Wednesday, 28th December 2016
A recap of all things Def Leppard in the year 2016 continuing with the month of May.
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 May the band opened the first leg of the Summer Tour 2016 in Pensacola, FL before making up dates rescheduled from January/February. 11 shows were played in all ahead of the main June to October tour leg with Joe seemingly fully recovered from his vocal issues.
Joe brought back the David Bowie 'Heroes' tag at the end of 'Hysteria' as a tribute following his death in January. His solo acoustic version of 'Two Steps Behind' was the most notable change in the setlist from the 2015 tour.
A heart warming moment happened in Little Rock, AR as the band met with local students to pose for a photo with their famous sports scoreboard.
Visit the Album News section. For more news on new music (based on band member quotes) dating back to January 2011.
1st May 2016 - Joe Elliott Remembers Steve Clark And Prince On His Radio Show - Read More
Joe remembered Steve Clark after what would have been his 56th birthday a week earlier and paid tribute to Prince on his weekly radio show.
Joe Elliott quotes - (Prince) "Showing the world he could rock just as much as he could funk. But we all knew that anyway didn't we."
"So until then gonna pay tribute to my very good friend Steve Clark. Who would have been 56 years old last Saturday."
3rd May 2016 - Def Leppard Open Their 2016 Summer Tour In Pensacola, FL (Show Report) - Read More
The band returned to live action in Florida for the first shows since Joe's vocal problems in January. Only two new songs from the current album were played with fans having to wait a little longer for a third one to make its live debut.
Joe Elliott quote - "It's good to be back in town. It's been a while. Nice to see so many people here tonight."
3rd May 2016 - Phil Collen On Meeting Prince/The Current Def Leppard Album - Read More
Phil recalled his 1986 meeting with Prince in Paris alongside Steve Clark.
Phil Collen quote - "I had a really good Prince experience actually. We were playing - actually me and Steve Clark were in Paris. We went to see Prince play and then he played a little bar."
10th May 2016 - Def Leppard Agree To Take Photo With Arkansas Students In Little Rock - Read More
Following an online petition the band agreed to meet with students from the Arkansas School For The Deaf and pose with a replica of their famous sports team scoreboard. The story was heavily featured by the local press and on social media.
News quote - "Great news! The band has graciously agreed to take a photo with students from the Arkansas School for the Deaf. While their schedule doesn't get them in town in time to get to the school, they've agreed to take a picture with the students & a large replica of the scoreboard at Verizon Arena."
12th May 2016 - Def Leppard Meets Arkansas School For The Deaf Students (Photo/Video) - Read More
A day after breaking the news of meeting the band, the Arkansas School For The Deaf students pose with them backstage at the Verizon Arena in Little Rock (11th May). Local media once again covered the story with many photos and video clips posted online.
Student Henry James quotes - "I was like, wow are you serious? The rock band wants to meet us?."
"It was awesome, I don't think I'm ever going to wash my hands."
12th May 2016 - Def Leppard Film Man Enough Promo Video In Little Rock, AR - Read More
Phil revealed that the performance footage for the 'Man Enough' promo video had been shot at the Verizon Arena in Little Rock on 11th May. The song would not be played live though until the tour picked up again in June.
Phil Collen quote (11th May) - "We shot a music video today for "Man Enough"."
13th May 2016 - The Story Of Def Leppard's Slang Album (Released 20 Years Ago Today) - Read More
The 'Slang' album turned 20 years old having been released on 13th/14th May 1996. An album that saw the band strip back their layered sound and production used on their biggest releases from the 80s and early 90s.
Joe Elliott quote (May 1996) - "It's the most vibrant and artistically satisfying record we've made. We've co-produced and written this record ourselves."
15th May 2016 - Joe Elliott Celebrates His 300th Show On Planet Rock Radio - Read More
Joe marked the 300th edition of his Planet Rock radio show by reflecting on the first six years on the airwaves and playing 'Man Enough'.
Joe Elliott quote - "It's been a real pleasure to do this for the last six years actually and I hope I can do it for another six years. It's been such a pleasure and it's really a highlight of my week putting the show together where we can share some fantastic stories and memories and indeed some wonderful music with so many people."
21st May 2016 - Def Leppard End 2016 Summer Tour Leg 1 In Orlando, FL (Show Report) - Read More
The first leg of the 2016 tour ended in Orlando, FL. A return to the area where Joe first experienced his vocal issues earlier in the year which he reflected on during his on stage speeches.
Joe Elliott quote - "It's a very emotional evening for me tonight this because as you're probably aware. Most of you were due here in January. and it all went kind of shit-shaped and we've even got some people in tonight that were on the boat right. We made that - we promised everybody that we would make it up to them."
22nd May 2016 - 10 Years Ago Def Leppard Release The YEAH! Covers Album - Read More
The band's 2006 covers album 'YEAH!' celebrated its 10th anniversary having been released on 22nd/23rd May 2006. Including some of the band's favourite songs by their heroes which helped shape the sound of Def Leppard.
Rick Savage quote (May 2006) - "Now has merged with then to create a buzz that can be only summed up in one word: YEAH!. Hope you get as much fun out of it as we do."
22nd May 2016 - Rick Allen Interviewed On FOX5dc TV In Washington D.C. (Photo/Video) - Read More
Rick appeared on local TV in Washington D.C. to promote his latest artwork exhibitions in the area (sporting one of the band's own T-Shirts).
27th May 2016 - Def Leppard/REO Speedwagon/Tesla To Play New Orleans In August - Read More
Another show is added to the main June to October 2016 tour leg in New Orleans, LA. The first show in the city since September 2011.
News quote - "Def Leppard is out on the road already, but the addition of one date puts the English rockers in New Orleans at the Smoothie King Center on Aug. 20."
Visit the May 2016 News Section to view all the news stories in full.
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 - 27th December 2016