From the Times Picayune New Orleans Friday August 4, 2000
Def Leppard sinks its teeth into American leg of tour
By Shawn Moynihan
Copywright 2000, Newhouse News Service

Def Leppard guitarist Phil Collen was, pardon the expression, amped.
There was a good reason for his enthusiasm: He and bandmates Joe Elliott (vocals), Vivian Campbell (guitar), Rick Savage (bass) and Rick Allen (drums) would soon be at soundcheck in preparation for the first show of the Leps' summer tour in support of its latest disc, "Euphoria".
Speaking on the phone from Boston, Collen revealed the best thing about being in a rock band on a summer tour:
"It's fun. It's like a road trip with your best buds, really. It's the reason you get into a band," he said of the tour that began Monday and continues through the end of September.
A return to form, "Euphoria" finds the band embracing the production-heavy, big-vocals, big-guitar sound that sold millions of albums during the height of its success.
On its 1996 album, "Slang," the band eschewed its trademark power-pop approach for more of a contemporary modern rock sound. The results were satisfying for the band - and many hardcore fans - on a musical level, but the album was commercially unsuccessful.
"'Slang' was very different for us," Collen recalled. At that time, gloomy grunge rock ruled rock radio, and as he put it, "Even if we'd released 'Hysteria' at that point, people wouldn't want to hear it."
Now with "Euphoria" in record stores, the British quintet is hitting the road to promote it. This leg of the tour will see some changes in the show's set list.
Collen noted that the band is including "Excitable," a track from the 1987 "Hysteria" album, in the show. It's a song that they have never performed live, not even at the height of that album's success. However, the ballad "Goodbye," which was the second single from "Euphoria," will not be in the set.
The band's reasoning is simple: Playing too many ballads slows things down too much for both band and audience. Collen said he has no regrets about the decision: "The ballad thing...I love to write them, I just don't like playing them, particularly."
Collen added that a few older songs from the Leps' back catalog will be included in the show.
Those who haven't experienced the thrill of walking on stage in front of 20,000 people have to wonder: Is being in a rock band on tour as hard as it's sometimes made out to be?
According to Collen, "It depends on the person. For me, I don't drink alcohol or take drugs, and I keep in shape. You do all the real hard work in the studio, and then you get out on tour, and it's fun.
When Def Leppard isn't on the road, Collen lives in Orange County, Calif. (bandmates Campbell and Allen also call California home). The guitarist said it's not always easy to pack up and get back out on the road after a tour break.
"Just before we left, I was totally into 'home mode'", Collen said. This time out, Collen's 10-year-old son, Rory, is accompanying him on tour.
Despite all the effort Def Leppard puts into its live shows, don't expect a live album any time soon - at least not until the band feels it's finally the right time.
"We've always been a little bit against it, because when you see us live, different things come into play," Collen said, noting the visual component. Yet there's always that chance: "We've actually got a bunch of live albums. We record shows all the time."
Ideally for Def Leppard, this leg of the tour will not just shift more units of "Euphoria," but will also inspire the band members to continue to create music together. Collen knows there's still plenty of ground left for the band to cover, both physically and musically.
"I've wanted to do this since I was a kid. I just want to play guitar, I want to play onstage," he said. "It's always about making fun music. There's always a certain amount of pride in what you do, if you're having fun with it."

Express-News: Arts and Entertainment
08/03/2000

Music: Def Leppard hasn't lost its heavy-metal polish
By Robert Johnson
Express-News Staff Writer

