Def Leppard: 'Records Are Less Important Now'

With more than 65 million album sales worldwide under their belts, and two prestigious Diamond Awards to their credit, Britain’s premiere arena rock band, Def Leppard - Joe Elliott (vocals), Vivian Campbell (guitar), Phil Collen (guitar), Rick "Sav" Savage (bass) and Rick Allen (drums) — continue to be one of the most important forces in rock music. Over the course of their illustrious career, the group has produced a series of classic groundbreaking albums that have all set the sound for generations of music fans and artists. The group’s spectacular live shows, filled with powerful melodic rock anthems, have become synonymous with their name and are an institution in the touring industry as they continue to sell out arenas worldwide.

Def Leppard recently released their 14th studio album, Songs From The Sparkle Lounge - upon release the album debuted at #5 on the Billboard Top 200 earning the group their highest-charting debut since 1992’s, Adrenalize – which included the hit single Nine Lives, a groundbreaking collaboration with country music superstar Tim McGraw. Recorded last year during month-long stints at lead singer Joe Elliott’s Dublin studio, the album’s title refers to a backstage area called “The Sparkle Lounge” on Def Leppard’s 2006 tour where the band would go to write songs. Thus far this year, group have been heavily touring behind their new opus across the globe. While the group were enjoying a small break between legs of the current tour, Joe Matera caught up with guitarist Phil Collen to discuss the new album, touring, how the band is coping with the ever changing musical climate and the secret to writing great songs.

UG: The band’s most recent studio outing, “Songs From The Sparkle Lounge” features a mixture of both old and new sounding Def Leppard that is underscored by a raw and reinvigorated energy…

Phil Collen: Well we started the album while we were on tour so it didn’t have the usual ‘take six months off, try and get re-establish in the studio and forget what you’re doing’ thing happening. When you’re on tour, you’re playing every day and so there is a bit more aggression there and you also tend to play a little bit differently and sing differently too. But when you’re off tour, you really do forget that you actually get into a different mode and are a bit more comfortable. So that was the main thing and reason why there is a bit more of a spark to it than the other studio stuff we’ve done previously.

The band has never been afraid to tip its toes in other genres, for example, Nine Lives comes close to treading into country rock terrain. And I remember reading an interview with Joe Elliot once where he stated that he hated Def Leppard being labeled a “heavy metal band” as such because he believed a band had to straddle different genres in order to remain successful and sustain a long standing career.

Yeah, but I don’t even think that. I just think it would have been very unnatural for us to have done it that anyway. We’re just a rock band and it would be very unnatural for us, for example, to play death metal music. It’s not what we’re really are about. Nine Lives is closer to The Stones and AC/DC than it is to some of the other bands. And for us, that is not a stretch as both of those bands, we were every much influenced by. And again, doing country would have been a bit weird for us to do, but we’ve done it in a kind of bluesy rock thing really. And that is what Nine Lives turned out to be. And again, it is not too much of stretch for us to do that at all.

"We’re just a rock band and it would be very unnatural for us, for example, to play death metal music."

You recently licensed several tracks for use on Guitar Hero III: Legends of Rock?

Yeah and with Nine Lives we released it as a single and were the first band to actually do that on Guitar Hero. As the record industry is changing and it is morphing into other stuff, you now need other outlets for your music. And that platform was perfect for us, having it come out and released on a game.

When it comes to touring today, how does it compare to touring during the ‘80s. What do you think are the main differences?

The main difference is the state of the record industry today. I think on the grand scheme of things, records are less important now. I mean, for an artist you still need to do that, make a record, but from a business point of view you really end up not having an album to promote at all as opposed to having it the other way around. The way it used to be like. It is very hard to get stuff out there on a major level today but on a grass roots level, it’s very different as you can get stuff out there on the internet. And do stuff like that which is very exciting. And because of that, it creates a lot of artists who are not afraid at doing their own thing, and are not being told what to do by some A & R guy. So they’re following their own noses and being very natural about it. And I like that aspect to it. And that is the main differences from when we used to tour before to today. And I think music is very, if not, more important in people’s lives than it used to be too.

