Def Leppard and Journey have officially launched their 2024 Stadium tour with a spectacular show at Busch Stadium in St. Louis, Missouri. This concert marked the beginning of a 23-date US tour that will conclude at Coors Field in Denver, Colorado, on September 8. The tour promises a nostalgic journey through some of the most iconic rock hits, with both bands delivering performances that left fans exhilarated.
Def Leppard’s setlist was heavily dominated by tracks from their monumental albums, “Pyromania” and “Hysteria.” Out of the 18 songs performed, 13 were from these two albums. Notably, the band reintroduced “Rock! Rock! (Till You Drop)” into their set, a song they hadn’t played live since 2015. Additionally, “Comin’ Under Fire” made a rare appearance, having been performed only once before at an intimate show in Los Angeles. The band also played their recent single, “Just Like ’73,” adding a fresh touch to their classic lineup.
Guitarist Phil Collen shared insights into the revamped stage production, emphasizing the energy and effort put into creating a new experience for fans. “We changed the whole set,” Collen mentioned. “There’s a whole new screen production, and we’ve been using pretty much the same stuff for like 12 years. So we’ve changed it completely. The stage show is drastically different. It’s going to take a lot of energy. There’s going to be a lot of running around.”
Journey’s performance was equally electrifying, featuring a setlist packed with their timeless hits. Classics like “Stone In Love,” “Lovin’, Touchin’, Squeezin’,” “Open Arms,” “Wheel In The Sky,” “Separate Ways (Worlds Apart),” and the iconic “Don’t Stop Believin'” were all part of the show. The band opened with “Faith in the Heartland,” a track from their “Generations” album, which has recently been making its way back into their live performances.
Cheap Trick opened the evening with a tight, hour-long set that included fan favorites such as “Dream Police,” “If You Want My Love,” “The Flame,” “Surrender,” and “I Want You to Want Me.” They will continue to support the tour on select dates, with the Steve Miller Band filling in for other shows. Unfortunately, Heart had to withdraw from their scheduled appearances due to Ann Wilson undergoing preventative chemotherapy.
The tour will continue with its next show at Truist Park in Atlanta, Georgia, on July 13. Fans can look forward to a series of performances that promise to deliver the same high energy and classic rock nostalgia.
Def Leppard’s setlist for the St. Louis show included:
1. “Rock! Rock! (Till You Drop)”
2. “Rocket”
3. “Foolin'”
4. “Armageddon It”
5. “Animal”
6. “Love Bites”
7. “Just Like ’73”
8. “Comin’ Under Fire”
9. “Too Late for Love”
10. “Die Hard the Hunter”
11. “Two Steps Behind”
12. “This Guitar”
13. “Bringin’ On the Heartbreak”
14. “Switch 625”
15. “Rock of Ages”
16. “Photograph”
17. “Hysteria”
18. “Pour Some Sugar on Me”
Journey’s setlist for the same night featured:
1. “Faith in the Heartland”
2. “Only the Young”
3. “Stone in Love”
4. “Keep On Runnin'”
5. “Faithfully”
6. “Escape”
7. “Lovin’, Touchin’, Squeezin'”
8. Piano Solo (Jonathan Cain)
9. “Open Arms”
10. “Chain Reaction”
11. Guitar Solo (Neal Schon)
12. “Wheel in the Sky”
13. “Lights”
14. “Separate Ways (Worlds Apart)”
15. “Be Good to Yourself”
16. “Any Way You Want It”
17. “Don’t Stop Believin'”
Cheap Trick’s setlist included:
1. “Hello There”
2. “Dream Police”
3. “If You Want My Love”
4. “She’s Tight”
5. “Ain’t That a Shame”
6. “Boys & Girls & Rock N Roll”
7. “Downed”
8. Bass Solo
9. “I Know What I Want”
10. “The Flame”
11. “I Want You to Want Me”
12. “Surrender”
13. “Clock Strikes Ten”
14. “Goodnight”
The tour dates are as follows:
– Jul 10: Orlando, FL – Camping World Stadium^
– Jul 13: Atlanta, GA – Truist Park*
– Jul 15: Chicago, IL – Wrigley Field*
– Jul 18: Detroit, MI – Comerica Park*
– Jul 20: Nashville, TN – Nissan Stadium*
– Jul 23: Philadelphia, PA – Citizens Bank Park*
– Jul 25: Hershey, PA – Hersheypark Stadium*
– Jul 27: Pittsburgh, PA – PNC Park*
– Jul 30: Cleveland, OH – Progressive Field^
– Aug 02: Toronto, ON – Rogers Centre^
– Aug 05: Boston, MA – Fenway Park*
– Aug 07: New York, NY – Citi Field*
– Aug 12: Arlington, TX – Globe Life Field*
– Aug 14: Houston, TX – Minute Maid Park*
– Aug 16: San Antonio, TX – Alamodome*
– Aug 19: Minneapolis, MN – Target Field*
– Aug 23: Phoenix, AZ – Chase Field*
– Aug 25: Inglewood, CA – SoFi Stadium*
– Aug 28: San Francisco, CA – Oracle Park*
– Aug 30: San Diego, CA – Petco Park*
– Sep 04: Seattle, WA – T-Mobile Park^
– Sep 08: Denver, CO – Coors Field^
*with Steve Miller Band
^with Cheap Trick
Tickets for all remaining dates are on sale now. This tour is a must-see for fans of classic rock, offering a unique opportunity to experience the legendary hits of Def Leppard and Journey live.
Source: Ultimate Classic Rock, Louder/Classic Rock Magazine
