Friday, 13th September 2024
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44 Years Ago DEF LEPPARD Play HELLO AMERICA On First Ever TV Performance

Def Leppard 1980. Screenshot

Def Leppard played their first show in Holland in September 1980 and taped a TV appearance on the same day.

The performance of 'Hello America' was filmed for Dutch TV show TopPop.

This variation of UK show Top Of The Pops aired on the AVRO channel in Holland from 1970 to June 1988.

In a major coincidence the show was filmed at the TopPop Studios in Hilversum, Holland.

These studios were located in the same area as Wisseloord Studios where the band would begin recording the 'Hysteria' album in August 1984.

This was the band's second TV appearance after recording the same song for Top Of The Pops in March 1980 just before their UK tour.

That one was not shown due to the single's chart position. It later surfaced on the 'Historia' home video compilation.

The band played in Leiden, Holland on 13th September 1980 as support to the Scorpions.

Joe is seen wearing the same outfit he wore on stage at the Reading Festival in late August. The white jacket and white T-Shirt with red hearts on.

The rest of the band also have similar outfits to that show. Steve with his shorter hair and blue boiler suit. Rick is not playing with his regular Ludwig drum kit.

This appearance was not previously known of (unless you watched it in Holland at the time) and has never been mentioned in books or online.

Alongside the TOTP's footage and the two unreleased promo videos from 1979, this is some of the earliest footage of the early line-up performing.

TopPop uploaded it to their own YouTube channel in June 2016.

It is probable, since it did not surface anywhere before this, that the performance was also not aired at the time.


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Def Leppard September 1980

Screenshots by dltourhistory


Watch all the videos from this show on this YouTube Playlist

Def Leppard 1980 Videos.


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