35 Years Ago DEF LEPPARD Perform ROCKET On TOTP (Steve Clark Last UK Appearance)

Friday, 16th February 2024

Screenshot

Def Leppard guitarist Steve Clark made his last UK appearance with the band on this day in 1989 on Top Of The Pops.

5The band had appeared at the Brit Awards earlier in the week at the Royal Albert Hall.

This Top Of The Pops playback appearance was taped at BBC TV Studios on 15th February. At the time episodes were filmed on a Wednesday before being broadcast on Thursday night at 7:30pm.

It was then broadcast on the 16th and sadly turned out to be the last UK performance with Steve in the band.

The full original episode was re-broadcast in 2020 on BBC Four in the UK for the first time since it first aired in 1989.

The other acts performing on the show on 16th February 1989 were - Gloria Estefan, Texas, Sam Brown and The Style Council.

Backstage Photo

Steve's last actual "live" performance in the UK was the 22nd April 1988 Hysteria tour show in Belfast, Northern Ireland. He turned 28 the day after.

Rocket had been released as a single in the UK on 30th January 1989. The sixth UK release from the album.

The single was at Number 20 in the charts at the time and thanks to the performance and playing PSSOM at the Brits it rose to its peak of Number 15.

Sadly, they only showed the first 2:39mins of the song.

16th February 2024 Re-Broadcast

This performance WAS due to be repeated again on BBC Four later tonight at 8pm on its 35th anniversary.

A quick check of the TV listings today reveals the episode has been taken off the schedule and replaced with one from 13/02/1986.

This 1986 episode features DJ Steve Wright who passed away a few days ago so that may explain it.

They have also moved other episodes around including the WLAHC one which is now on a week later.

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Visit the Album News section for more news on new music (based on band member quotes).

Top Of The Pops - 16th February 1989

01 - Def Leppard - Rocket
02 - Simple Minds - Belfast Child (Promo Video)
03 - Gloria Estefan - Can't Stay Away From You
04 - Poison - Every Rose Has Its Thorn (Promo Video)
05 - Edie Brickell & The New Bohemians (Promo Video)
06 - Pop Will Eat Itself - Can U Dig It? (Promo Video)
07 - Debbie Gibson - Lost In Your Eyes (Promo Video)
08 - Texas - I Don't Want A Lover
09 - Sam Brown - Stop
10 - The Style Council -Promised Land
11 - Marc Almond & Gene Pitney - Something's Gotten Hold Of My Heart (Promo Video)
12 - S'Express - Hey Music Lover (Promo Video)

"Mark Goodier and Andy Crane present the pop chart programme, first broadcast on 16 February 1989 and featuring Def Leppard, Gloria Estefan, Texas, Sam Brown and The Style Council."

View all the Fan Videos available so far on this YouTube playlist.

Def Leppard 2023.

Def Leppard / Latest Release

Animal (With The Royal Philharmonic Orchestra) - (Digital Single)
Drastic Symphonies - (Album - May 2023)

Def Leppard / Latest Tour

Def Leppard The Summer Stadium Tour 2024

Def Leppard - Steve Clark Band Page
Def Leppard - Rocket Single Page
Def Leppard - Hysteria Tour 1987/1988
Previous News - 16th February 2024
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