6 Years Ago DEF LEPPARD Launch MIRRORBALL Live Album/World Tour (Video)
Def Leppard released their first official live album Mirrorball and launched the accompanying world tour on this day in 2011.
The album was first released on 7th June 2011 in North America. It reached Number 16 in the USA and Number 15 in Canada.
It was later released in the UK/Worldwide on 20th June where it would reach Number 44.
The follow up to the two 2009 Deluxe Edition's for 'Adrenalize' and 'Pyromania' which featured a live show recording from 1983.
This album was the band's first full blown live album release.
19 of the songs were recorded during the 2009 Songs From The Sparkle Lounge Summer Tour of the USA/Canada.
Many of these were taken from a show in Salt Lake City, UT with others from Las Vegas, NV and San Diego, CA.
Two additional live tracks were from a May 2008 club show in London, England.
Three new studio recordings were tagged on to the end of the album.
The Joe Elliott penned single Undefeated, which was a sort of anthem for Def Leppard's triumphs over adversity in their career, has since become a live staple.
'It's All About Believin'' would be released as a single in 2012 and was written by Phil Collen.
The third song 'Kings Of The World' was written by Rick Savage and was almost a tribute to classic 1970s Queen albums. It featured Dick Decent of The Cybernauts on piano and is now used as end credits music on the PA at live shows.
The Bonus DVD contained four live videos - three from the 2009 Donington Park show. Plus the promo videos for 'Nine Lives' and 'C'mon C'mon' as well as some behind the scenes footage.
Def Leppard - Mirrorball World Tour 2011
On the same day the band kicked off the Mirrorball world tour in Belfast, Northern Ireland at the 7,000 capacity Odyssey Arena.
A home town show for Vivian Campbell and the first of 68 shows played in 9 countries over 7 months. The first worldwide trek since 2008.
A lengthy 20 song setlist was played opened by 'Undefeated' with an extended album intro as the band's faces flew out at the audience on the video screens.
In a change from the last three tours seven large vertical video screens were hung behind the band with two more either side of Rick's drum kit.
The screens did not show any live footage on them during the tour. The band wanted to do something different so various video content was shown instead. News and sports footage were used to illustrate 'Undefeated' as well as headlines about Rick's accident and comeback. Live footage was only shown on the two side projectors screens.
Keith Weir of The Quireboys guested with the band on 'When Love & Hate Collide' in place of Dick Decent due to his ongoing illness which he sadly died from in September 2012.
Following the first show in Belfast and one in Dublin the band headlined the Download Festival for the second time. Another US/Canadian tour took place from mid June to late September.
They then headed back to Australia/New Zealand for 8 shows and a short 3 show trip to Japan. These Japanese shows featured 22 song setlists and many rarities were played.
The tour ended back home in the UK with six more shows alongside Motley Crue and Steel Panther.
The last two shows taking place in Sheffield and finally a sold out show at Wembley Arena in London.
View all the available footage from the Belfast show on this YouTube playlist.
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- Def Leppard - Belfast 2011 Show Page
- Def Leppard - Mirrorball Tour 2011
- Def Leppard - Mirrorball Album Section
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