Def Leppard Hits Vegas: The Sin City Residency Highlights

Last updated: 21 Aug 2019, 18:46:01
Published: 21 Aug 2019, 18:46:01
Written by: Lindsay Varney
Photography by: Per Ole Hagen
Categories: On Tour NowTour DatesTour Guide Tagged: Def Leppard Def Leppard Hits Vegas: The Sin City Residency 2019 Def Leppard at Zappos Theater

Following a nearly year-long world tour throughout all of 2018, Def Leppard have had a lot to live up to in 2019. Luckily, they've had no problem doing just that. After recently wrapping on a tour across Canada in July, the metal rockers were anxious to keep that energy going as they stumbled into a quick opening of their current Las Vegas residency titled Def Leppard Hits Vegas: The Sin City Residency.

With limited time in between the end of the Canadian tour and the start of their Vegas run, the band was forced to reduce their rehearsal time at the Zappos Theater at Planet Hollywood to only two full days. While not necessarily unheard of, it isn’t ideal for a band to have such limited rehearsal time for a production as big as this. For example, Aerosmith had over two weeks of rehearsal at the Park Theater before kicking off their own Vegas production of similar scale. Fortunately, after a short period of rest, Def Leppard did have the opportunity to musically rehearse in Canada as their stage was built on The Strip.

All of this mayhem and more was documented by the band and edited into a short video released by Def Leppard just last week. The mini documentary follows frontman and Def Leppard co-founder Joe Elliot and his bandmates from the first moments of them seeing the stage two days before opening, to the aftermath following the first show of the residency on August 14.

After seeing the stage and production for the first time, the guys had a lot to say about their Sin City Residency.

“It’s one of the biggest stages we’ve ever played on.” - Rick Savage

“It’s like a stadium act in a theatre.” - Vivian Campbell

“This is the best Def Leppard production show I’ve ever actually seen.” - Phil Collen

At one point in the documentary, Joe Elliot compares their work throughout the show to a 12km run, but confesses that he is completely fine with that stress as he stares at the stage in awe. Of course, with this kind of a buildup, the metal rock pioneers have a lot to live up to when it comes to the show. Luckily for them, so far the Vegas run has far exceeded expectations as Def Leppard has continued to rock the Zappos Theater to its core night after night.

From the awe-inspiring production, to the deep cuts and acoustic strip down of the music, Def Leppard’s Sin City Residency has provided audiences with a show far beyond the constraints of a touring concert.

Whether discussing the 360 degree five overhead jumbo monitors, the moving stage and stage platforms, the countless number of lights and laser effects, the frequent pyrotechnics, or the sheer size of the base stage and catwalk extension, there is no argument that this show’s production is something to appreciate. As Joe Elliot discusses in the behind-the-scenes video, he and the rest of the band wanted to clearly distinguish these shows from their more typical touring performances.

As part of that effort, Def Leppard was sure to mix up the music as well, playing a twenty-two song setlist every night. The two-hour show is the longest set the band has played in years and they couldn’t be happier about it. To fill that lengthy show, the Rock and Roll Hall of Famers have contrived a setlist that is split into “acts.” And that’s not the only thing reminiscent of a Broadway-type play. Just look at the opening of the show as they perform the 1983 hit, “Die Hard the Hunter,” a song that hadn’t been performed live since 1992 up until now.

Def Leppard Perform "Die Hard the Hunter" Live in Las Vegas 2019

The curtains open to signal the start of the first act of the show in which the band plays typical electric versions of songs like “Animal,” “Foolin’” and “Switch 625” before heading into the second act when band strips down for a few acoustic performances. Throughout this section, Def Leppard live debuted two songs during night one including “Let Me Be The One” off of the X album and “We Belong” from their most recent self-titled album.

Def Leppard Perform "We Belong" Live in Las Vegas 2019

Rolling straight into the third act, the band returns to their rightful place on the main stage to perform more electric hits like “Rocket,” “Hysteria,” “Armageddon It” and “Pour Some Sugar On Me,” before briefly exiting stage in front of a crowd full of anxious fans. Shortly after, the legendary band reenters at the request of fan cheers to perform an encore featuring their two most-performed songs live.

Beginning with “Rock of Ages” and ending with “Photograph,” Def Leppard ensures that the somewhat short encore is just as spectacular as the rest of the show.