Back in February, Poison drummer Rikki Rockett announced via his Facebook page that his band would head out on the road this summer with Def Leppard. The problem was, at the time, no dates or cities were announced. Well, problem solved!

Not only has the exact tour schedule been announced, but with it came the information that the two groups will bring former Runaways lead guitarist Lita Ford along for support.

The 17-date arenas and amphitheatres tour will kick off June 20 in Salt Lake City, and will end at the Rock Fest in Cadott, Wisc. on July 22. Other cities the bands will play include Las Vegas, Denver, Atlanta, Nashville and Montreal.

Poison and Def Leppard last toured together in 2009, and Def Leppard lead singer Joe Elliot succinctly expressed his excitement for the show.

“We had such a good time going out with Poison in 2009 that we thought it only right to do it again!” he said.

Def Leppard’s website calls the released dates the “first leg” of the tour, so here’s to hoping there will be more dates added in the future. In an previous interview with Music Radar, Def Leppard guitarist Phil Collen said he hopes the band can work up at least “a song or two” for the new tour. With that said, he also told the website that a new Def Leppard album likely wouldn’t be released until at least 2013.

“There’s so much involved with putting a record together,” he also said in the interview, “and the demographics for the people who buy album is shrinking.

Both Def Leppard and Poison have music featured in the upcoming film, “Rock of Ages.” Currently a hit on Broadway, the film will star Tom Cruise, Alec Baldwin and Malin Akerman, among others. The musical tells a love story through the music of classic rock artists.

Poison drummer Rikki Rockett confirmed via his Facebook page Sunday that Poison will tour with Def Leppard this summer, though no exact cities or dates have yet to be announced.

Speculation about this tour has been ongoing for sometime, stemming in part from a January interview with Def Leppard guitarist Phil Collen on noisecreep.com concerning future Def Leppard plans, and how they coincide with an upcoming Tom Cruise film, “Rock of Ages,” which features the music of many 1980s rock bands.

“We’re actually going to be back on tour around when [“Rock of Ages”] is out, and it would be a lot of fun to get some of the other bands featured in “Rock of Ages” out with us,” he told the website. “Nothing has been finalized yet, but apparently Poison will be joining us – at least according to [Poison frontman] Bret Michaels, who has been telling everyone that they’ll be touring with us this year. We went out with Poison in 2009, and we all had so much fun. If it does end up happening like that, I would love for the third band to be someone like Twisted Sister, since they’re also in the new movie. I think that would make for a great lineup.”

“Rock of Ages,” which also stars Alec Baldwin, Russell Brand, Catherine Zeta-Jones, Paul Giamatti and Malin Akerman, is the film adaptation of a successful Broadway musical, which tells a love story through the music of Bon Jovi, Pat Benatar and Journey, in addition to the three bands already mentioned.

In a different interview with Music Radar, Collen said Def Leppard hopes to work up at least a “song or two” for the new tour, though a new record likely won’t be released until at least 2013.

“There’s so much involved with putting a record together,” he said, “and the demographics for the people who buy albums is shrinking.”

Motley Crue and Def Leppard will be joining forces in December for a U.K. tour of six shows.

The outing kicks off at LG Arena in Birmingham on December 6, followed by shows at FM Arena in Nottingham on December 8, SECC Hall 4 in Glasgow on December 9, MEN Arena in Manchester on December 11, Arena in Sheffield on December 13 and wrapping up at Wembley Arena in London on December 14.

On September 2, tickets will be going on sale at 9 am. In London, the price will be 47.5 pounds and regionally 45 pounds. They can be purchased at livenation.co.uk.

Joe Elliott, Def Leppard frontman said, I can’t even begin to tell you how thrilled I am announcing the tour. Our band always tries our best to make the shows into an event. Having Steel Panther and Motley Crue with us will make this event for U.K. rock fans one that can’t be missed. Join us for this year’s biggest event.

Nikki Sixx, Motley Crue’s bassist added, Motley Crue is thrilled getting to wage destruction on tour along with Def Leppard, our longtime peers, this holiday season. This is the first time we will have toured together. Hopefully for each other’s fans there’s going to be some de-virginizing and ultimately one hell of a wild party.

“Mirror Ball: Live And More,” the new CD/DVD set from Def Leppard, is currently out. It is the first concert collection from the band and was recorded during the 2009 Def Leppard tour.