Has any band's timing been worse than Def Leppard's? One of the biggest bands of the '80s, the British pop-metal quintet with the "Mutt" Lange- crafted, multilayered sound has succeeded almost in spite of itself. Consider the following:
After becoming the darlings of early MTV with the 1983 "Photograph" album, the band struggled for four years to record the follow-up. With super-producer Lange unavailable, the band turned to Jim Steinman, known for his work with Meat Loaf. The tunes with Steinman were scrapped, and they decided to play "Waiting for Mutt" instead. In the interim, of course, Rick Allen had the car crash that turned him into a one-armed drummer. Fortunately, the follow-up, "Hysteria," was even bigger, beginning a yearlong climb to the top of the charts that would eventually produce six hits.
You'd think the band would have learned its lesson, but no. An endless tour delayed sessions for the next album. By then, guitarist Steve Clark was in bad shape. He entered a rehab clinic to kick his alcohol abuse, but it was too late he died in early 1991, having already worked on part of the next album. This time the delay was costly. By the time "Adrenalize" appeared in 1992, grunge was in, and pop-metal bands were on their way out.
Most '80s bands attempted to redefine themselves at some point in the '90s, usually without success. Def Leppard again waited too long. Though it received some good press, 1996's "Slang!," which ditched the layered sound in favor of a rougher mix that incorporated industrial and techno, sounded like a desperation move. It sank almost without a trace. Wisely, the band regrouped and did the only thing it could — go back to basics, trends be damned. Last year's "Euphoria" was an unapologetic return to the pop-metal sound. It certainly went over big locally — a promotional concert at a local Wal-Mart drew a throng of 8,000 that lapped up a 45-minute set.
Tuesday night in the Freeman Coliseum, the band makes its first "official" appearance in San Antonio since an "in-the-round" show at the late HemisFair Arena in 1993. And while Def Leppard isn't exactly riding a hair- band revival, it's no longer uncool to be an '80s relic, guitarist Vivian Campbell said.
Saying there was a time in the '90s when "everyone hated us," Campbell told a writer for the Worcester (Mass.) Telegram & Gazette, "The first show we did for 'Euphoria' was a big radio festival. The guitarist in Hole was wearing a 'Pyromania' T-shirt and we heard Local H being interviewed on the station saying how excited they were to be playing with us."
Though record sales may never reach "Hysteria" proportions, tours are a different matter. Fueled by classic-rock radio, there are enough people out there still wanting to hear "Rock of Ages" or "Armageddon It" to keep Def Leppard on the road. Tuesday's show is the third leg of the "Euphoria" tour, which finds the band playing to sizable crowds. And this is without being part of a package such as the recent Poison/Dokken/Cinderella/Slaughter bill.
"I won't begrudge anyone making a living, but you'll never see Def Leppard sharing a bill with another band from the '80s from that genre," Campbell told the Telegram. "Bands like that watered down what Def Leppard started with 'Pyromania.'"
He said the band looks to Aerosmith, which has had more comebacks than Muhammad Ali, for inspiration in toughing out the lean times.
So what's next? A new album, naturally. The band is scheduled to enter the studio in January to make an album due out sometime in 2001.

Def Leppard
The boys of big hair and the 80s.

Def Leppard has been thrilling teenagers for 20 years with hits like Photograph, Demolition Man, Rock! Rock!('Til You Drop)and Rock of Ages. Joe, Rick, Phil, Vivian and Sav are no longer the angry young men of rock 'n roll that they once were, but then again, neither are many of their fans. It doesn't seem to matter, though--hardcore Def-heads are taking the guys' battle cry of Let's Get Rocked to heart and having a great time at shows in their current tour. The band tears through a crowd-pleasing mix of old hits and songs from their latest album, Euphoria.
--Heather Clark

Montgomery County Fair, July 22, 1999


On what may have been the hottest day of the year, I drove three and a half hours to Montgomery City, Missouri for the Montgomery County fair at which Def Leppard were to play at that night. I had my ticket for four months and I was ready to go! Especially because there was a possibility that I could've been within the first thirty rows if I got there in time to purchase a special wrist band.

The gates to the fair opened at 8 a.m. and since I didn't know what time the wristbands would go on sale (and I wanted to be there early any way) I woke up at 3 a.m, left at 4 and was in Montgomery County by 7:30. The wrist bands didn't go on sale until noon, so I waited until then.

When I got my wrist band, I was informed that even though the concert didn't begin until 8 p.m., I should go sit in line so that I was sure I'd be in at least the first thirty rows. So, being the devoted fan that I am, I waited for almost six hours in the heat surrounded by the stench of cows. That was an experience in itself, let me tell you!