So have you started the writing process for the next Def Leppard album?

It is early days but looking at my little tape recorder in front of me that I switch on every now and then, there are probably about fifty ideas on there already. I haven’t physically sat down and started doing stuff as yet. But they’re in there and it is just a matter of plugging into it and getting the time to do it.

In a previous an interview with me to discuss the “Yeah!” album, you stated that when it came to recording guitars in the studios, you began using mic-ed up amps rather than just plugging straight into the board. Did you continue with this method for Sparkle Lounge?

Yes, on Songs From The Sparkle Lounge, that is really all that we did. But the Man-Raze album wasn’t done that way. It was actually done mainly by DI-ing straight out of a Marshall JMP. But the stuff on Sparkle Lounge was all miked up. And it was nice of us to do something a little bit different. Obviously, live we wouldn’t do that, we just use a Marshall JMP that goes through a Palmer Speaker Simulator which gives you a really nice clean clear tone.

Has your stage gear changed much from the typical Jackson PC-1 guitar, Marshall JMP pre-amp rack mount, Palmer Speaker Simulator, Randall Power Amp, [an old ‘80s solid state model] and TC Electronics multi-effects set-up?

No it’s the same though I have now got a smaller version of that same rig. I have an ‘A’ rig and a smaller ‘B’ rig. They’re almost identical though differ in size and depends on what country we go to in deciding which one I take out with me.

How many guitars do you tend to take out on the road with you?

I usually take about ten guitars with me at a time as well as a couple of acoustics too.

You also perform on acoustic guitar for a couple of songs live, how do you approach that side of things from a live performance perspective?

First up, because I hate DI-ed acoustics, I rather mike them up. But, obviously when we’re playing in an arena, or in a big building or outdoors, you just can’t do that because of the hum. And because I’m standing up playing the acoustic as well, that is not going to work either. I have this little cheap Fender Malibu which has a Fender headstock and a Fender type neck and it just sounds great.

"I think music is very, if not, more important in people’s lives than it used to be."

Do you have many acoustic guitars in your collection?

I have several acoustics but a Gibson J- 200 is probably my favorite acoustic guitar, but again you to really mike it up. And if you’re not going to do that, then it isn’t as important I think, because you’re not really hearing its true acoustic sound. You’re only hearing some nasty acoustic pre-amp version of it. So you’re not really hearing the true guitar tone, then you’re hearing something else.

When it comes to both the studio and live environment, do you prefer one over the other?

I think touring is easier because you don’t really have to think about it. But I really do enjoy constructing a song, or producing it, or writing it or whatever and so that is good too. But there is always an element of frustration to the studio as well, whereas touring is kind of a no brainer. But I think both are totally essential. You tour and you do all this stuff and after that you’re craving a kind of experience where you’re being creative. And it is very rewarding. I think it is light relief to actually do a tour since you’ve written all these songs and you’re just having fun with it. It is like a tonic for the other stuff, which is, pure creativity in itself.

What do you think are the elements that make up a great song?

It could be many different things. But lyrically if you create an image of some sort of… like for example Hotel California, that song actually puts you in a place every time you hear it, even from the very first time you hear it. You have an image of what it is going to be like, you have a solid picture. And to me that is really good songwriting. And melodically, you have to the hooks as well as it has to sound natural. If you are just doing it gratuitously, then it will tend to sound a little bit fake. But then again, there people who make millions of dollars writing songs in exact that way. For me, I tend to get a lot of inspiration straight off the bat and then from there for the rest of time, it is a lot of hard work. That is how the songwriting process usually works for me.

With your Man-Raze project, you also put together a documentary recently which is still to be released?

Yeah we done a documentary for the UK but I don’t know when it’s coming out over here in the States or elsewhere. We did like a showcase show in Burbank in California which was to coincide for whenever we go out on tour which we’ll be doing over in the UK in December from the look of things. And we are also looking at touring the States too.

Finally there have been rumors that there may be a Girl reunion in the works?

