Def Leppard News - DEF LEPPARD To Start 2018 Touring In LONDON/Dates Announced Soon

Sunday, 24th December 2017

DEF LEPPARD To Start 2018 Touring In LONDON/Dates Announced Soon

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Def Leppard will kick off their 2018 touring with a one-off show in London, England with full tour details to be announced very soon.

Rick Allen was interviewed recently by Backstage Axxess about his artwork.

Rick talked about his art exhibitions, starting to paint, inspiration, working with veterans, his art pieces, the Raven Drum Foundation, Steve Clark painting/Legends collection, his January 2018 exhibitions, the original In The Round tour, classic artists and new music and Def Leppard's 2018 touring plans.

During the interview he also talked about the UK show which will take place in London, England.

Rick also repeated his news from November that the North American would have around 60 shows and that the tour dates will be announced very soon. This new mention seems to confirm he was only referring to the North American leg. Joe and Vivian have both said the main tour will start in May.

And without confirming any In The Round plans. when asked about the original tour in 1987/1988, he says they would "love" to do it again.

This year's tour was announced on 12th January so another January announcement for a May 2918 tour seems likely. Curiously Rick did not mention the rest of the tour plans that Vivian and Phil have done (UK/Europe/Japan/Australia).

As mentioned the other day a highly likely venue for this UK show could be one of the Teenage Cancer Trust shows at the Royal Albert Hall (late March/early April) organised by The Who. The venue website says there are - "more acts to be announced in 2018" for this event.

Rick has two more art exhibitions scheduled in January 2018 in Short Hills, NJ and King Of Prussia, PA.

Listen to the full 20 minute interview below.

Visit the Tour News section. For more news on future tour plans.

Backstage Axxess - Rick Allen Interview Quotes

Steve Clark Painting/Memories Of Him?

"Just how what a gentle soul he was and what an incredibly talented musician/songwriter he was. But I think you know coming off the back of Drums For Peace, I think Steve would be really proud of the fact that, you know, that I'm launching a new collection Legends. Using him as the first one and it's been really interesting studying his face. And really going back into you know remembering my friend. And remembering how much I truly loved him. And yeah, it's hard at times. You know the pain never goes away. It comes in waves but at the end of the day Steve was and always will be an amazing addition to Def Leppard and all that we do. You know his music lives on. So this is me paying homage to one of my best friends."

Hysteria In The Round Tour

"I believe so. We weren't act to do that. And honestly it was something that we'd seen from way back. We'd seen like the likes of Frank Sinatra doing you know shows in the round. And we just, we saw that and we're like wow what a great way of being able to play to and audience and create four front rows instead of just one. And if anything it may have been an interesting production and stage show but we got really good at it. And we'd really, we'd love to do that again. And we've talked about doing it again. So I'm not sure it's the last time you know you'll see it. But I think we were one of the first rock bands, but I don't think we were the first act."

Groundbreaking?

"Yeah it was great. I mean it was so exciting and obviously during the audience participation Joe could play four front rows off against one another. So it just made for a really good atmosphere."

Def Leppard 2018 Tour Plans/UK Show

"I think we've got about, we've got a show in London. And then - which kind of kicks things off. And then we've got about a 60 date tour planned for 2018 and that's probably gonna be North America and Canada. And I take it that's probably gonna keep me pretty busy for the whole of next year."

Announcing the tour soon?

"I should imagine so. But you know we're trying to work out all the details but I should imagine that announcement's coming pretty soon."