So by 5:30, I am delerious. I was wearing shorts and a tank top, but I think that my black hair absorbed the sun so I was fried. But they opened the gates early. Let me tell you! I was running my patootie off, but a security guard grabbed me and told me to slow down. I was like "oh no, you are NOT stopping me from getting close to that stage after all I have been through." I literally pushed the guard and kept running and I DID IT! I made it right in the front row.

Right at the beginning of the show, Phil looked RIGHT AT ME! I was like "Woah" I didn't know what to do, so I blew him a kiss. He blew like five back to me (no exaggeration). Then I mouthed the words "I love you" and he did it back to me! Then at the end of Rock Of Ages, I was kind of scoping out the band and when I looked at Phil, he was already looking at me! He waved and said good bye. I smiled and did the same. Joe sang to me three times. Sav smiled at me (pant pant, sigh, sigh). Phil played the solo for Women right in front of me. I am SO in love.

The concert was great! They played every song they should have. And they sounded better than they do on their albums. Here is the set list:

Rock! Rock! Till You Drop

Women

Too Late For Love

Hysteria

Animal

Foolin'

Paper Sun

Slang

Promises

Goodbye

Love Bites

Armageddon It

Photograph

Rocket

Pour Some Sugar On Me

Rock Of Ages

Let's get rocked

Let it go

All in all it was a great day. Not only did I get to see my most favorite band in the world from the front row, but I met a lot of cool people that I hope still remember me. (Hi Beth, Row, Becky *web mistress of Becky's Def Leppard Spot*, Dustin/Elvis, and of course *my lep adopted family* the Irelands)


Jennifer (LadySav)

http://community.webtv.net/LadySav/LadySavsLandof




Sheffield

I went and saw Def Leppard last night at Sheffield and ooh i met Joe Elloitt before the concert , he came in a jeep and got out and came over to the few of us that was there I had my photo taken with him and he signed my top and spoke to me ,I'm still in shock this morning can't beleve it yet will do when my photo comes out I think,

Debbie

LaCrosse, Wisconsin Concert

As I sit down to reflect on my experience this past Wednesday night, I find myself struggling to how to write this up because there were good moments and bad. I think I will separate it in to categories.

The Band/The Concert

It was a fluke that I went to this show. I was not planning to see Def this time around; no money, too many job responsibilities, they were coming no where near me, you get the picture, I'm sure. My friend who is in the rock radio business called me on Tuesday and told me he had got tickets and backstage passes for me and a guest if I was interested. (He knows Def is my all time favorite band). Of course, I jumped at the chance and forgot all about responsibilities when he said the words backstage. So, I grabbed a friend and we were off for an adventure; a 4 1/2 hour drive to LaCrosse.

I cannot say enough about the concert. It was a great one; the band was very tight, Joe's voice sounded great and they just seemed to be having an overall great time. Trackratt did a great job detailing the concert and left nothing for me to add. Great job, Track!!

It was a very hurried and rushed experience in meeting the band. We made plans to meet our radio friends since they were coming from a different part of Wisconsin between 6:30 and 7:00 p.m. at the "will call" desk. We arrived at 6:50 p.m. and Nick, my friend in radio, was frantically waiting there and was stressed and just said "come on" and took off running through the arena hallways, downstairs, etc. He was trying to explain to my friend, Kori, and myself that there had been a mix up and we were going to miss out if we did not hurry. I will explain more in a minute under my management section.

Anyway, we get downstairs and there's Malvin in the flesh and blood, looking in a hurry. I had this impression in my head that Malvin would be this hulking size of guy and was very surprised to see this small statured man. He winked at us and said "they stragglers made it. Good." He radioed/called somebody and said the guys would be coming up shortly.

