PHIL COLLEN On DEF LEPPARD's INDIA Tour Setlist/Stage Production

home > def leppard news >

Tuesday, 24th March 2026

Prev | Next

Screenshot

Def Leppard guitarist Phil Collen has been interviewed ahead of the band's debut live tour of India.

The Live 2026 tour was first announced on 1st September 2025 with shows in the UK, Europe and Asia.

Three new shows were added to the tour in December 2025.

India Tour 2026 Interviews

The Def Leppard Live 2026 Tour of India starts tomorrow in Shillong at the RBDSA Sports Complex.

Follow the Live Updates from the show with the full schedule/stage times now announced.

Phil has given a number of interviews with the Indian press before the tour.

He talked briefly about the tour and also his history of visiting and being influenced by India (music/culture/food).

And writing the song 'Turn To Dust' for the 'Slang' album which included a sample of a famous Indian song.

Setlist/Stage Production

Phil mentioned the setlist and stage production will be very much the same as the recent Las Vegas Residency (something Joe already indicated for the UK tour).

He also suggests maybe a slight change to the songs.

'White Lightning' would seem to be the most obvious choice to be dropped if they have to save time with a slightly shorter show.

We will soon find out as it is now already 25th March in Shillong.

Read a transcript of one interview below and view the video plus a link to the other interview.

Visit the Tour News section. For more news on future tour plans.

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

Def Leppard 2026.

Def Leppard Live 2026 India Tour

Wednesday, 25th March - Shillong, India @ RBDSA Sports Complex, Shillong - (w/ Trance Effect)

Friday, 27th March - Mumbai, India @ Jio World Garden (Bandra Kurla Complex) - (w/ Indus Creed)

Sunday, 29th March - Bengaluru, India @ NICE Grounds - (w/ Thermal And A Quarter)

Read more and buy tickets at - in.bookmyshow.com

Phil Collen March 2026 Video Interview - (Transcribed by dltourhistory)

Musical Influences/Indian Music

I honestly listen to everything.

I can get off on jazz.

I can get off on really silly pop songs, metal, extreme metal, and hip hop.

I love 70s funk and soul, and I just love Indian classical music.

I really, really, really liked a guy called Talvin Singh.

He was actually born in London, in the same place that I am from.

He is from Leyton, and that is where I was from in London.

He was a classical percussionist, but he would make this—what was it called?

It was the Asian Underground.

It was like he would blend all of this stuff.

Years ago, he played on a Siouxsie And The Banshees song, Kiss Them for Me.

That was the first thing I heard of him, and I ended up being a real fan and got all of his stuff.

So, you know, I actually met him in India when we did a TV show years ago.

But it is weird that he is from the same place I am in London.

The only time we ever met was in India.

But yeah, I think I am so open to anything.

I love Indian classical music, just the sound of it.

Yeah, it is just beautiful.

Indian Food/Vegetarianism

So I love the culture and the food.

Like I said, I have been a pure vegetarian for over 40 years.

For many reasons, you know, I just found it—for me personally—I stopped eating meat because it just seemed barbaric to eat a dead body.

And I was like, oh.

Then I found out about a lot of Indian culture and everything—extremes, you know, Jainism and Hinduism—and the different cultures and the reasons why people eat the way they do.

So I get all of that.

I understand it, and I follow it as well.

So that is pretty cool.

So yeah, when I come there, it just feels very much like I am at home, as far as that goes.

That particular thing—when I come to India—I am like, whoa, this is really cool more than anything else.

Phil Collen March 2026 Interview

Setlist

“India’s the first place outside of us playing that residency.”

“We noticed that we’d done this new setlist in Vegas, so we’re going to try and stick to it as close as we can, because it works so well."

"As a show, it almost felt like a theatrical performance.”

Stage Production

Bringing a “brand new production” that’s “very high-tech.”