Def Leppard plans stop in Youngstown

Photo

Photo by: AP FILE PHOTO | SEPT. 25, 2013

British rock group Def Leppard will make a stop at Covelli Centre this summer. Band members include Rick Allen, Phil Collen and Vivian Campbell. Not pictured are Joe Elliott and Rick Savage.

By GUY D’ASTOLFO

dastolfo@vindy.com

YOUNGSTOWN

British pop-metal giants Def Leppard will come to Covelli Centre for a July 15 concert.

The durable rock act has been around for more than 30 years and is one of the top-selling bands in the world, moving more than 100 million albums.

Tickets for the show will be $56, $76 and $96 and go on sale at 10 a.m. Feb. 20 at ticketmaster.com, by phone at 1-800-745-3000 and at the Covelli box office. Opening the concert will be Tesla.

Def Leppard was in its heyday in the ’80s and early ’90s, releasing its juggernaut albums “Pyromania” and “Hysteria” in 1983 and 1987, respectively.

Eric Ryan, director of Covelli Centre and concert promoter, said Def Leppard has always been on his short list of bands he wanted to bring to town.

“We’ve been working on it since they day we walked in the door,” he said. “It’s a perfect show that Youngstown will love and the type of band that the city has supported.”

Ryan cited Journey, Motley Crue and Poison as other classic rock bands of that era that sold very well at Covelli.

Def Leppard is not playing Cleveland or Pittsburgh on this summer’s tour, so Youngstown will be the only regional stop for fans.

Summer is always a slow time at the entertainment venue, as most events move outdoors. Experience has taught Ryan that booking a band the magnitude of Def Leppard is an effective way to get revenue flowing in the hot-weather months.

“We always try to have one big concert in the summer,” he said.

“We’ve found that if we can do one or two big shows, and not mess with smaller shows, we’re better off.”

Def Leppard has maintained a strong touring presence in recent years, as well as completing extended runs in Las Vegas venues. Last year, the band teamed up with KISS for a tour that came to both Blossom Music Center and First Niagara Pavilion.

Although many stops on the 2015 tour will include Tesla and Styx, the Youngstown show will only have Tesla as the opening act.

Ryan pointed out that Styx was at the arena for an October 2013 concert.