I will tell you that in Kori and mine's nervousness, we almost forgot to stop and buy a camera, did not bring a Sharpie nor anything for the guys to sign. We were doing good, so far. Kori and I had spent the drive laughing and carrying on about how we did not want to look like idiots and/or say something totally stupid when we first met whoever we got to meet. Now, I think it is important to note that Kori is not a diehard fan, like me, many times she goes with me to my kind of concerts cause she knows I care about this band. I can say after this experience that she has definitely become a fan!

All of a sudden, they were there: Rick Allen and Phil Collen. It was almost too surreal when I think back on it. It is something I have wanted for many years, to be able to tell members of this band what their music has meant to me but not to sound like a groupie bimbo when I did it.

I was in awe to say the least and found myself being totally tongue-tied, which is not like me. I found myself being led through handshakes and introductions, pictures and autographs. I said a few things but really found myself not wanting to be in their face bugging them. The crowd we had backstage was only around 10 persons, well-behaved, but yet throwing like 10 or 12 objects out for them to sign. This one person had I think every CD, book, etc. that has ever been done by Def. I kept thinking this is a bit overboard and expecting a lot out of the band members. And there I sit, totally forgetting anything to get an autograph put on. I was hoping to look at their merchandise when I arrived and buy something special to be autographed but as you read earlier that did not pan out.

Meeting Rick and Phil was incredible. They were tolerant and kind human beings. We had our pictures made with them and cannot wait to get them back. It will be going on my office wall. I asked if they remembered meeting my niece on two different occasions and Phil look confused but then a light bulb came on for him and he said yeah, I do remember her! That's your niece. I remember saying something like, "Yeah, we're a Def Leppard kinda family!" He laughed. Kori told them that this would be my 3rd concert this year and Phil looked at me and said, "Really." I cannot even remember what I said, something like your music has been a part of my life for many years. Not too stupid. Phil said that this concert would be the best of them all and smiled again. He has this quality that you like him instantly because he is so easygoing. Kori and I found ourselves being on our best behavior, not really requesting a lot; just wanted to meet them in the flesh kinda attitude. Kori did a wonderful lil speech, thanking them for allowing us a small look into their lives and the experience of being who they are. You could tell they were impressed with her. She has a great personality, a lot like Phil's.

They wrapped up and went to get ready for the show. They had not showered and shaved yet. And then they were gone and you were left to feel like "did that really just happen to me?"
Kori and I were able to get front row against the fence on Phil's side. It was a blast. As soon as the concert started, he looked down and saw us, must have recognized us cause he smiled and winked. We proceeded to dance and sing our butts off, and throughout the night he would wink at us. I bet he thought I was a real crazed fan cause I know all the words, even off their Euphoria album. Hopefully, he will know that that is how much their music means to me in my life.

I have to be honest now and add my opinions on the management involved in Def Leppard's career. .

Let me be clear from the beginning: I do not mean Malvin and/or any member of Def. I am referring to the record company because that is how I managed to get tickets and to go backstage. My friend, Nick who works in rock radio, made all of the arrangements with the record company. Mercury, I think?!?

Nick arrived ahead of us and when he arrived at the "will call" desk and was informed that there was no tickets there in his name. He had the record company executive's cell phone number so he proceeded to get on the phone with her and tell her what is up. I guess she told him she was coming from the Minneapolis area and she had his tickets. She said she would call Malvin and have him come get them. Nick felt satisfaction in dealing with this crisis only for a second cause Malvin magically appeared and nick realized that Kori and I had not arrived yet and that if he went with Malvin we would come and be informed that we had no tickets and he told me later that he knew I would freak out. So, he explained to Malvin what was up and that we had a farther drive than him and could we please wait a few more minutes. Malvin was a total gentleman and told the women at the desk that Nick was waiting for 2 more freinds and when they arrived he was allowed to grab us and come downstairs.

Malvin takes his career very seriously and I found that I respected him instantly cause he did his job immaculately. The person I was the most thoroughly disgusted with in the way she handled her position was the record executive. She sauntered in at the end of the meet and greet, she did not bring in the glossies as she was requested to do, and just did not do the kind of job she should have been doing as a representative/partner of Def Leppard. I remember feeling pissy and angry that she certainly did not seem to make an effort in pretending she had a personality. Sorry, but, it just goes to show me that once again, this is a damn good reason why Def is not where they should be with the talent they possess.

