The two bands will play the city's Odyssey Arena on June 21, supported by Kentucky blues-rockers Black Stone Cherry.

Among Def Leppard's many achievements, they can claim to be one of only five rock groups with two separate, original 10 million-plus selling albums in the US (the others are The Beatles, Led Zeppelin, Pink Floyd and Van Halen). 2007 marked the 20th anniversary of their legendary Hysteria album and a new studio record is expected sometime this year.

Whitesnake, led by onetime Deep Purple frontman Dave Coverdale, are marking their 30th anniversary together in 2008 and will also be releasing a new album, their first for a decade.

Tickets for the Belfast show are priced £32.50 (standing) and £35.50 (seated) and can be booked through www.livenation.co.uk from this Friday (January 18).