No there is no truth to any of those rumors, as I’m just too busy. When I’m not working with Def Leppard, I’ve got the Man-Raze stuff and that pretty much takes up a lot of my time. And I’m really looking forward to the Man-Raze stuff so there is not much time to do anything else.

Interview by Joe Matera
Ultimate-Guitar.Com © 2008

Comments

[tehjnest]

"Def Leppard - continue to be one of the most important forces in rock music."

not really

[sambargun]

Nice interview. Def Lep is one of the greatest bands of all time. They still sound fresh and they do have some huge riffs. But c'mon guys, you have tried everything, please give us one more album like High'n'Dry or On Through The Night, those two were the best. You can get Pete Willis are a guest if you want.....

[Billy Picken]

..or make a Death Metal Album.

[CapnKickass]

Do something unusual! It'll be fun

[jaxtheaxe]

tehjnest wrote:

"Def Leppard - continue to be one of the most important forces in rock music."

not really

I personally don't think they ever were

[ezza61]

people forget that they were one of the biggest bands in the world during the highs of hysteria..

[adamantiumtiger]

Awesome interview. Joe may not have the vocals for death metal, but Viv and Phil can really shred. I really wish I had Live(and GHIII, of course) so I could play their GH songs.

[(b)ass]

tehjnest :
"Def Leppard - continue to be one of the most important forces in rock music."

not really

they were, not as much today though

[Les Paul Ell]

Phil Collen comes across as a cool guy. I saw his Man-Raze project on Rockworld TV or something the other week as well and he can actually sing as well.

I just wish Def Leppard still wrote stuff like the songs on On Through The Night, that mean, cutting kinda sound. Def Leppard sounded really cool on Hysteria as well of course..

[pootoob]

ezza61 wrote:

people forget that they were one of the biggest bands in the world during the highs of hysteria..

An appropriate album name then, aye?

I just wish UG, or whoever publishes these interviews would spell check. There are tonnes of missing words throughout the interview...

[Ironpriest]

pour some sugar on me!

[eddie/randy_101]

am I the only person around that wants somethin more like pyromania again? I mean hysteria and adrenalize are some of my favorite albums and i love high and dry and on through the night but hysteria/adrenalize were just too polished and hig and dry/on through the night weren't polished quite enough. pyromania has the perfect combo of edge and polish to me

[IRFLAMZEZ]

Awesome live show seriously go watch

[GearsLut666]

maybe they where an important force for pop music...not rock..pop acts copy their vocal arangements and stuff

[Rajah]

I saw them live in Australia back in 1992 and I have front row tickets to their show here in November.

[Jaykib]

They just need to be more guitar driven again. Simple.

[mjones1992]

Interesting interview.

[deathofagod]

I don't see how they influenced any good music that's around today, so I don't see how they're important, cheese this thick makes me cringe.

[motorbreath_445]

i way like this band. i saw them back in august with billy idol and i gotta say that they still kick ass after all these years of being around. still, they aren't really recognized as one of those "important" rock bands, they kinda flew under the radar, cept for pyromania and hysteria. their just a consistant rock band, a band that others should model themselves after by means of consistancy.

[markojuo]

its an ok band but this article is bogus

[Moonman13]

markojuo wrote:

its an ok band but this article is bogus

yeah, just another washed up, bitter artist.

[Hamham272]

Moonman13 wrote:

markojuo wrote:

its an ok band but this article is bogus

yeah, just another washed up, bitter artist.

I'd like you to please point out where in this article this guy is bitter. This guy came across as a genuinely cool guy. Saying this article is bogus is just stating how much you don't know about music and this band in particular.

[khunsa]

GO METALLICA!!!!! lol!

[xkingd117x]

Bitter?
Hard to be bitter when they've sold that many millions of copies... idiot.
Yeah, its hair/cheese. But they did it well, and why try to do something they dont do well?
Saw'em 7 years ago, would gladly see again. They do need to stay away from this country crap though, or they're ognna be another Bon Jovi...
-D

[MerryGoRound]

Def Leppard: '*Our* Records Are Less Important Now'

[TST]

Anyone else find the whole "miked up guitars" comment in every other response to be kind of annoying?