Ok, sorry for rambling, but what can I say, it was an experience I will not soon forget. I had the opportunity of standing beside a fellow DefNetter and that was really cool, too. Problem is I do not know if I remember us introducing ourselves. We related more from remembering certain parts of e-mails that we had sent to the list.

Outta here for now;

Kelly


Def Leppard strikes back

February 4, 2000

-------------------- By ALAN K. STOUT MUSIC ON THE MENU --------------------

IF YOU GO ...

WHO: Def Leppard, with Joan Jett & The Blackhearts

WHERE: First Union Arena, Casey Plaza, Highland Boulevard, Wilkes- Barre Township.

WHEN: Saturday at 7:30 p.m.

TICKETS: $26, available at the arena box office, all ETM outlets or by calling 1-888-386-8497. They are also available on-line at www.etm.com. INFO: 970-7600

For an audio excerpt of Alan K. Stout's interview click here.

Out of all the bands that emerged during the pop/metal movement of the 1980s, Def Leppard was clearly among the best.

"High 'n' Dry," the group's sophomore effort from 1981, remains a hard- rock classic while 1983's "Pyromania" -- which sold over 10 million copies and contained the hits "Photograph" "Rock of Ages" and "Foolin" -- helped set the tone for an entire decade of melodic power-rock that consistently rode the charts.

A highly-anticipated follow-up, 1987's "Hysteria," sold a cool 14 million units and contained six Top-20 singles. And "Adrenalize," from 1992, hit No. 1 on the album chart.

Simply put: These guys were HUGE.

Still, it seems for every milestone achievement in Def Leppard's history, there's been a tragedy. In 1984, drummer Rick Allen lost his arm in a violent car wreck, and in 1991, guitarist Steve Clark died of a fatal mixture of drugs and alcohol. Even the band's commercial success came to a brief halt in the mid-'90s.

Now, however, it appears Leppard is coming back strong. The band's latest CD, "Euphoria," has been certified gold. And after experimenting with a more stripped-down sound on 1996's "Slang," the group has returned to the big polished sound which first made them stars.

Def Leppard will perform at the First Union Arena on Saturday.

Singer: Joe Elliott

Back to basics "It's a little weird, saying 'going back,' because I think after 20 years, we just are what we are," says vocalist Joe Elliot.

"It's just a continuation of what we do. I think 'Slang' was an experiment which was absolutely necessary for us. I think we would have just exploded if we hadn't done it, but what we've done with this record is gone back to creating and writing in a very expert kind of way and a very songwriter way -- I mean really well-structured song dynamics and lots of movement with lots of different things to hold the listeners' attention."

Elliot says that Leppard -- which also features drummer Allen, bassist Rick Savage and guitarists Phil Collen and Vivian Campbell -- wanted "Euphoria" to be a "complete package," on which they did what they've always done best: mix melody with punch.

"With the 'Euphoria' album, we really did make a conscious effort to actually be Def Leppard," he says. "We're not embarrassed or ashamed to be Def Leppard. We weren't in 1995 or '96 when we were doing 'Slang,' but we were aware that a lot of people were. They were like, 'I can't play them anymore.' There was one station in Florida, and the DJ actually said, 'This is great. I'd play it if they changed their name.'

Singer: Joe Elliott

"Where do you go with that kind of attitude? It was very strange. We're pretty much one of the only survivors from the '80s, and I think the '80s is the first actual decade where people actually got vicious towards bands."

Elliot says it wasn't always that way.

"When we first came to America, everybody always wanted each other to succeed," he says. "We opened up for people like Ted Nugent, Pat Travers, Judas Priest, Ozzy Osbourne -- they all helped us. They all wanted us to succeed. Come the end of the '80s, people actually wanted bands to fail. I always find that a little bizarre, because I always thought it was us against them."

