I think this would be Steve’s final live performance with Def Leppard. It would be interesting to see what direction Def Leppard would’ve went if Steve were still around
For the record, this was the 1989 MTV Video Music Awards and was Steve's last appearance with the band before he died. The way they did live performance back then was to play the recorded track with Joe's live voice the only thing "live." This is Def Leppard's first recorded version of Tear It Down, which was featured as a B-side for a Hysteria vinyl single. Both Steve and Phil are playing in the track. The song was re-recorded and re-mixed after Steve's death with all guitar parts done by Phil, and that is the version released on Adrenalize. Joe may sound a little bit off pitch here but if you notice this stage was not equipped with monitors nor did they have the ear monitors you see performers wearing today to stay on pitch.
I remember waiting up half the night for this performance . Every commercial break was “ coming up next Def Leppard “ then it would be more awards and other groups .
this is for me SO black and white in the sense of two completely different emotions from watching this. on the one hand we see the great man at his best, full of life owning the stage, Steve was truly one of the rarest of rare a 'rock star', he oozed charisma but baked it up with an amazingly timeless gift for writing songs, and composing riffing/chord/notes, the other feeling I get is what a incalculable loss for music and the world, his family and Phil espec, Lorelei too even if they'd broken up by this stage, and also for me the ability to strut his stuff all the while being a chronically sick man who could only function later in the day after drinking to settle his systemic shakes. but for posterity this was as far as i can glean The Riffmasters final show with L, even if pre recorded.
Wow! Takes me back to 1989. Thanks for posting. I remember recording this on my family's VCR and transferring it to cassette tape immediately! It was the MTV Music Video or Movie awards, I think. That comedian introducing them was ... Richard Lewis? I was a HUGE DL fan and had seen them previously play "live" on some British music awards show. Only that turned out to be them lip-syncing "Sugar." I was so bummed! Then I heard Lewis say "Tear It Down" and freaked! It was a B-side I'd heard about but didn't own the "cassingle" to. But yeah, listening to it now it's pretty obvious that they played a pre-recorded track of guitars and vocals. At least Joe's singing is live.
It makes me realize how far we’ve come to knowing and understanding alcoholism and how to treat it. I feel like Steve could’ve nipped it in the bud with today’s view on alcoholism. Where it’s a legitimate and destructive addiction, rather than something you can easily beat with willpower.
@@andrewhudson7108 Steve's alcoholism had another element to it Steve was self medicating to get over the years of psychological abuse from his Dad. He was always waiting for the other shoe to fall looking for his Dads approval that never seemed to come. By the time his Dad realized and tried to step in it was to late . The man was beyond talented I have a classical guitar back ground like he had but no where near the talent or ear he had.
Didn't see it mentioned here, but the original version of this song (not the Adrenalize version) was finally officially released on the 2-disc expanded edition of Hysteria last year. I'm glad for that as I preferred the original. Heard it on the radio at the time--I think DJs agreed it was too good a song to pass up.
This was in September of 1989, right? Things were really going downhill for Steve by then, unfortunately. A fantastic performer and riff-maker. He's a legend
I always wondered why Joe said, "Keep the faith" at the end and now it makes sense, maybe they knew at the time it could be Steve's last performance with them.
No they just knew it took them a long time inbetween albums such as Pyromania to Hysteria was 4 1/2 years and they had just finished a grueling 2 year world tour with Hysteria and knew they needed a long break and time to record another album which arrived not until April 92 with Adrenalize. This clip is from September 89. So 2 1/2 years before they returned and a total of 4 1/2 years from Hysteria to Adrenalize.
@@Price70 , yes, they suffered tragedies between Pyromania and Hysteria (Rick’s accident), and again between Hysteria and Adrenalize (Steve’s death). Two very legit (and sad) reasons for long waits between these albums.
I think I remember reading that they HAD considered firing Steve, but in the end decided to give him 6 months hiatus to get himself straightened out. I don't remember where I read it, other than it was in a magazine, so likely "Heavy Metal" or something like that. Forgive my faulty memory, it WAS 20 years ago. The thing is, no, they did NOT approach other guitarists until after he had passed. And not even immediately after he died, because at first Phil seriously considered quitting without him.
this is the first time i have seen a video of def leppard performing this song live i have been looking 4 something like this 4 a long time why didnt they include this song in the hysteria album? but im glad is on the adrenalize album.