Idk, I guess he could be a pretty cool guy, but he kind of comes of condescending. And come on, 65 million records after 31 years of playing? This is their 14th album? It's a fair amount I suppose... but for good measure let's throw in a list of artists/bands who have sold more albums worldwide than Def Leopard.

Let's see.. The Beatles, Garth Brooks, Elvis Presley, Led Zeppelin, The Eagles, Billy Joel, Pink Floyd, Barbra Streisand, Elton John, AC/DC, George Strait, Aerosmith, Rolling Stones, Madonna, Bruce Springsteen, Mariah Carey, Michael Jackson, Metallica, Van Halen, Whitney Houston, Kenny Rogers, U2, Celine Dion, Fleetwood Mac, Neil Diamond, Kenny G, Shania Twain, Alabama, Journey, Santana, Eric Clapton, Alan Jackson, Reba McEntire, Bob Seger, Prince, Simon and Garfunkel, Guns N' Roses, Chicago, Foreigner, Rod Stewart, Bob Dylan, Backstreet Boys, and 2Pac.

Please note that Shania Twain, Mariah Carey, the Backstreet Boys and 2Pac are all from the 90's.

[TST]

Also, I thought it was a fantastic interview. Better than most of the front page articles lately.

[papersun87]

"Slang" was their best record, and no one's heard it.

[Mystique44]

Phil Collen is hardly washed-up, nor is he bitter.
He's an exceptional musician, never pompous, and he truly cares about his fans. I enjoyed this interview, because he answers the questions truthfully, thoughtfully, and he's aware of how much the music indusrty has changed. Phil and Def Leppard aren't feckless, they're still one of the best bands out there.

[Tulkas]

Long live Def Leppard.

[tntdcvnt_iriz]

Def Leppard Rocks...come on ppl,u cant expect them to be the biggest band in the world or the driving force in rock or watever all the time...those titles come and go,there will always be someone else to carry the torch...no one will stay top forever...be realistic....to me,they are important and big....n im sure there are other def leppard fans just like me...if u dont like them so be it...but dont deny that they used to be one of the biggest band in the 80's.just my opinion....Lets get,lets get,lets get,lets get rocked.....

[Jim Page]

tehjnest wrote:

"Def Leppard - continue to be one of the most important forces in rock music."

not really

Why not?

[Guitarmaster94]

DEF LEP ROX ... hope they come to the states

[stompbox]

that was adamn good cd ,that was one of those you never get tired of and high and dry was a kick as cd to .

am I the only person around that wants somethin more like pyromania again? I mean hysteria and adrenalize are some of my favorite albums and i love high and dry and on through the night but hysteria/adrenalize were just too polished and hig and dry/on through the night weren't polished quite enough. pyromania has the perfect combo of edge and polish to me[/quote]

[:xMCR>.<Skyx:]

i love them, but their sound is too... happy? light? to be called metal, anyway.

[sydvicious]

xkingd117x wrote:
They do need to stay away from this country crap though, or they're ognna be another Bon Jovi...
-D

yea i agree with that I herd the song, i think it was "Nine Lives" or something like that with Tim McGraw. I hated it the guitar that was in it was okay. Tim McGraws voice and music style clashed way to much with def leppard. How can you go from "heavy metal" to the sparkle lounge with tim mcgraw.

i still like def leppard, its good to see them putting material out, this was just a bad choiced.

[aar24]

pootoob wrote:

ezza61 wrote:

people forget that they were one of the biggest bands in the world during the highs of hysteria..

An appropriate album name then, aye?

I just wish UG, or whoever publishes these interviews would spell check. There are tonnes of missing words throughout the interview...

That was ironic...

