Now that we’re in the final quarter of 2018, Def Leppard’s plans for 2019 are starting to be announced. The 2018 tour isn’t even over yet, as they have just kicked off the Japanese leg of the tour which features the band playing Hysteria all the way through.
For 2019, we’ve already had four shows announced:
- Download Festival, Donington, England – June 14-16
- Milan, Italy – June 19
- Rock The Ring Festival, Hinwil, Switzerland – June 20-22
- Rock Fest, Barcelona, Spain – July 4-7
Other rumors suggest Leppard will tour Canada in the spring, which may be similar to what they did in 2015 when they hit 13 cities in roughly four weeks.
If the band is in Canada in the spring and Europe in the summer (as more festivals are likely to be announced), it seemingly confirms that there will not be a regular US tour in 2019.
With that being the case, any activity in the US would likely occur in the fall. Supposedly talks are taking place for a return to Las Vegas for their first residency since 2013’s legendary Viva! Hysteria run that occupied The Joint at the Hard Rock Hotel from March 22 through April 13.
Nothing is certain right now, but I have to wonder… If they go back to Vegas for another residency, what would they do?
Let’s consider the possibilities on a scale from least interesting to most interesting.
Option 1: Regular Shows
Vegas residencies are common these days and bands from Guns N’ Roses to The Who have set up shop to perform at various venues in the city. Often, bands will go there and not change anything from the status quo, as they are merely settling in for a quick and convenient payday. GNR is well known for performing lengthy shows on tour full of covers, the majority of Appetite For Destruction, and a handful of songs from their other albums, and nothing changed when they did their Vegas residency. When KISS performed at The Joint during a run in November 2014, their set was no different than what they normally play anywhere else. I only looked at the last three sets, but nothing changed during those shows, suggesting the same thing every single night.
Worst case scenario for Def Leppard is they go there and do the exact same thing. Lep has a tendency to fall into a rut the longer they are on the road, and package tours only compound the problem by limiting their time on stage. The 2018 summer tour setlist was the worst since 2014, which was the worst since 2011, which was the worst since 2006. The common thread between those years is that they all ran 14-16 songs in length and featured the majority of the same songs, give or take one or two differences.
If Def Leppard were to play ‘normal’ shows in Vegas during a second residency, I would expect 17-18 songs at minimum. At least, I hope that’s what the minimum would be. That would open up the set a little to allow some different songs in, but the band hasn’t exactly been adventurous since 2016.
The 2015 tour began as your run of the mill summer package tour, but it was refreshing coming off the heels of 2014’s coheadlining tour with KISS that saw Leppard limited to 14 songs per night. The 2015 tour would regularly feature 17 songs including the first play of “Paper Sun” since 2000. As of this writing, that was the last time Leppard got bold with the setlist, and it was just a single song.
Once the Def Leppard album was released, the focus shifted to playing new material. The 2016 tour eventually saw three new songs in the set. Once all three were introduced, the band played the same exact set every single night for the rest of the year… And that exact same set continued through 2017.
2018 saw the band’s full discography finally available on download and streaming services, prompting band members to say they would be “promoting the full catalog” when touring this summer. Sadly, that was just another lie as the 16 song set was barely different from what was played in recent years. Out went two of the three new songs, in came two ballads, and it was once again just the greatest hits plus another song or two.
Following the US tour, Def Leppard has kicked off the Hysteria portion of the run that will take them through Japan, Australia, New Zealand, England, and Ireland. So far though, the non-Hysteria songs to be rotated in are nothing out of the norm.
Because the set has changed so little over the last three to five years, I have little hope for something even as ambitious as the 2012 tour if the band were to go to Vegas and just play regular shows. There is no excuse for a headlining show to feature a standard setlist and only run 90 minutes. If that happened during a second residency, I’d skip it in a heartbeat and just wait for the inevitable 2020 summer tour.
Option 2: Hysteria Live
As mentioned, phase two of Def Leppard’s 2018 tour is centered on the band performing Hysteria live in its entirety for the first time since 2013. If the band and/or their management was any good at timely planning, this would have been done in the US in the summer of 2017 and elsewhere during the fall/winter of 2017 to properly celebrate the album’s 30th anniversary. Instead, they are playing it at the tail end of the 31st anniversary and will be taking it into the year of its 32nd anniversary as well since they are already confirmed to be playing the album at Download 2019.
The first show to feature Hysteria played all the way through in 2018 was the first show in Honolulu, Hawaii on October 19. The 20 song set featured the full album as well as other stuff including two songs not played since 2014… Perennial rotaters “Action” and “Make Love Like A Man” were the first to return. Night two in Hawaii saw the show inexplicably shorten to 16 songs, featuring only Hysteria and four other songs to end the night. The set is bad as it is for a headlining show with no opener, but it’s even worse when considering the second night was the first one to be announced and put on sale. Those that purchased tickets to the first show, which sold out and prompted the additional show to be added one day prior, were punished with a shorter set.