Throughout the conversation, Elliot consistently displayed a wide range of knowledge regarding the history of rock music and the music business. He equates America's early '90s grunge movement to a similar event that occurred in Britain in the late '70s.

"It was America's version of punk rock," he says. "When The Pistols and The Clash came out in '76 -- which didn't really affect the States -- it just blew England out of the water. It made front page news when Johnny Rotten or Sid Vicious did something. Every band was over as soon as The Pistols and The Clash came out. Forget Purple. Forget Zeppelin. It was over. It was over for your Supertramps and all that kind of stuff -- and that didn't happen in America."



Death of an era It did, however, happen in 1993 with the emergence of bands such as Nirvana and Pearl Jam. That -- combined with many copy-cat pop/metal groups -- made bands such as Leppard seem as unhip as a pair of stone- washed jeans.

"The sad thing," says Elliot, "was our sound got burned out on our behalf by other bands. We can hardly be accused of flooding the market when we did three albums in nine years. It was everybody else that made Kurt Kobain angry. I think he probably could have coped with Def Leppard. He just couldn't cope with 20 of us."

Now, however, Elliot says many of the negative attitudes have faded. He says recent encounters with bands such as Hole, Lit, Orgy and Everclear have all been pleasant.

"They've all been coming up saying 'You guys are great,' which they wouldn't have said four years ago. It just wasn't cool. Now, all of a sudden, these bands are saying they grew up on Def Leppard and they do like us, even though they don't make music like us."

To really get a fix on Leppard's music, you've got to dig a little deeper and go beyond some of the radio hits. For every disposable tune such as "Let's Get Rocked" or "Make Love Like A Man," there's a gem like "Bringin' on The Heartbreak" and "Women." The entire first side of 1981's "High 'n' Dry" burns with both melody and energy and sounds as fresh today as it did nearly 20 years ago. And if you sift a little deeper through 1992's "Adrenalize," you'll find gems like "Stand Up" and "Tonight."

Sonically, few hard-rock bands have ever combined melody and punch with such a full production. And much of that had to do with the band's work with producer Mutt Lange, who manned the console on "High 'n' Dry," "Pyromania," and "Hysteria" and also worked with the band on "Adrenalize" and returned with "Euphoria."

Lange, who's also worked with everyone from AC/DC to The Cars, has been best known in recent years for being the husband/producer of country star Shania Twain.

"We hadn't worked with Mutt since '91, but you never forget -- it's like riding a bike," says Elliot. "It was great, it really was. When your working with Mutt, it's a case of meeting the happy medium in the middle, but you take on everything he says because the guy's a bloody genius."

Never was that more evident than when the band unleashed "Pyromania" in 1983. The drum sound was huge, the choruses were slick and the guitars biting. Many at the time said they'd never heard a hard-rock album sound quite like it.

"Mutt actually sat us down," says Elliot, " and said 'When we come to make this record there are two things we can do: We can make another 'High 'n' Dry,' or we can spend a bit more time, money and effort and make a record that nobody else has ever made.' We all looked at each other, and you've got to remember, we were 18-22 years old, and we were really excited about the prospect of doing this, but absolutely clueless on how to do it.

"We placed our career 100-percent in his hands on that record, because he believed that between the six of us that we could do it."

They did it. And, says Elliot, they'll continue to do so.

"Realistically, you've got to say that the majority of our career is behind us, but that doesn't mean to say we're about to split up when this tour's over," he says. "I can only take my lead of The Stones and Aerosmith when it comes to bands. If Aerosmith -- who are at least 12 or 15 years older than us -- can still be doing this and still feel meaningful to themselves, then we still do have a hell of a long time to go."

"The Def Leppard Satellite Of Love" Email

Def Leppard and Jett rock the arena on February 06, 2000


Citizens Voice Music Critic

Def Leppard, a band that built its reputation on impeccable pop metal, joined forces with one of rock's truly bad girls, Joan Jett, and rocked the First Union Arena before a crowd of 6,000 people Saturday evening in a concert sponsored by Metropolitan Entertainment.

