Def Leppard Announce 2008 World Tour + New Studio Album

Britain's biggest arena band is coming to put America's arenas to the test: Def Leppard announced US tour dates today. They also announced that they've been in the studio, working on a new album! The album details will be released shortly, but we've been told that it includes "a very special collaboration." Joe Elliott (vocals), Vivian Campbell (guitar), Phil Collen (guitar), Rick "Sav" Savage (bass) and Rick Allen (drums) are finishing the album and rehearsing for the 2008 World Tour that kicks off in the US in March. If you haven't seen Def Leppard live lately, here's what you can expect in '08:

The group’s spectacular live shows are filled with hit after hit from their groundbreaking discography that set the sound for generations of music fans and artists. Def Leppard’s powerful rock anthems have become synonymous with their name and it’ easy to see why rock fans keep gravitating toward their electrifying live performances. On their 2008 tour, the band is promising a highly-charged, no-nonsense set of rocking performances, packed with hits spanning its entire career. Def Leppard are one of only five rock groups who can claim two separate original 10 million plus selling albums in the US. The others are The Beatles, Led Zeppelin, Pink Floyd and Van Halen.

That's from a press release for the tour, but I think any Def Leppard fan would agree that their shows ROCK!US Tour Dates:Mar 27 Greensboro, NC Greensboro Coliseum Complex Mar 29 Hollywood, FL Hard Rock Live Arena Mar 30 Estero, FL Germain Arena Apr 01 Greenville, SC BI-LO Center Apr 03 Reading, PA Sovereign Center Apr 04 Atlantic City, NJ Music Box at The Borgata Apr 06 Manchester, NH Verizon Wireless Arena Apr 08 Uncasville, CT Mohegan Sun Arena Apr 09 Providence, RI Dunkin’ Donuts Center Apr 11 Quebec City, QC Colisee Pepsi Arena Apr 12 Ottawa, ON ScotiaBank Place Apr 13 Hamilton, ON Copps Coliseum Apr 16 Winnipeg, MB MTS Centre Apr 18 Grand Rapids, MI Van Andel Arena Apr 19 Detroit, MI Joe Louis Arena Apr 22 Boise, ID The Idaho Center Apr 23 Spokane, WA Spokane Arena Apr 25 Las Vegas, NV The Pearl Apr 26 Chula Vista, CA Coors Amphitheater The tour is being produced by Live Nation, who seem to be big Def Lep fans themselves:

"Def Leppard is consistently one of the most exciting and successful bands we work with year in and year out," said Live Nation Senior Vice President of Touring Bruce Kapp. "There is no better way to kick off our touring season than with Def Leppard." Tickets go on sale beginning January 11th and are available at www.livenation.com

You can also keep up to date by checking the band's website:http://www.defleppard.com/