Only one show has been played in Japan so far, but it was similar to night two in Hawaii as it featured Hysteria to open the show (which means “Women” was the opener again, which is not a good spot for the song but playing the album first helps the flow and Joe’s voice), a short intermission, and then only five additional songs: “Let It Go,” “When Love & Hate Collide,” “Let’s Get Rocked,” “Rock Of Ages,” and “Photograph.” That means “Let It Go” was played for the first time in 2018. The song used to be a rarity, but being featured in nearly every set from 2012-2017 has turned it into another standard. The song was supposed to be included in the set on the 2018 summer tour, but was nixed for run time after the coheadline shows started later than originally expected.
It’s not looking good for the remaining tour dates. Seeing Hysteria live is something special, don’t get me wrong. These areas are seeing it for the first time so it is definitely an event. It’s just not as much as an event as it should be, as these headline shows are possibly still being limited to 16-17 songs in 90 minutes.
Since Def Leppard is already confirmed to be playing Hysteria in full next year, it’s quite possible that a return to Vegas would feature a second Hysteria residency. I’m torn on that, because again… It is something special to see. Not everyone was lucky enough to see it in 2013 and this would give those people a second chance to make the trip to Vegas and see it.
But…
Doing a second residency playing Hysteria all the way through would be just the latest in a long (and growing) line of things Def Leppard are trying to sell us more than once. My frustration with the band in recent years has centered on their lack of providing anything new. After the release of the new album in 2015, everything has been regurgitated product. The same songs on tour, the same running order, the same banter. Box sets with the same albums, the same b-sides, not a single previously unreleased song. Vinyl re-releases of old albums in various colors. Yet another greatest hits package (that brings suck a lack of excitement with it that I completely forgot it even existed when I wrote my first draft of this) whose only ‘new’ song is a cover that was released months ago. It’s like they are going for a world record for how many times they can sell fans the exact same things over and over again.
A second Hysteria residency would be no different. Doing so while mixing it with the standard other songs in a 16-17 song setlist is the worst version of that.
Option 3: Viva! Hysteria Part 2
If they absolutely must do a second Hysteria residency, I would hope they would at least recreate the original from 2013 and provide something new to see as part of the opening set. The 2013 run was legendary for two reasons: seeing Hysteria performed in full for the first time ever (including the first performances of “Don’t Shoot Shotgun,” “Run Riot,” and “Love And Affection” since 1987-1988) and Ded Flatbird, the band’s alter-ego that opened the shows with a 40 minute set of deep cuts and rarely performed songs. They would play eight or so songs on a basic stage, go off for a 20-25 minute intermission (with a video), kick off the Hysteria set, and then return for a two song encore. It made for very well-paced and lengthy shows that featured something for everyone.
My original plan for 2013 was to fly into town, see a single show, and leave. I had avoided sets (for the most part) for the sake of surprise, but when I learned that some very rare songs were being played and the opening set was changing nightly… I extended my trip to eight days so I could see four shows. As amazing as the Hysteria portion of the set was, Ded Flatbird stole the residency and allowed me to see songs I never would have expected to see live. As a long suffering die-hard fan, it was therapeutic and was the most exciting thing the band had ever done in terms of live performances. The obvious highlights were “Good Morning Freedom” (not played since 1980), “Rock Brigade,” “Wasted,” “On Through The Night” (not played since 1981), as well as others like “Too Late For Love,” “When Love & Hate Collide,” “Slang,” and “Promises” being dusted off.
The best case scenario for a second residency would include a Ded Flatbird reunion with a brand new stable of songs to pull from. During a Twitter Q&A years ago, I asked Rick Allen what song he would like Ded Flatbird to bring back and his answer was “Rocks Off.” Have that be the “Good Morning Freedom” of 2019, seeing it’s first live performance since 1983. Bring back epics like “Die Hard The Hunter” and “White Lightning,” or play stuff for the very first time like “Comin’ Under Fire” and “Desert Song.” Give us a few post-Vault surprises as well, such as “Work It Out,” “Go,” and “Wings Of An Angel.”
Ideally, Ded Flatbird 2.0 would feature a brand new selection of songs and not play anything that was done in 2013, but that is an extremely ambitious thing to hope for. Especially in 2019. The 2012 tour was different and exciting, which transitioned well into the 2013 residency. 2019 will follow three consecutive years of stale sets that didn’t change once during the tour, so it doesn’t exactly bode well for ambitious setlists.
If the band must re-do the Hysteria thing, they can at least resurrect and freshen up Ded Flatbird for the die-hard fans.
Option 4: Viva High ‘n’ Dry & Pyromania
On the heels of the 2013 Hysteria residency, Def Leppard was quick to say they wanted to return. The obvious favorite for going back was to do a Pyromania residency, playing that album in full for the first time. There was even talk about doing a dual-album show featuring both Pyromania and High ‘n’ Dry, as each are 10 songs in length and roughly 20 minutes shorter than Hysteria. Ideally, an encore of major Hysteria hits would follow.
