Def Leppard to release On Through The Night live album

Def Leppard in 1980
Def Leppard in 1980 (Image credit: Chris Walter/WireImage - Getty)

Def Leppard are preparing to release a live album which was recorded in Oxford in 1980 during the band’s tour in support of their debut album On Through The Night.

Frontman Joe Elliott was speaking with SiriusXM’s Volume show when he revealed the news, saying that the show featuring himself, drummer Rick Allen, bassist Rick Savage and guitarists Pete Willis and Steve Clarke, is a “warts an all” performance.

Elliott says: “We thought about this about a year and a half ago and there’s going to be a celebratory release. I don’t know how much of this I can say right now – I might be breaking protocol.

“But I will say this much – there’s a companion piece to On Through The Night, there’s a brand new, just mixed live performance from the Oxford Theatre in 1980.

“It’s never been heard and it’s warts and all. The band, as I say in the liner notes, when you peer through the curtain of uncertainty that my voice was back in those days, there’s a fantastic band on stage. 

“The two-arm Rick Allen with Rick Savage was some rhythm section to come, considering he was 16 years old and Sav was 17, maybe 18. Pete Willis and Steve Clarke were 17 and 18.

“It was some band.”

Further details will be revealed in due course.

Last month, Def Leppard wrapped up their 12-show Las Vegas residency, with Elliott saying he’d like to do something similar in the future.

The last two shows on the run at Zappos Theater at Planet Hollywood Resort & Casino were filmed for a home release, with details to follow.

Elliott’s side-project Down ’N’ Outz have just released their new album This Is How We Roll. He’s joined in the lineup by Quireboys' Paul Guerin, Guy Griffin and Keith Weir, plus Share Ross and Phil Martin.

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Def Leppard: Volume 1

<a href="https://target.georiot.com/Proxy.ashx?tsid=38569&GR_URL=https%3A%2F%2Famazon.co.uk%2FVinyl-Collection-One-VINYL%2Fdp%2FB07B5WB6Z8%3Ftag%3Dhawk-future-21%26ascsubtag%3Dhawk-custom-tracking-21" data-link-merchant="Amazon UK"" target="_blank">Def Leppard: Volume 1
The first in Def Leppard’s career-spanning box set series brings together On Through The Night, High ’N’ Dry, Pyromania and Hysteria along with live material and bonus tracks

Def Leppard: Volume 2

<a href="https://target.georiot.com/Proxy.ashx?tsid=38569&GR_URL=https%3A%2F%2Famazon.co.uk%2FTBC-VINYL%2Fdp%2FB07QM49DPJ%3Ftag%3Dhawk-future-21%26ascsubtag%3Dhawk-custom-tracking-21" data-link-merchant="Amazon UK"">Def Leppard: Volume 2
The second volume of Def Leppard's collection features Adrenalize, Retro Active, Slang and Euphoria along with rare cuts, b-sides and more.

Down ’N’ Outz: This Is How We Roll

<a href="https://target.georiot.com/Proxy.ashx?tsid=38569&GR_URL=https%3A%2F%2Famazon.co.uk%2FThis-How-We-Roll-VINYL%2Fdp%2FB07VGC44H9%3Ftag%3Dhawk-future-21%26ascsubtag%3Dhawk-custom-tracking-21" data-link-merchant="Amazon UK"" target="_blank">Down ’N’ Outz: This Is How We Roll
Def Leppard frontman Joe Elliott's project featuring Quireboys' Paul Guerin, Guy Griffin and Keith Weir, along with Share Ross and Phil Martin have released their new album - and it's not to be missed!

Scott Munro
Louder e-commerce editor

Scott has spent more than 30 years in newspapers, magazines and online as an editor, production editor, sub-editor, designer, writer and reviewer. Scott joined our news desk in the summer of 2014 before moving to the e-commerce team in 2020. Scott maintains Louder’s buyer’s guides, scouts out the best deals for music fans and reviews headphones, speakers, books and more. He's written more than 11,000 articles across Louder, Classic Rock, Metal Hammer and Prog and has previous written for publications including IGN, the Sunday Mirror, Daily Record and The Herald, covering everything from daily news and weekly features, to video games, travel and whisky. Scott's favourite bands are Fields Of The Nephilim, The Cure, New Model Army, All About Eve, The Mission, Cocteau Twins, Drab Majesty, Marillion and Rush.