Friday, 6th June 2014
Screenshot by DefDazz/Darren
Def Leppard played a home coming show at Don Valley Stadium in Sheffield, England 21 years ago today.
The only UK date played on the 1993 Adrenalize European tour was also the first at the stadium with over 40,000 people in attendance.
Ugly Kid Joe, Thunder and Terrorvision were also on the bill. It was the biggest UK headline show the band had played and was filmed for the 'Visualize' and 'Video Archive' releases. Audio tracks were also released as B Sides on various singles. The show was aired by BBC Radio 1 the following weekend.
The band have stated many times since that it was probably their best ever show and one of their proudest moments as a band. 'Two Steps Behind' was played for the very first time at a full concert.
It remains their only headline UK stadium show. Sadly the stadium was demolished starting in September 2013 with the work almost completed by March of this year.
Below are some quotes from the band about the concert. View a gallery of photos on the show page. Watch a 1993 interview with Joe by Yorkshire TV below posted to YouTube by AndyLGR and follow this link to view many videos from the show itself including the full Japanese TV version which has 5 songs not included on official VHS/DVD releases.
Joe Elliott - 2012 Quote
"Playing Don Valley Stadium - we were the first ever band to play our home town, a brand new stadium in our home town we played to nearly 50,000 people in 1993. Playing your home town is just an amazing feeling when you do that. It was an amazing moment, when you walk on stage and your entire career flashes before your eyes."
Joe Elliott - On Stage Quote
"Until next time. And there will be a next time!. Don't forget us cause we'll definitely never forget you lot really. Goodnight!."
Joe Elliott - 1995 Quote
"Don Valley was a very special day for the band I think and just seeing like thousands of people that had all just come to see Def Leppard basically was just a very special moment so I'll never forget it."
Rick Savage - 1995 Quote
"People are telling you that you're doing this gig and there's so many tickets sold but until you actually get out on that stage and just see the wall of heads and I think they all came to see us and it was great."
Rick Allen - 1995 Quote
"I was pretty overwhelmed by the whole thing I must admit. The fact that there was so many people that I knew in the audience or backstage or whatever and they were all really rooting for us really gave me a sense that we'd really sort of made it. I mean it was probably one of the most memorable occasions I can remember to date."
Phil Collen - 1995 Quote
"There's ambitions you have as a band. We've always wanted to play a stadium in England and you know we kind of fulfilled an ambition. You know the fact that we'd reached that level in England where they didn't really accept us at first was really comforting and very cool."
Vivian Campbell - 1995 Quote
"It was really big I guess it sort of meant a lot more to the other lads being from Sheffield but for me it was a big show and it was a very warm feeling and that translated all the way up on stage."
- Video Source - youtube.com/andylgr
- Read the full review - Sheffield 1993 Show Page
- Def Leppard - Adrenalize Tour 1993
- Def Leppard - 2014 Tour News
- Previous News - 6th June 2014