BLM Celebrates 30 Years of Hysteria

30 years ago today, Def Leppard released their phenomenal mega-classic album, Hysteria.   The first single released in the US was Women.  I will always significantly remember that one because it was brand-new on WBLM and so was I. What an historic album to coincide with arriving at the dream gig, huh?

Frontman, Joe Elliot had this to say to our friends at Ultimate Classic Rock about Hysteria and the 30th Anniversary Edition coming out tomorrow.

“It’s hard to believe that it’s been 30 years since the release of Hysteria. “In some respects it really does seem like only yesterday. So, to mark this milestone, we wanted to do something very special for our fans and give them the definitive version of the album, one that incorporates all of the memories and milestones that we caught on tape and some of the madness that we got up to on the road. We hope it means as much to you as it does to us.”

 

I will never forget the night Def Leppard brought the Hysteria Tour to Portland on October 2, 1987. I was 20 years old and had been on air at WBLM for less than a month. The legendary Jose Diaz was my boss and he asked me if I’d be willing to go onstage and welcome the crowd. Up until that point, my view was looking from the crowd to the stage, never from the stage to the crowd. Yikes! Without hesititation, I agreed. On the inside, I was freakin’ out! There’s gonna be like 8,000 Def Lep fans out there! When the time came to walk out and step up to the mic in front of a sold-out Civic Center, I was absolutely freakin’ out…until I spoke four powerful letters. When I said, “Good evening Portland. My name is Brian James (a few claps and hoots). Then I said, “And I’m from WBLM.” (the entire place erupted!) My job was to welcome the crowd and it turned out that they welcomed me in the best way possible, all because of four powerful letters and oh, a little band from Sheffield, England.  Thanks Leps!

Here's a shot from backstage at the Civic Center that night. WARNING: Mullets Ahead!