DEF LEPPARD Will Have Surprises/New Stage For 2026 Las Vegas Residency

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Wednesday, 23rd July 2025

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Def Leppard members Joe Elliott and Phil Collen have been interviewed ahead of the 2026 Las Vegas Residency.

The third Las Vegas residency was announced on 21st July.

Las Vegas Residency

The band announced a third Las Vegas residency for February 2026 a couple of days ago.

Taking place over 12 dates from 3rd to 28th February 2026 at The Colosseum at Caesars Palace.

Tickets go on sale at 10am from this Friday 25th July.

New Staging/Surprises

Joe and Phil were interviewed today by US TV to promote the new residency.

Phil mentioned the staging will be brand new and the 2025 stage design will not be seen again after this year.

He also spoke of surprises which presumably refers to the setlist and "perhaps" the orchestra that he talked about last year.

Joe also says that like 2019 the setlist won't be the same from night to night.

Ozzy Osbourne

Joe and Phil were also asked about the passing of Ozzy Osbourne and spoke of being his fans and the touring connection to Def Leppard and Girl.

Read some quotes below and watch the full 13 minute video interview which was conducted earlier today.

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).

Def Leppard 2025.

Joe Elliott/Phil Collen 23rd July 2025 Quotes - (Transcribed by dltourhistory)

Las Vegas Residency

Host:

I want to talk about this residency.

So going there to Vegas — the Coliseum, Caesar’s Palace.

You know, you guys have spent years touring on the road, changing cities every night.

What's one of the biggest things, you know, for you when you do these kinds of residencies?

What do you have to do differently as a band to prepare?

Is it a lot easier since you just go to the same place, or is it a little bit different for that side of things?

Joe Elliott:

It's just very different — the size of the stage and the fact that you can actually hone the show.

So it becomes more of a show than a gig, if you know what I mean.

It's like all of a sudden you're working towards something.

And like an actor, when he does, say, three seasons of the same character — you can actually kind of work and build on that character.

There's a little bit of that going on with it.

You know, we change the setlist out.

You know there are going to be people coming from all the way around.

So it's not going to be the same every night anyway.

But yeah, you just work it.

It becomes very different, but in a really good way as well.

Greg Nibler:

And when you're talking about some place like Vegas in particular — you know, there's a lot of distractions, obviously, that could happen.

But I mean, what do you do to maintain your focus while you're down there in some place like that?

Phil Collen:

Well, it's easy really, because we're there to work.

But at the same time, it is Vegas.

It is the entertainment capital of the world.

So there are plenty of things to do on your day off.

You know, we can have many other bands or shows on in Vegas at the same time as us — thousands, probably, or at least hundreds.

So we have to make sure that when we're doing our show, we're doing something that makes people want to come see us — to bring them away from those other acts.

It's very competitive.

But at the same time, we know how to manage ourselves physically to make sure that we do these shows well every night.

So, you know, being in one building for a month changes the way that you approach it.

You'll maybe change up the setlist on a nightly basis.

And then when you're not on stage — it's Las Vegas.

So it's a fun place to be for a month.

And that's the exciting thing.

The important thing is doing the show — but you're not going to be bored when you're not doing the show.

So the whole experience for us is going to be pretty hectic but really entertaining and fun, you know?

Joe Elliott:

Yeah, the last time we were there, I saw Jackson Browne and Cher on the same day — on the same night — on a day off.

So yeah, you can do stuff like that, which is kind of wild.

Greg Nibler:

Yeah, that's crazy.

I mean, you're right — there's all these other shows going on.

But I mean, for you guys, your show, your performance — all these years, still incredible.

To still have all of these fans, as you mentioned — people are going to be coming from all over the place to see this residency.

So what do you think it is about the Def Leppard show, the Def Leppard songs, and the Def Leppard experience that brings people back — and has people so enthralled with your music?

Phil Collen:

Well, the songs are kind of iconic as well.

They're bigger than we are.

You know, they trigger this reaction when you play — like, say, Pour Some Sugar On Me or Hysteria.

We've seen people burst into tears — for whatever reasons.

And that keeps happening.

Also, we keep progressing and getting better.

Like — we're better singers, we're better players, we're better as a band.

And people notice that when they come and see it — they go, "Oh my God, they're getting better."

But we really put the time and the work in to do that.

