Def Leppard performed Tear It Down at the MTV Video Music Award ceremony on September 6, 1989. It was the last performance of guitarist Steve Clark, who died in January 1991 at age 30 from alcohol poisoning.
Def Leppard was nominated for a new video music category, Best Heavy Metal Video, for Pour Some Sugar on Me. The video was also nominated for Best Stage Performance in a Video.
Vivian Campbell replaced Clark in 1992.