While this may have been talked about in 2013, I don’t think it’s feasible today. The strain on Joe’s voice, especially in a post-2016 world, would be too much. At the final show of the 2013 residency, Leppard played seven of High ‘n’ Dry‘s 10 songs. But that still leaves three to be rehearsed, as “Lady Strange” hasn’t been played since 1983 and “You Got Me Runnin'” and “No No No” haven’t been played since 1981. And that’s on top of the songs that would have to be rehearsed for Pyromania, as “Stagefright” hasn’t been played since 2013, “Too Late For Love” 2014 (but that was just once, so really 2013), “Die Hard The Hunter” 1992 (but that was just once, so really 1988), and “Billy’s Got A Gun” 2002 (but that was just once and aside from a couple of plays in 1996-1997, it has been benched since 1987). “Comin’ Under Fire” and “Action! Not Words” have either never been played or not been played since 1983, so Pyromania would present a lot of rehearsal as well as a vocal challenge.
Seeing the two albums in full would be amazing, but it would also lock the show into being the same every night. That may limit how many shows the die-hards are willing to attend, as the variety of the 2013 shows is what made going to multiple shows the most enticing.
Trying to do both High ‘n’ Dry and Pyromania is probably too much to expect in 2019. One of them? Maybe. Both? Highly doubtful.
Option 5: DL40
Perhaps the most likely best case scenario wouldn’t be an album show at all… But instead would be a celebration of 40+ years as a band.
Def Leppard could easily take the format of the prior residency and tinker with it to play an extended show that draws from their entire catalog. They could take a page out of Rush’s playbook and hit the stage for an hour, take the 20-25 minute intermission, return for a second hour or so, and then play an encore.
The set itself would ideally feature at least one song from every album (except Yeah!, because who cares about covers). Deep cuts and hits could intertwine, though I think there should be more of a focus on the deep cuts. Maybe relax with some of the hits, allowing songs like “Bringin’ On The Heartbreak,” “Foolin’,” “Love Bites,” “Let’s Get Rocked,” “Two Steps Behind,” and non-hit “Rock On” to take much needed breaks. They’ll all have their day when the next regular tour inevitably kicks off, but the deep cuts apparently can only survive in an environment like this.
Keep the big guns like “Photograph,” “Rock Of Ages,” “Animal, “Pour Some Sugar On Me,” “Armageddon It,” “Hysteria” and fill the rest of the set with better-known latter day singles (“Slang,” “Promises,” “Now,” “Nine Lives,” “Undefeated,” “Dangerous”) and deep cuts from across the catalog (“Rocks Off,” “Lady Strange,” “Stagefright,” “White Lightning,” “Ring Of Fire,” “Day After Day,” “Go,” “Wings Of An Angel”).
The spirit of Ded Flatbird could live on, the full (original) discography could be represented, and the biggest of the hits would remain. It seems like such an easy win for all types of fans and would be a new and unique experience.
Option 6: Viva Pyromania
The residency I’ve been hoping for since 2013 is the Pyromania sequel to the Hysteria residency… Meaning an album show with a Ded Flatbird reunion.
Much of what I said above regarding bringing back Ded Flatbird would apply, in that I would like to see a fresh selection of deep cuts for the opening set. Again, the fact that Pyromania is two songs and 17 minutes shorter than Hysteria opens up the set a bit to allow for more non-Pyromania material.
For the sake of being realistic, I’d love to still see a nine or 10 song opening set from Flatbird. After an intermission, the Pyromania set would take place and then be followed by an encore of three Hysteria hits (“Hysteria,” “Armageddon It” or “Animal,” “Pour Some Sugar On Me”) to end the night at 22-23 songs.
Or, since Pyromania is more vocally challenging, they can flip the script. Open the show with Pyromania since “Rock! Rock! (Till You Drop)” is a great opener and knocking out “Photograph” second would be a benefit for everyone. Take the intermission, come back for a set of mostly deep cuts and a few Hysteria hits, and close it out with the big guns. Having played Hysteria all the way through in 2013 and 2018, this is the time to give as many of its songs as possible a rest but still feature a few to end the show with a bang.
While Pyromania will be challenging for Joe, I believe he can adapt to it much as he has everything on Hysteria. It would probably be better to open the shows with Pyromania to better pace the show for his voice, and if the schedule of only three shows per week from 2013 remains the same, it will allow for plenty of rest as well.
My two main choices would be options five (DL40) or six (Viva Pyromania with Ded Flatbird). Obviously my main goal would be to see as many songs that I don’t normally get to see as possible.
Pyromania in itself would provide FIVE songs I’ve never seen before, including the number one song on my wish list (“Stagefright”). Not only that, but “Too Late For Love” is in my top five Def Leppard songs and I’ve only seen it live five times in 57 shows.
I would still hold out hope for Ded Flatbird to wow me with “Rocks Off” and anything else they decide to bust out from the last 40+ years of music. The 2013 residency was the best week of my life as a fan, but a Pyromania residency with a Ded Flatbird reunion just may top it.
Here’s to hoping that if Def Leppard returns to Las Vegas in 2019, they make it worthwhile for the die-hard fans and offer something new.
TurnToDust86 
[…] on October 24, I wrote a piece discussing what could possibly happen if Def Leppard booked a second residency in […]
LikeLike