Las Vegas Sun

March 29, 2024

The Joint produces mass ‘Hysteria’ with Def Leppard residency

Def Leppard

C Ash Newell Photography

Def Leppard will play nine shows at the Joint in March and April.

If you were a major hard-rock star in the 1980s, you might want to start checking for openings on the schedule at the Joint in the Hard Rock Hotel.

The 4,000-seat concert venue is queuing up its fourth rock residency and is again diving into the 1980s for a classic band playing a classic album.

Announced today is a set of nine shows by Def Leppard spanning March and April. The Viva Hysteria residency runs from March 22 through April 10. Tickets start at $49.95 and are on sale at 10 a.m. Friday at the Hard Rock Hotel box office, Ticketmaster locations and online at Ticketmaster.com, the Joint website and by phone at 800.745.3000.

As the title indicates, the show will be a performance of the band’s great 1987 album “Hysteria,” which will be played in full. That album produced “Pour Some Sugar on Me,” one of the most beloved sing-along songs ever in rock. The album vaulted to No. 1 on the Billboard charts and has sold 20 million copies worldwide. Also among the hits were the title track, “Love Bites,” “Women” and “Rocket.”

The Hard Rock and producer AEG Live developed the rock-in-residence concept at the Joint with Carlos Santana’s two-year run from 2009-2011. Since, Motley Crue (January and February) and Guns N’ Roses (currently ending Nov. 24) have hit the mark in what has become known as the “mini-residency.” Similar to those bands, Def Leppard is known as an arena band, and the Joint was built to allow for the vast staging required to put on an arena show.

In a statement, Def Leppard frontman Joe Elliott said, “We’ve never done anything like this before in our entire career, so the opportunity to do something completely different like this, in such an iconic setting, is very exciting and something we just couldn’t say no to! It should make for a great, over-the-top rock show! Bring it on!”

The officials who made the deal happen also were heard from in the release issued today.

“We couldn’t be more amped to announce Def Leppard’s VIVA Hysteria! as the latest member of unforgettable residencies at the Joint,” said Paul Davis, VP of entertainment at the Hard Rock Hotel. “Featuring the entire 'Hysteria' album, fans can expect an action-packed, nostalgic euphoria of music, rock n’ roll and over-the-top amusement.”

“AEG Live and Hard Rock Hotel are stoked to present VIVA Hysteria!” said Bobby Reynolds, VP of booking for AEG Live Las Vegas. “Def Leppard’s 'Hysteria' album is an iconic piece of rock music history, and their nine-show run will be one of the most over-the-top experiences the venue has produced. They’re going to blow the roof off the Joint!”

Follow John Katsilometes on Twitter at Twitter.com/JohnnyKats. Also, follow “Kats With the Dish” at Twitter.com/KatsWiththeDish.

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