In the officially released Episode 1 of Behind The Tour 2025, Def Leppard offers fans an intimate, behind‑the‑scenes glimpse at their January 18, 2025, concert in León—this time captured with a personal, documentary style that blends live performance footage with candid backstage moments. The band opens up about the emotional weight of this milestone show.
A major focus of the episode is the absence of guitarist Vivian Campbell, who is still recovering from a stem‑cell transplant as part of his cancer treatment. The video features frontman Joe Elliott explaining that Vivian “is recuperating … he’s in a bubble” and “not allowed to travel,” while the band sends messages of love and support directly to him through the video. Bassist Rick Savage adds: “Viv, we miss you, we love you and we wish you could be with us”.
In Vivian’s stead, the band brought in John Zocco, Phil Collen’s guitar tech, who steps in on lead guitar duties. Elliott praises him as “a phenomenal player,” expressing confidence in his ability to maintain the band’s live energy and sound integrity in Viv’s absence.
The concert footage in the episode is especially poignant: the band dedicates the performance of “Wasted” to mark the 45th anniversary of their debut album On Through the Night, aligning perfectly with the exact date they kicked off their first-ever headlining tour back in 1980. Elliott shares this eerie anniversary coincidence with the crowd, giving the concert extra historic resonance.
Interspersed with energetic live visuals, the video also includes moments backstage—pre‑show rituals, crew interactions, costume changes, and snippets of reflections from the tour crew—providing a snapshot of the team effort behind the spectacle. Viewers hear from band members and crew as they discuss the challenges and rewards of entering a new tour year, coping with lineup changes, and honoring the band’s legacy.
The episode not only showcases Def Leppard’s resilience as a band—even when faced with serious personal hurdles, such as Campbell’s treatment—but also underscores the passion and professionalism of their touring operation. There is an emotional undercurrent throughout, as the band grapples with missing one of their founding members while forging ahead with a full‑throttle live show.
Finally, the video wraps up by teasing the next upcoming legs of the tour: Def Leppard has additional North American shows scheduled through August 2025, with the next confirmed date being May 15 in San Juan, Puerto Rico. The episode closes with a promise of deeper insight into upcoming shows, backstage dynamics, and hopefully Vivian’s eventual return to the stage.