[DefLeppardLuvr]

Wow, a lot of Dl haters I see... Def Leppard actually were and still are one of the most important in music today..I personally am a huge fan, just want to tell you guys that dislike them, I respect your opinion, but honestly if you see them live it is amazing..they sound great, and still rock like they did back in 83'.. I would love to see them do another Hysteria or Pyromania.. but I think theyve moved on and according to Joe they dont want another hysteria or pyromania. Like PC said in this interview and many others, its not about the album sales anymore (sure, they care) but they like to have fun with their music.. and you would see that if you seen them live. They still sell out venues today and will continue to. I have so much respect for these guys.. they are my inspiration, and they are my idols. ... and I dont know why people are bashing their personalities... If you ever meet them, they would prove to you that they are actually cool, relaxed, generous.. if you had no idea who DL were and they walked into a room, you would have no idea they had tons of money, or were rock stars, honestly...and Phils not washed up either, they still rock and always will

[tom-the-lawn]

MerryGoRound wrote:

Def Leppard: '*Our* Records Are Less Important Now'

Haha

[sithrocker]

my favorte band. and phil's had a lot of influence on my guitar playing. and to anyone who said they arn't an influence on modern music,take a look at the all american rejects. they've said def leppard was a big influnece on their music,especialy nick wheeler. phil collen is one of his idols. the guy's got hysteria tattooed on his back

[Ryan SLASHHH]

catchy guitars but

[Delicious Bass]

Whether you like Def Lep or not is not important. If you think you know anything about rock music, then you have to acknowledge their contribution to the rock arena. They rescue us from the likes of Flock of Seagulls, thompson twins, Devo and a host of other crappy 80's music. They come, they saw, they conquered.

[GoToSleep]

def leppard dont have any clue about good records or the importance of them.

[Hamham272]

GoToSleep wrote:

def leppard dont have any clue about good records or the importance of them.

That's how they made one of the best albums of the 80's right?

[GoToSleep]

well that's your opinion I'm not being biased they are good musicians but i don't think they make good albums.

[Murk]

The only people that listen to that shit now are rednecks and morons like that blare that song 50 times a day....no song deserves that kind of replay value...

[tangled]

I agree! Def Leppard records are less important now.

[Victoria-R]

These days people have the mindset that 80's music really do suck, whether that is by conformist alliance of thoughts or whatever because they don't like it, so they don't listen to it, "making their records less important." It's quite sad knowing that and seeing these comments that basically don't give explanations to why they mostly suck. See, now the 80's is not my preferred music era, but Def Leppard is one of my favorite bands of that time. They may not be the greatest of all, but they sure did have some great tunes. Good ol' 80's.

[Super_Star]

Wow, a lot of Dl haters I see... Def Leppard actually were and still are one of the most important in music today..I personally am a huge fan, just want to tell you guys that dislike them, I respect your opinion, but honestly if you see them live it is amazing..they sound great, and still rock like they did back in 83'.. I would love to see them do another Hysteria or Pyromania.. but I think theyve moved on and according to Joe they dont want another hysteria or pyromania. Like PC said in this interview and many others, its not about the album sales anymore (sure, they care) but they like to have fun with their music.. and you would see that if you seen them live. They still sell out venues today and will continue to. I have so much respect for these guys.. they are my inspiration, and they are my idols. ... and I dont know why people are bashing their personalities... If you ever meet them, they would prove to you that they are actually cool, relaxed, generous.. if you had no idea who DL were and they walked into a room, you would have no idea they had tons of money, or were rock stars, honestly...and Phils not washed up either, they still rock and always will
Amen Brother.

[Super_Star]

That was meant to be a quote but i stuffed up

[DefLeppardLuvr]

Yeah, really?? Def Leppard doesnt have to prove anything to people.. especially people like you. They have their die hard fans that will listen and go to their shows no matter what. Yeah we all know they dont make albums like hysteria anymore, but sparkle lounge is great, you can tell when its def leppard becuase you can tell it has effort put into it...

Hamham272 wrote:

GoToSleep wrote:

def leppard dont have any clue about good records or the importance of them.

That's how they made one of the best albums of the 80's right?

[Cacophonic]

papersun87 wrote:

"Slang" was their best record, and no one's heard it.

I have. :]

[Ekofu]

Once Def Leppard releases a new album that's decent in any way, they have absolutely no room to talk.

Like I saw someone in an above post say, washed up bitter artists