DEF LEPPARD and MÖTLEY CRÜE announce August 2023 US tour dates with ALICE COOPER

Hot off the heels of the biggest North American stadium tour of 2022 with more than 1.3 million tickets sold, the world’s most iconic and famous rock legends DEF LEPPARD and MOTLEY CRUE going global in 2023 with their co-headline “The World Tour” together with a special guest Alice Cooper. Following the launch of European and Latin American dates, the US dates have been announced today.

Produced by Live Nation, the American leg of the world tournament starts on August 5 in Syracuse, New York. The bands will bring their electrifying stage show across America throughout the month of August, including being the first ever show at HA Chapman Stadium in Tulsa, Oklahoma.

“After finally getting back on the road this past summer, we’re very excited to bring this massive tour to a global audience, including some special dates in America,” said Joe Elliott of DEF LEPPARD.

MOTLEY CRUE said in a joint statement: “We had an incredible time playing ‘The Stadium Tour’ in North America this summer and we really can’t wait to take the show around the world ‘The World Tour’ in 2023. Crüeheads get ready because we have some amazing US dates lined up for you!”

Check local listings for full details, including VIP offers. To purchase tickets, visit motley.com and defleppard.com.

Citi is the official card for “The World Tour”. Citi card members will have access to advance ticket sales from Tuesday 13 December at 10.00 local time until Thursday 15 December at 22.00 local time via Citi entertainment program.

Tickets to the general public go on sale Friday, December 16 at 10 local time for all shows.

Newly announced tour dates:

August 5 – Syracuse, NY @ JMA Wireless Dome
August 8 – Columbus, OH @ Ohio Stadium
August 11 – Fargo, ND @ Fargodome
August 13 – Omaha, NE @ Charles Schwab Field Omaha
August 16 – Tulsa, OK @ HA Chapman Stadium
August 18 – El Paso, TX @ Sun Bowl Stadium

Last month, MOTLEY CRUE and DEF LEPPARD announced two US shows for February 2023. The two bands will play the 7,000 capacity Hard Rock Live at the Etess Arena in Atlantic City, New Jersey on February 10th and February 11th.

The Atlantic City shows will mark MOTLEY CRUE‘s first US live performances since the announcement that founding guitarist Mick Mars would no longer tour with the legendary rock act. He is replaced on the road by fhv ROB ZOMBIE and MARILYN MANSON guitarist John 5.

In October, MOTLEY CRUE‘s Nikki Sixx praised John 5he says “checks all the boxes” like Mars‘s replacement.

Sixx commented John 5‘s addition to CRUE while answering fan questions on Twitter. Asked why the band chose John 5who is one of the credited co-writers on the three original songs on CRUE‘s “Dirty” soundtrack, Sixx said: “He checks all the boxes. He’s an insane player. Respects our music, is funny as hell and has history with us and we’ve written some pretty big hits together.”

Sixx also treated Mars‘s announcement that he was retiring from touring due to his long battles with the degenerative disease ankylosing spondylitis. Ankylosing spondylitis is a type of arthritis that causes inflammation of the joints and ligaments of the spine and can lead to stiffness over time, according to the National Institute of Arthritis and Musculoskeletal and Skin Diseases.

“He has been a soldier with us for 4 decades,” Nikki said of his longtime bandmate. “We will continue to carry our legacy to generations of fans and honor Micks request to continue touring as Motley Crue.”

Besides helping to write the three songs on “Dirty”, John 5 cooperated with Sixx and Desmond Child on Mincemeat bread‘s “The Monster is Loose”. Last year, Sixx and John 5 launched THE RATS supergroup that they were joined by Rob Zombie and drummer Tommy Clufetos.

The 71-year-old Mars – whose real name is Robert Alan Deal – Served as MOTLEY CRUE‘s lead guitarist since the band’s inception in 1981.

A day after Mick announced his retirement from touring, remaining members Sixxsinger Vince Neil and drummer Tommy Lee vowed to “carry on the legacy”. In a statement, they said: “While change is never easy, we accept Mick‘s decision to withdraw from the band due to the challenges with his health. We have seen Mick dealing with his ankylosing spondylitis for decades and he has always handled it with the utmost courage and grace. Saying ‘enough is enough’ is the ultimate act of courage. Mick‘s sound helped define MOTLEY CRUE from the moment he plugged in his guitar at our very first practice together. The rest, as they say, is history. We will continue to honor his musical legacy.”

The statement continued: “We will execute Micks wish and continue to tour the world as planned in 2023. It will undoubtedly take an absolutely excellent musician to fill Mick‘s shoes, so we are grateful that our good friend, John 5 have agreed to come on board and join us going forward. We want to see all you Crueheads out on the road!”

John 5whose real name is John William Lowerysaid: “I am honored to continue Mick‘s legacy and I look forward to playing these songs.”

In his statement, Mick said he had decided to step back from live shows due to his “ongoing painful battle” with ankylosing spondylitis, and although he will continue to be a member of the band, he cannot “handle the rigors” of touring life.

The statement read: “Mick Marsco-founder and lead guitarist of the heavy metal band MOTLEY CRUE for the past 41 years, has announced today that due to his ongoing painful battle with ankylosing spondylitis, he will no longer be able to tour with the band. Mick wants to continue as a member of the band, but can no longer cope with the rigors of the road. AS is an extremely painful and crippling degenerative disease that affects the spine.”

John 5‘s involvement with MOTLEY CRUE when the band’s new guitarist was first reported as a rumor by Metal sludge website on October 7.

Speculations regarding John 5 replacement Mars gained strength after a long time ROB ZOMBIE guitarist failed to perform with the shock rocker at this year’s Aftershock festival in Sacramento. Rob was instead joined on stage by returning guitarist Mike Riggs for the first time since 2006.

John 5 has performed MOTLEY CRUE songs several times before. Back in 2018, John 5 was joined by Sixx together with MILDEW‘s Scott Ian and his wife Pearl Aday at the Whiskey A Go Go in West Hollywood, California to play a cover “Shout at the Devil”. Earlier this year, the guitarist ran through interpretations of both “Home Sweet Home” and “Kickstart My Heart” at various shows on his US tour.

In October it was announced that MOTLEY CRUE and DEF LEPPARD will go global in 2023 with their co-headline “The World Tour”. Produced by Live Nationthe trek will kick off on February 18, 2023 at the Foro Sol in Mexico City and include stops throughout Latin America before heading to Europe in May 2023.