Def Leppard Singer Joe Elliot Thinks Slipknot, Foo Fighters Might Also Do Las Vegas Residencies in the Future

Posted on Mar 7th 2013 5:50PM by Carlos Ramirez Comments

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"You have to understand, I grew up in Sheffield, England, so I was completely removed from Las Vegas and that whole mystique. How we would hear about Vegas was through a singer named Tony Christie who was also from Sheffield. You would read in the papers about him performing there, Wayne Newton, people like that. Oh, and of course Elvis Presley – the fat one [laughs]. But yeah, Vegas was a mythical thing for me and the boys," Def Leppard vocalist Joe Elliot tells Noisecreep.

Elliot and the group are gearing up for VIVA Hysteria!, an exclusive nine show residency at The Joint inside the Hard Rock Hotel & Casino in Las Vegas. Def Leppard's set will feature a greatest hits segment in addition to their ginormous Hysteria album played front to back. The VIVA Hysteria! residency will kick off on Friday, March 22 and run through Saturday, April 13.

"We first went to Vegas in the early '80s, but it was a whirlwind of shows back then and it was our first time in America, so I don't remember much about those early trips. We were out with people like the Scorpions, Ted Nugent, Judas Priest, Pat Travers, Ozzy Osbourne and Blackfoot. We were so young.

"But what I do remember was that in 1983, I bought a video camera, and back then they were massive! You'd have to carry the thing over your shoulder. I vividly remember driving up and down the Vegas strip and filming everything because I had never had a video camera before that. It was still the period when people like Dean Martin were still performing there. It was great."

Watch VIVA Hysteria! Commercial


Yes, musically speaking, Las Vegas used to be exclusively known for middle-of-the-road crooners like Frank Sinatra, Mel Tormé and the aforementioned Wayne Newton, but these days are much different. In the last couple of years, hard rock titans like Guns N' Roses and Motley Crue have also set up residencies at The Joint, proving that you don't have to be collecting social security to check out great music on the strip anymore.

"When Elton John started doing his residency stuff in Vegas, all of us poked our heads out like meerkats, 'Elton is doing a Vegas residency? Surely not!' It got us thinking. Then I came out and sang some stuff when Cheap Trick did their Sgt. Pepper's performances there in 2009. All of a sudden, we were in good company. The Blue Rich Brigade were over [laughs].

It was just a matter of time before the people who grew up listening to KISS became rich enough and wanted to go and see a rock concert. Not just some old guy with a big blue tie [laughs]. Sooner or later Vegas was going to catch up with itself and become cool, which it did. I think we're just riding our first wave here with this Vegas stuff. Who knows, in 5-10 years we might see Slipknot and the Foo Fighters doing one of these residencies."

The VIVA Hysteria! residency will kick off on Friday, March 22 and run through Saturday, April 13. Head here for tickets!


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Sarah-Jane Harvey

OMG! Sheffield. Not far from me. Was a great article by the way. Just sitting here and listening to the Bloodstock Metal Radio Station while browsing and reading articles like this. If you want to listen... *ponders*... meh...here is the link. Only for metal peoples! Kkk?! http://www.fanteamz.com/bloodstock/cc/9/1129 . Beyond this I am like... I really need to get my act into gear and actually save some money up to attend more metal festivals. I would love to get to see more bands if I could. A dream come true.

March 16 2013 at 7:34 PM Report abuse rate up rate down Reply
Joela Zimmerli

If you think Tony`s story is astonishing..., a month-back my cousins friend who's a single mom basically got $4299 grafting ninteen hours a week in their apartment and their roomate's aunt`s neighbour has been doing this for nine months and earned more than $4299 part time from there mac. use the advice at this website......... BIT40.ℂom

March 09 2013 at 9:18 PM Report abuse rate up rate down Reply
Angela Mayfield

oh i love DEF LEPPARD.... and to ne mean to call them WASHED UP HAS BEENS is just unfair and pretty darn brutal! Music is music.... it is all in what you love to listen too.. dont know them for that! My 11 year old son loves their music.. when given the choice of concerts to go to last year.. remember he is ONLY 11.. he could have seen Justin Bieber.. Jason Mraz... Def Leppard.. who did he choose???? DEF LEPPARD.. and WHY?? Because he loves them!!! it is all in what you like.. they have put out some pretty great music sicne Hysteria.. but most people do not want to give it a chance try listening to Slang.. that CD is amazing!!! so BE NICE. and leave the boys alone!!!

March 08 2013 at 4:55 PM Report abuse rate up rate down Reply
sgard206

Bands, musicians, performers, art exhibits go to Vegas because people will go to Vegas to see them. It makes great economic sense to do a residency, and is a lot more relaxing for the performers than traveling every day. (Yea, the guys in DL are old. So am I, and I'd rather go to Vegas to see them, and enjoy other activities, than do the one-night stadium stand. Did enough of that in my younger days. They're giving their demographic what we want.)

March 08 2013 at 1:35 PM Report abuse rate up rate down Reply
Brian Quinn

Elvis Presley's concerts at the International Hotel/Las Vegas Hilton were all sell-outs and broke every attendance record in Las Vegas history. People who refer to Elvis as 'Fat Elvis' obviously never saw Elvis in concert. It was only in the last two years that Elvis' various illnesses and prescription drug addiction made him appear overweight. Elvis' memory will still be around when no-one can remember who Def Leppard, Slipknot and Foo Fighters were.

March 08 2013 at 7:13 AM Report abuse rate up rate down Reply
Bobby Thompson

No Joe, the simple fact is that you and your band are washed up has-beens and the music world has moved on. Bragging that other has-beens like Gn'R and Crue have done the same thing just supports my statement! None of you have been even remotely relevant to the music industry in over 20 years!! Be smart and bow out gracefully like most of your peers (and superiors) have done. Your primary audience was 12 to 16 year old girls in the 80's, andd they (and the industry in general) have outgrown you. Enjoy the proceeds from what you did previously and accept that folks don't want to see old fat worn-out hacks from 3 decades ago.

March 08 2013 at 1:33 AM Report abuse -2 rate up rate down Reply
2 replies to Bobby Thompson's comment
Nick Devenney

Washed up huh?? is that why their last 4 albums all cracked the top 15 on the top 40 here including one that hit the top 5??? lol

March 08 2013 at 12:06 PM Report abuse +1 rate up rate down Reply
kss_kss

you have obviously had your head up your ass for the last 20 years. there is plenty enough people to support the older rockers of the day, while your sitting at home with **** on your face.

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