You know, Joe will warm up like three hours.

Actually, a couple of years ago, he warmed up for eight hours one day — when we went from L.A. to San Diego.

Yeah — because it was two in a row.

And that’s kind of crazy.

Obviously, not every single night.

But there's a lot of energy, effort, and care that goes into it.

And I really think people do appreciate that.

That's what we're seeing from our fans, you know?

Greg Nibler:

Yeah, putting in that effort for that show — like, you can see that when it's on stage.

OK, warming up for eight hours — I’ve got to ask: What do you do to warm up for eight hours?

How does that work?

Joe Elliott:

Well, it's over a period of hours.

What you do is — you wake up in the morning knowing full well you just busted it last night in L.A.

Then you've got industry people that want to come and shake your hand, and you're talking for another three hours.

You wake up, and you sound like Tom Waits.

And then you have someone on a bus driving out of San Diego, and you wake up and put a kettle on, have a cup of tea.

Then I've got an exercise tape with a fantastic vocal coach called Roger Love, and I just do this stuff — you go up and down the scales with different sounds.

And you go, “I didn’t sound so good.”

So then you take a break and go make another cup of tea, and you just keep doing it until you get to the venue.

And your voice just wakes up.

It’s just like stretching your muscles.

You know when you see soccer players on the side of the pitch about to come on — they stretch because they don’t want to pull a muscle.

That’s all I’m doing, you know.

It’s what I had to do to get on stage.

And it worked.

So it’s no skin off my nose.

I mean, I had nothing better to do.

My focus every time we do a gig is the hour and a half to two hours that we’re on stage.

So whatever I have to do to prepare... Sometimes I don’t have to warm up at all.

But on that particular example, I just woke up a bit on the back foot, and I had to make sure I could get onto the front foot for 8 o’clock or 9 o’clock at night.

So you get from Tom Waits to Joe Elliott — that’s what it is.

It took eight hours to get up two octaves in eight hours.

It was hardcore.

But I got there.

Joe Elliott to Tom Waits — that’s an easier kind of joke.

Yeah, I can figure that one out.

You’ve got to go up the hill, you know — skiing uphill.

New Stage Production/Surprises

Greg Nibler:

Well, for the show, let’s talk about the residency.

For people who are going to be coming out — you mentioned your show is going to be different each night.

What is it that you want the fans to take away from that experience at the residency?

Phil Collen:

You have to make it different.

Because if they’ve traveled before, if they’ve been there in the last couple of years, you have to change it up.

So the songs will be different.

The whole production — like all the screens and lights and everything like that.

Yeah, different songs, different ways of doing songs.

We’ve definitely got some surprises that we want to lay on people.

So it’ll just be great.

It’s always exciting.

And it’s a whole new stage set.

That’s the beauty of it.

We’re building a stage set specifically for this Vegas residency.

So it’s not just that we’re bringing the touring thing.

This show that we’re doing right now — traveling around the country — will be the last time anybody sees this show.

So when we get to Vegas, it’ll be a whole new production.

Ozzy Osbourne's Passing

Greg Nibler:

That’s amazing.

I do have to ask really quick — just with Ozzy, obviously passing yesterday — like millions of other people, I’m a huge fan.

Ozzy changed music.

But for you guys, knowing him personally, and just being in Britain and starting your band with some of that Sabbath and Ozzy influence —

How much of an influence was Black Sabbath and Ozzy on you when you started out?

Joe Elliott:

Well, I mean — it was there.

I remember seeing Black Sabbath on the Sabbath Vol. 4 tour.

Actually, it was Ozzy and Black Oak Arkansas as the opening act at the Rainbow Theatre in London.

Tommy Aldridge was actually the drummer in Black Oak Arkansas — and he’s opening up for Sabbath.

And obviously, years later, he’s in Ozzy’s band.

So he obviously saw something in him back then.

But it was great.

We grew up on Led Zeppelin, Deep Purple, Black Sabbath — all of that stuff.

It was mind-blowing.

I was so glad to see Sabbath that early.

And then, obviously, years later — toured with Ozzy.

I was in a band called Girl, and we were on the same record label as Ozzy.

And that’s where he met Sharon.

So yeah, it went back right there.

Randy Rhoads, Rudy Sarzo, Tommy Aldridge — it was just wonderful.

