LOS ANGELES--Def Leppard [ tickets ]--after learning upon its arrival at the L.B. Day Amphitheater in Salem, Ore., that a county ordinance wouldn’t allow the band to play at its normal volume--offered refunds to a sold-out crowd of 8,000 before playing a note on Saturday (9/2). About 700 fans took the group up on its offer, according to Malvin Mortimer, Def Leppard’s tour manager.

Singer Joe Elliott explained the situation in a posting on Def Leppard’s official website. “We turned up for soundcheck as usual, to what is a fine venue. Great facilities, cool staff, the works. As we ran through 'Promises,' we were informed that we were over the sound limit. This was one of those gigs where the 'Sound Police' were there to enforce a most ludicrous rule. It appears that after an MC Hammer gig a few years ago, a law was passed limiting the volume of any artist playing this particular venue. It gets worse: we hadn't even turned the P.A. on!!! These guys were serious: 1. Verbal warning 2. Written warning 3. Fine 4. Jail for Malvin.”

In an interview at the Guitar Center in Hollywood, bassist-vocalist Rick Savage said the band weighed several options before ultimately deciding to go forward with the show at the prescribed lower volume.

“There were three things we could do: Go onstage, tough it out, do the show, take the money and get out of town. We could on a matter of principle not play the show because we didn’t want to compromise what we do to such an extent. What we chose to say to people was, ‘This is how it is. We’re really, really sorry. We’re going to put the show on for anyone who still wants to see it. But if you want to you’re more than welcome to get your money refunded because we don’t feel we can give you a proper show.'"

According to the Salem Statesman Journal, the band shared the cost of the $14,000 in refunds with the Oregon State Fair, which presented the concert. Refunds reportedly were offered during the show’s first 55 minutes.

Hands preserved in cement

In Los Angeles to put their handprints in concrete for the Hollywood Rock Walk, members of Def Leppard emerged to the thundering sounds of “Pour Some Sugar on Me” played over the house speakers. Past honorees for the Rock Walk include Chuck Berry, Jimi Hendrix, Johnny Cash, Little Richard and Smokey Robinson.

Fellow Englishman and Queen guitarist Brian May unexpectedly walked out of Guitar Center’s front door to introduce Def Leppard and recounted a story about the first time he saw the band in concert, at a show at the Forum in Los Angeles.

“I’d seen a lot of people play there, but I had never seen anything like this, because from the moment they hit the stage to the moment they went off after their last encore, nobody sat down. Everybody was on their feet, including me. ... So I was a convert at that point. And what happened was, they knew I was there and they asked me to play with them the next night. I went onstage with them the next night at the Forum and I’ll never forget that. And I nearly got blown up by their pyro[technics].”

Elliott responded to the complimentary introduction by pointing out that Def Leppard have always come on stage to Queen’s “We Will Rock You” and exited to “We Are the Champions.”

In an otherwise uneventful ceremony, one-armed drummer Rick Allen got the most laughs by dipping one hand and one foot into the impression to make-up for his lack of a second hand.