To me, the best Rockin' song of Def Leppards. I think they should have included this on the "Adrenalize" Cd/Album. The Re-recorded version sounds a bit to polished for me as the original (with S. Clark) is more of a raw sound. My Opinion.. 8-)
WOW, Joe wearing a Misfits Legacy of Brutality T-Shirt. That's really unexpected. I saw this live as a kid but who knew looking back it was Steves last performance and... Well the misfits shirt. Lol.
Joe started using a falsetto thing in his throat when singing higher notes around the time of High and Dry. It's hard to control the mid range high notes and project at the same time especially while moving that much. It's easier to hit the very high notes when singing like that but much harder to control the pushing of your diaphragm for the in between notes. Works great in a controlled environment like the studio. Not so much live.
@noreplysoccer Steve Clark was already dead when they made Adrenalize. He co-wrote the album, but died before the recording, so Phil Collen played all guitar parts. They added Vivian Campbell when it was time to tour.
All the bands who performed that night did the same thing, when The Cult went on only Ian's vocals were live and the band played with a backing track. Search for The Cult Fire Woman you'll see it.
exactly! phil's solo sounds live too. in fact, ALL the guitars are live. you can tell right at the beginning, before the drums kick in, the pick slide is different than the original! the background vids seem a little too good though, but the lepps are known for good ones..
it is...you wonder with the way Joe is kinda off..you wonder if they might have been having too much fun backstage. Some wine, women, and song. Hell...if I was in their shoes...I'd have done the exact same thing! Great song by a great band
@newc1531 Steve Clark is the guiatarist on most of Adrenalize tracks. Def Leppard did not replace Clark until after the album was close to finished and they needed someone to tour with. Then Vivian Campbell was added, debuting at the Freddie Mercury tribute concert.
No Steve is NOT the guitarist on most of the Adrenalize tracks. Steve helped write the album with Phil and did record some demos with Phil but the band gave Steve a 6 month hiatus during the recording process and Steve passed away during that time and never recorded any of the final versions of the songs. Phil channeled and played and recorded all of Steve’s guitar parts the way he thought Steve would and then recorded his own parts after that. There are a few lingering demos out there of Adrenalize tracks with Steve on them but they are extremely hard to find. Rare gems indeed.
@DefKennyT This was the first t.v. appearance after they had some time off. I think they had trouble in the studio but don't wuote me. It has been quite a long time. I remember seeing it live on t.v. and was cranking the t.v. It was shortly after this appearance (couple months??)Steve died. Women was a great track. I bought Hysteria after hearing in in 87.
So this is the commercially unreleased 1989 demo version of “Tear It Down”; most of what would appear on the Adrenalize version in 1992 (the rhythm section, most of the guitars, the backing vocals) could be heard here; while the 1987 version was just a “live” recording for throwaway B-side material. I don’t think Steve played guitar in the studio for this 1989 demo because he was still going through alcohol problems. I only know he played on the 1988 demo of “Tonight” because it was recorded near the end of the Hysteria tour while he was sober, but until Def Leppard releases a full album of the 1988-1992 Adrenalize sessions, we won’t know if there are any tracks that he had co-written and played on that didn’t make it on the album.
@newc1531 @newc1531 Steve Clark is the guiatarist on most of Adrenalize tracks. Def Leppard did not replace Clark until after the album was close to finished and they needed someone to tour with. Then Vivian Campbell was added, debuting at the Freddie Mercury tribute concert.
Only twenty years? Rook. I've forgotten more about playing guitar than you will ever learn. You were in "a band". Okay, great. Congratulations! I've been in two. So what?
i'm not sure if the backing vocals and the music were live, but it sure is great to see steve sing into the mic. they also have this rare aura about them in this vid that's hard to describe, particularly when they come on stage and start playing. they all looked so snazzy here, but most especially steve. i just can't get over how he dressed up here. very fashionable and classic, not so 80s like joe, sav and phil looked.
Well it's funny, you got me to listen to it again, and it did not sound like the original, I was wrong about that. The solo is similar but Phil uses more harmonics in the Adrenalize version so I went back and listened to it again. So you were right, it wasn't the original version. But I said Phil CAN shred. He can't control himself is what I'm saying, he could not play this solo so controlled live, that's why you can tell it's a pre-record, he shreds every solo he gets a hold of. cheers!
Steve's last ever appearance. Este video muestra la última aparición de Steve, en Mtv Awards en Los Angeles, Septiembre 6 de 1989. Nunca mas aparecieron como banda incluyendo a Clark.