And then obviously, Def Leppard toured with that same band on the Blizzard of Ozz tour in the U.S.

We would actually be in contact with each other all the time.

He was a lovely guy.

Sharon — great manager for him.

And you know, I don’t think that Sabbath were a huge influence on Def Leppard, but we were big fans — still are.

It was more a case of us just being blessed with the opportunity — both Phil’s band at the time and Leppard — to tour with Ozzy and to experience their enthusiasm and how nurturing they were towards us.

A lot of headline bands will kind of stamp on an opening act by not letting them have soundchecks or giving them no lights.

Ozzy gave us the full stage — lights, soundchecks, everything.

They wanted us to succeed.

So there’s always been a lot of love between their camp and ours.

It’s very sad.

But I’m really happy he got to do that final show in Birmingham just 17–18 days ago.

I think he was ready after that.

I think he’d said all he had to say.

Black Sabbath Final Show

Greg Nibler:

Yeah — I mean, what more of a rock and roll way to go out than have a show like that — if it’s got to happen?

Phil Collen:

Definitely.

It’s amazing — the love towards Ozzy.

You could see it.

We were doing our own show, which is why we couldn’t be there.

Sharon did ask if we could do it, but we sent a message instead — you know, that they put on the screens.

But we were keeping an eye on it on YouTube.

And you could even tell through a laptop how much love there was heading toward that stage when Ozzy sat in that throne.

It was kingly.

It really was.

It was like watching the King of Rock getting worshipped by his loving audience.

And I felt really happy for him.

I’m glad he got to do it.

Def Leppard Live At Caesars Palace The Las Vegas Residency

3rd February 2026 - The Colossseum at Caesars Palace, Las Vegas, NV, USA

5th February 2026 - The Colossseum at Caesars Palace, Las Vegas, NV, USA

7th February 2026 - The Colossseum at Caesars Palace, Las Vegas, NV, USA

10th February 2026 - The Colossseum at Caesars Palace, Las Vegas, NV, USA

12th February 2026 - The Colossseum at Caesars Palace, Las Vegas, NV, USA

14th February 2026 - The Colossseum at Caesars Palace, Las Vegas, NV, USA

17th February 2026 - The Colossseum at Caesars Palace, Las Vegas, NV, USA

19th February 2026 - The Colossseum at Caesars Palace, Las Vegas, NV, USA

21st February 2026 - The Colossseum at Caesars Palace, Las Vegas, NV, USA

24th February 2026 - The Colossseum at Caesars Palace, Las Vegas, NV, USA

26th February 2026 - The Colossseum at Caesars Palace, Las Vegas, NV, USA

28th February 2026 - The Colossseum at Caesars Palace, Las Vegas, NV, USA

Headliner - Def Leppard
Venue Capacity - 4,100

Read more and buy tickets at - ticketmaster.com/def-leppard-tickets

Read more and buy tickets at - caesars.com/caesars-palace

Def Leppard - 2025 Tour (Previously Announced Shows)

25th July 2025 - St. John's, NL @ Churchill Park Music Festival (Churchill Park)

9th August 2025 - Lincoln, CA @ The Venue At Thunder Valley Casino Resort

12th August 2025 - Albuquerque, NM @ Isleta Amphitheater

14th August 2025 - Des Moines, IA @ Iowa State Fair - Iowa State Fairgrounds Grandstand

16th August 2025 - Springfield, IL @ Illinois State Fair - Grandstand @ Illinois State Fairgrounds Racetrack

20th August 2025 - Highland, CA @ Yaamava' Theater (Yaamava' Resort & Casino at San Manuel)

26th August 2025 - St. Paul, MN @ Minnesota State Fair (Grandstand)

29th August 2025 - Hollywood, FL @ Hard Rock Live

31st August 2025 - Virginia Beach, VA @ Veterans United Home Loans Amphitheater at Virginia Beach

11th October 2025 - Gary, IN @ Hard Rock Live Northern Indiana

Def Leppard 2024.

Def Leppard / Latest Release

Stand By Me - (Digital Single)
Pyromania 40 Box Set - (Album - April 2024)

Def Leppard / Latest Tour

Def Leppard Tour 2025

News Source - youtube.com
Def Leppard - 2025 Tour
Def Leppard - Tour News
Previous News - 21st July 2025
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