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31 Years Ago DEF LEPPARD Start HYSTERIA World Tour In Dublin, Ireland

Def Leppard 1987. Hysteria Tour 1987/1988

Def Leppard began their 14 month long Hysteria world tour on this day in 1987 in Dublin, Ireland.

The first show took place at the SFX Hall (or SFX Centre) in Dublin, Ireland and was the start of a 17 date sold-out UK and Irish tour.

It came hot on the heels of their first ever Top 10 hit single, Animal, and first Number One album, Hysteria which had been released on 3rd August.

The venue was located at 23 Upper Sherrard Street. In 1984 U2 filmed the live performance scenes there for the 'Pride' video. It was later closed as a music venue but the building remains.

Tesla were the support act and stayed with them until July 1988. Playing over 100 shows as they supported their debut album 'Mechanical Resonance'.

The band played a lengthy set which included the rarely played 'Billy's Got A Gun' and 'Don't Shoot Shotgun' - played for the very first time.

The show mainly consisted of tracks from the 'Pyromania', 'Hysteria' and 'High 'n' Dry' albums. New single 'Pour Some Sugar On Me' was released near the end of the tour and became the second hit single in the UK.

Just two nights later at the third show in Belfast Joe would suffer a back injury after jumping off the drum riser during 'Die Hard The Hunter'. It resulted in him not being able to move properly for the rest of the UK tour.

Well over 200 shows would be played on the tour which ended in Tacoma, WA, USA on 27th October 1988. Sadly this would be the last of only two world tours featuring the classic line up of Joe Elliott, Rick Savage, Rick Allen, Phil Collen and Steve Clark.

Between 1st October 1987 and 27th October 1988 the band played to over 1.5 million fans in the USA alone and almost 2 million during the entire tour.

The USA and Canadian legs of the tour also saw the band debut their (then) unique "In The Round" stage as seen in promo videos and the "In The Round-In Your Face" concert video filmed in Denver. CO.

Def Leppard 1987. Screenshot

Rick Savage - September 1987 MTV Show Quotes

"As I was saying earlier, we're in the middle of a British tour. About to play Hammersmith tonight as I said. Later on in the month we'll be playing Birmingham, Leicester, Southampton, Newcastle."

"And I'd like to say come along and see the show if you haven't got a ticket but unfortunately there's no more tickets left 'cause it's sold out."

"So everybody that has bought a ticket, thanks for making it such a great tour so far. I'm sure it's gonna be great for the rest of the month."

Rick Savage (on Animal) - 1995 Interview Quotes

"I got a lot of satisfaction out of that just because it was nice to have a Top Ten hit in your home country and it was the lead off single from Hysteria and it just set everything up nice you know.

I remember we’d tour England. England was the first place that we actually toured on the Hysteria record and the minute we started the first two bars of ‘Animal’ the crowd just lost their minds and it was like, wow, this is what it’s like to have hit singles in this country you know, people do respond."

Def Leppard 1987.

Joe Elliott - 10th September 1987 Interview Quotes

Your tour started in Dublin didn't it a couple of weeks ago. How did you feel the first night before you got onstage?.

"A little bit nervous. I must admit. Especially with it being Dublin as well because we've spent so much time there it almost becomes like a home town gig. All the radio station people and the record company. The studio we were recording in, Windmill Lane, they were all down there. All the people you go for a drink with. They all came down. Oh yeah, they are in a band. But it went really well."

31st August 1987 Sheffield, England - Concert Review Quotes

"Elliott, in fact, tried too hard, his voice adopting an almost manic pitch at the expense of the melody that makes 'Hysteria' so special. The two exceptions were when it mattered most, however; on the new album's title track, and on one of the highlights of the evening, a mainly acoustic version of 'Bringin' On The Heartache'."

'Billy's Got a Gun' and 'Photograph' from 'Pyromania', 'Let It Go' and 'Hit And Run' from 'High 'N' Dry', newies like 'Women', 'Animal' and 'Don't Shoot Shotgun' were other high points, while the lighting for 'Gods Of War' would take some beating in the drama stakes."

1st September 1987 Nottingham, England - Concert Review Quotes

"What else could possibly go wrong for this band? Doomed ain't the word! But once again, disaster strikes, leaving vocalist Joe Elliott with a trapped nerve in his back following an enthusiastic leap from the drum riser in Belfast."

"The man is in pain. He looks it, a face the colour of clay. But this is their most important UK tour to date, so Joe has to grin and bear it, before being rushed away to the attentions of an Osteopath. Again the show goes on..."

"And what a show, even with poor 'ole Joe lacking in the mobility stakes. An understandably stilted start came with openers 'Stagefright' and 'Rock! Rock! (Till You Drop)', the band obviously yet to click into full 'tour' mode. By 'Another Hit and Run', Joe's guitarists Steve Clark and Phil Collen pelted around the stage to compensate, Clark in particular spinning and kicking as if in the throes of a severe electric shock."


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Phil Collen - Guitar
Phil Collen - Guitar
Phil Collen - Guitar
Phil Collen - Guitar