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The Rolling Stones aren't the only veteran English rock band still making the rounds with live music.
Saturday, July 18 marked exactly 48 years since Def Leppard's first-ever public performance. The show was held at the Westfield School in Sheffield, South Yorkshire, England, and they were paid only five pounds (apparently by a teacher), Ultimate Classic Rock reports.
With frontman Joe Elliott, Def Leppard played an approximately 50-minute set that included a cover of Thin Lizzy's "Jailbreak." According to The Def Leppard Story: Animal Instinct (1987) by David Fricke, guitarist Steve Clark had a bit of a mishap during the historic performance due to a Marshall amp left on standby during a pre-performance tuning session.
"Steve plugged in and walked to the front of the stage, looking brilliant in his tight jeans and long blond hair," Elliott, 66, states in the Fricke's book, per UCR. "All ready to go into the first song, 'World Beyond the Sky,' he did his windmill arm motion, just like Pete Townshend, for the big opening chord and nothing happened. No power. Everybody in the audience was laughing. After a few seconds, we started all over again."
Clark would continue with Def Leppard through their peak years until his death in 1991. Elliott and bassist Rick Savage are still jamming — and on that note, got any plans to see them live this fall?
Def Leppard took to social media last month to announce upcoming tour dates, and fans seem thrilled that their favorite glam metal outfit continues to rock on all these decades later.
"Def Leppard Live 2026 Fall Tour dates in Mexico and South America with special guest @extreme_band are on sale now!" reads the caption of their Instagram post on June 5. See below.
Fans have since flooded the post's comments section to show their excitement, while some international die-hards have expressed how they wish Def Leppard were also stopping in places like Brazil and Peru.