The summer tour of Motley Crue’s sent the band to Billboard’s “Hot Tours” chart a total of six times. It has been one of this legendary rock band’s most successful tours ever. The trek of 48 cities, which wrapped up last week and kicked off on June 24, was among the highest grossing tours this summer, packing arenas and amphitheaters all summer long with half a million concert attendees.

On October 18, Steel Panther is releasing “Balls Out,” their newest album. The first U.K. single off the CD is “If You Really, Really Love Me.” The first U.S. single is “17 Girls In A Row.”

British rock band Def Leppard and Heart will play together on the U.S. Amphitheater tour this summer. Heart, which includes sisters Nancy and Ann Wilson, will open for the rockers.

According to a recent announcement, over 20 concerts are already verified and there will be additional shows released later. The opening concert is scheduled for West Palm Beach, FL on June 15.

Def Leppard will begin their portion of the tour by participating in the United Kingdom’s Download Festival as the main act on June 10. This will be the second time Def Leppard has been the main attraction at this festival in the past three years.

In addition to the tour, Def Leppard is scheduled to drop a new album entitled “Mirrorball” to coincide with their live concerts. There will be three new musical selections that will be interspersed with several of their hits. Moreover, a DVD will be included in the package that shows the group performing life and backstage. There is also a coffee table book in the works called “Def Leppard: The Definitive Visual History,” which will include one-of-a-kind photographs by Ross Halfin.

Heart released their most recent album, “Red Velvet Car,” in 2010, which was the first album for the group since 2004.

For all those hoping to relive the glory days of youth via pouring some sugar on themselves will have to settle for dusting off the old cassettes. Def Leppard has 86ed the third leg of their 2009 tour that was set to launch in Reno, Nevada on October 22 and cover 23 dates in the US and Canada. Refunds are being given at the point of purchase.

A statement issued on Def Leppard’s website relayed the bad news to fans everywhere saying, “due to unforeseen personal matters, the third leg of Def Leppard’s North American Tour, set to begin October 22nd, has been cancelled. We know how truly blessed we are to have such committed fans. That’s why we’ve agonized over this decision. Even if just a single concert, we don’t take cancelling shows lightly, but unfortunately life’s commitments need to take priority.”

So what are life’s commitments? It seems it was the death of one of the member’s family. No details are being revealed as to who. Regardless, the ripped acid washed jeans will have to be retired back to their box in the junk closet for the time being.

Def Leppard, the rock icons from Great Britain, have made some additions to their 2009 itinerary. A third leg of their North American tour will be with Cheap Trick. The co-headliners will start out in Reno, NV on October 22 and then follow up with 15 concerts across the middle of American and into Canada. The Def Leppard tour ends in Louisville, KY on November 25.

The Def Leppard website states that in the coming weeks they will announce more dates. Phil Collen, Def Leppard guitarist, along with his alternative rock group Man Raze, will be opening the shows.

In June, Def Leppard left on the first leg of their North American tour with Poison and Cheap Trick, in which they performed an interactive show which lasted for four hours using text messaging and Bluetooth technology to interact with the crowd.

Early in 2008, Def Leppard released their first material since “X’ in 2002. Their new album “Songs From the Sparkle Lounge” landed on the Billboard 200 at No. 5 and topped the hard rock and rock albums charts.

Cheap Trick is touring to support “The Latest,” their 16th studio set, which was released in June.

2009 Def Leppard Tour Dates
October 2009
22 – Reno, NV – Reno Events Center
24 – Nampa, ID – Idaho Center Arena
25 – Spokane, WA – Spokane Arena
27 – Vancouver, British Columbia – Pacific Coliseum
31 – Edmonton, Alberta – Rexall Place

November 2009
2 – Calgary, Alberta – Pengrowth Saddledome
4 – Winnipeg, Manitoba – MTS Centre
6 – Saint Paul, MN – Xcel Energy Center
9 – Detroit, MI – Joe Louis Arena
10 – Grand Rapids, MI – Van Andel Arena
12 – Ottawa, Ontario – Scotiabank Place
13 – Hamilton, Ontario – Copps Coliseum
14 – Columbus, OH – Nationwide Arena
18 – Montreal, Quebec – Bell Centre
24 – Nashville, TN – Sommet Center
25 – Louisville, KY – Freedom Hall at the Kentucky Expo Center