24 Years Ago DEF LEPPARD Honoured By The Mayor Of SHEFFIELD
Def Leppard were honoured with a day of events in their home city of Sheffield, England 24 years ago today on 5th October 1995.
Local fans, led by Rosie Glover, had sent a letter to Sheffield Mayor David Heslop asking him to honour the band. The Sheffield Star newspaper promoted the campaign urging readers to support it and many hundreds of people did.
The band had just released the single When Love & Hate Collide a few days before. It would become their biggest UK hit single reaching Number 2.
As part of the promotional activities this event was organised by the local council to honour the band for their contribution to the city. Although not formally known as "Def Leppard Day" it has since been referred to as this by fans. A full day of Def Leppard events took place around the city.
They included a donation to the National Centre For Popular Music, a civic reception, the releasing of thousands of 'Vault' balloons in Tudor Square, plaques being unveiled at Crooke's Workingmen's Club and Don Valley Stadium and an acoustic concert at The Wapentake club.
This show marked the first time Rick Allen had performed a concert using a full acoustic drum kit since the last show of the Pyromania tour in Bangkok, Thailand on 7th February 1984.
He had started using one again in May 1994 when the recording of the 'Slang' album started in Spain.
Read about the events that took place below along with some photos from the day.
Def Leppard Day 1995 - Photos
Event Details - Crookes Workingmen's Club Plaque Unveiled
A plaque sponsored by the Sheffield Telegraph was unveiled outside of the Crookes Workingmen's Club in Mulehouse Road, Sheffield. The band had played at least two early shows here. One famously photographed by Ross Halfin for Sounds magazine. The plaque was in honour of them playing an early gig at the venue and all the success they went on to achieve.
Event Details - Town Hall Mayor Reception/Council Resolution
The band and their family members had tea with the Mayor in his council chambers. They were also presented with a special Council Resolution to thank them for their services to Sheffield. A Keys To The City honour had been asked for but the Mayor was not able to grant that wish.
Visitors Book Signing - Joe Elliott 1995 Magazine Interview Quote
"Did you see what I wrote?. I signed it; 'Joe Elliott - International Rock Star and Ambassador for Sheffield!' Followed by an exclamation mark. It was a joke. Make sure you put that in!."
Event Details - Tudor Square Balloons
Joe released 10,000 'Vault' promotional balloons in this square which is just outside the famous Crucible Theatre (home of the World Snooker Championships). This event was sponsored by local radio station Hallam FM and the band were introduced by the late DJ Dave Kilner. They were also presented with gift packs from the City of Sheffield. Each of the balloons had a card attached with details of a contest to win the band's entire back catalogue on CD.
Event Details - Don Valley Stadium Plaque Unveiling
A gold plaque was unveiled in the reception area of the stadium to mark the fact the band were the first to play and sell out the venue in June 1993. Live photos were placed around the plaque. Sadly no longer on display as the stadium was closed in September 2013 and demolished.
Event Details - National Centre For Popular Music
The band became the first musicians to make a donation to the new centre. They presented them with a signed Ibanez Destroyer guitar. The first musicians to do so. It eventually opened in March 1999 but due to a lack of visitors closed down in 2000. It is now the Student's Union bar for the Sheffield Hallam University.
Event Details - The Wapentake Acoustic Concert
A nine song acoustic concert filmed for the 'Video Archive' VHS. Two new songs from 'Slang' were played for the first time - 'All I Want Is Everything' and 'Where Does Love Go When It Dies'.
Venue owner Olga Marshall originally booked the band on 8th February 1979 and paid them 15 pounds. She presented him with another 15 pounds payment during the show introduction. Joe wrongly tried to correct the announcer who introduced them by saying they played there in 1978.
View a photo gallery and videos from this show.
Olga Marshall - 1995 Magazine Interview Quote
"We've had a lot of bands play here over the years. But Def Leppard were very keen. They're nice lads, too."
5th October 1995 - Rick Allen Interview Quotes
"I wasn't old enough to come in the place. I'd try and sneak in at any opportunity. I'd get somebody to buy me a beer. Stand on my tip toes at the bar."
"I'd always had an acoustic set up at home for a long time. But I'd never really used it on any Def Leppard music or a long time. Actually since I lost my arm. So it gives me the opportunity to rethink the way that I can play an acoustic set up."
5th October 1995 - Joe Elliott Interview Quotes
"The great thing about doing acoustic is not having to get a rehearsal room and get in all the gear. You can just do it in a bedroom. You can just set up and rehearse on a plane, on a coach. You know in a bedroom or a bathroom or whatever and just work out whichever songs sound the best."
5th October 1995 - Rick Savage Interview Quotes
"It's just fun to do because when you go on tour and you play the big stadiums you need a lot of rehearsal. This is like a bit more impromptu. You just pick the guitars up and see what sounds good and hopefully it sounds all right. You can just at the drop of a hat, more or less, just get up and play."
5th October 1995 - Phil Collen Interview Quotes
"It doesn't limit you at all and it also gets the heart of a song over. You know it doesn't, you're not covering anything up and also people can find out that we're really doing the vocals as well because we've been accused - everyone goes oh right that's tapes or samples and stuff."
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- Def Leppard - Sheffield 1995 Show Page
- Def Leppard - Vault Tour 1995
- Previous News - 5th October 2019
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