DEF LEPPARD Guitarist PHIL COLLEN Leaves Tour, TRIXTER's STEVE BROWN Steps In
DEF LEPPARD guitarist Phil Collen has left the band's tour with JOURNEY, reportedly to deal with a family emergency. Replacing him until he returns is TRIXTER's Steve Brown.
Brown made his live debut with DEF LEPPARD on the current tour Friday night (May 25) at the Hersheypark Stadium in Hershey, Pennsylvania. Fan-filmed video footage and photos can be seen below.
Collen and his wife of eight years, Helen, are awaiting the birth of their son this spring.
This is not the first time Brown has stepped in for a member of DEF LEPPARD. He previously subbed for Vivian Campbell at several shows in 2014 and 2015 while the DEF LEPPARDguitarist received treatment in his fight against Hodgkin's lymphoma. Brown's first appearance with DEF LEPPARD took place in September 2014 during the pregame show for the first of three NFL International Series outings.
