Sunday, 22nd September 2013
Screenshot by DefDazz/Darren
Def Leppard members Joe Elliott and Phil Collen appeared on the Japanese TV show Best Hit USA in 1983 and a video is available.
Joe, Phil and then co-manager Cliff Burnstein travelled to Japan for a promo trip on 26th September 1983.
Joe/Phil appeared on the show's Star Of The Week segment. They talked to host Katsuya Kobayashi about visiting Japan, the formation of the band, getting signed, The Def Leppard E.P., filming videos, touring and starting work on the next album in January 1984. There is no mention of the Japanese/Australia/Asian tour that would happen in Jan/Feb 1984. The 'Photograph' and 'Foolin'' videos are also shown.
Those of you who've been using the internet for a while may remember Japanese fan Kuma's Steve Clark Tribute site. It hasn't been updated for years but does contain rare photos taken during this trip. These include photos of Joe, Phil and Cliff possibly taken on the same day as this TV appearance (Joe/Phil are wearing the same clothes) when they went to McDonalds and an Ice Cream shop. Check out the links below.
Some of you will also recognise this video as one of the clips shown at the start of 'Rocket' on the video screens. First shown during the 2008 tour. So if you also wondered where it was from, now you know.
Watch the full 15 minute video below as posted by woxo.
Thanks to Sabrina.
- Video Source - youtube.com/woxo
- 1983 Japanese Photos - geocities.jp (McDonalds)
- 1983 Japanese Photos - geocities.jp (Buying Ice Cream)
- Def Leppard - Television Section