 2016 Recap Part 2 (February/Tour Dates Off And On)
Related News - Def Leppard 2016 Recap Part 1 (January/Hysteria Cruise)
- Def Leppard - World Tour 2016
- Def Leppard - Def Leppard Album Section
- Previous News - 29th December 2016