Def Leppard sometimes parades its riffs as intellectual, first-generation pop-metal, but they are truly an AOR programmer's dream. All of their hooks and riffs fit like the finest tailored Armani suit. And this band knows how to deliver.

Through a career in which a clearly foreseeable management has always guided a band, that's had its share of twists and turns, Def Leppard has built its sound on rock's smartest heavy metal. The group added several beats per minute and triple stacked their 36 Marshall amps instead of just doubling them. And it worked!

Little of any of that seemed to matter Saturday night though as the masses at the First Union Center bought into the Hysteria (yes, double entendre), with no problem.

The band's 1987 "Pour Some Sugar On Me,'' Euphoria's "Paper Sun'' and Pyromania's "Foolin''' and "Rock of Ages'' all worked masterfully. Even 1999's "Promises'' fit the decade-old playlist with no problem.

Rick Allen's drum work was resounding and gave cadence to a cleverly contrived play list that never let up. I'm not saying that they sounded better than when Thom Greco put them at Harveys Lake a few summers ago. I'm saying they are far better suited for an arena.

This concert was definitely a good time for artist and fan alike.

Kicking beach balls about, having the audience sing along as a chorus on one of their songs and basking about in a swirl of brightly changing stage lights amid a myriad of swirling colored back drops, made the artist/audience give-and-take flow effortlessly. Singer Joe Elliot even had the band tease the crowd with some Led Zep acoustics, which preceded 1992's acoustic version of "Two Step's Behind.'' When the British flag unfurled during "Pour Some Sugar On Me'' the audience exploded!

Joan Jett burst onto the stage the same way she did in 1980 with resounding versions of "Bad Reputation'' and "Cherry Bomb.'' Joan really hasn't changed all that much. Her ready-made riffs are tough.The music is straight ahead, in your face very intense, non-pretentious rock and roll. Even Tommy James' "Crimson & Clover'' somehow retained the innocence, yet novelty of its castaway appearance on her second recording.

Her opening at the First Union Arena at Casey Plaza left nothing to be desired. Clearly I think Joan's forte is a club. The sweat, the closer intensity suits her better, but this lady adjusts.

The only thing that's changed much about Joan is that she has seemed to find it necessary to re-invent her persona. Her new Sinead O'Connor look hasn't made the grade. Her tight, black leather pants and vest are still there, but her long jet-black hair have been replaced by . . . well, nothing.

Sorry Meryl, what Kenny has established (her manager, Kenny Laguna), let no wife put asunder.

Certainly one of the evening's strangest selections had to be the theme from the Mary Tyler Moore show, "We're Gonna Make It After All.'' Was this a self-statement? Joanie even did "Bad Reputation'' facing away from the crowd to re-establish herself I suppose.

Sorry Joanie, Johnny Rotten tried that gig at the Palladium in New York years ago. Same results.

Saturday night's concert delivered on every front promised. The bad little girl from Philadelphia hasn't changed a bit (except her appearance) and rock's heavy metal hitmakers can still perform that genre of the rock idiom with the best of them.

Wonder if there was anyone that was at this one too that voted Arena No? Probably weren't of voting age then anyway. Wanna bet?.

Concert Notes: The crowd estimated at about 6,000 had quite an intermission show after a well endowed young lady decided to take over the sound platform and do some provocative dancing. After some resounding boos from the obviously entertained throng she was whisked away by security personnel . .
. It's rather ironic that arena must-have-a-smokers are sent outside the building when thousands flick lighters aloft during various songs . . . And the sound at the Arena for concerts must be dealt with. The acoustic issues will not go away by denial. There appears to be no attempt at dealing with them and if you think they're not as problematic for an electric guitar as they are for a classical passage, you're wrong!

Al Choman

WILKES-BARRE TWP. February 7, 2000


-- The drum sound is huge, the guitars biting, the choruses soaring and the melodies comfortably on target. There is charisma, a sense of showmanship and a big catalogue of hard-rock classics.

That is Def Leppard.

And that is what the crowd of 6,000 got on Saturday night at the band's show at the First Union Arena in Wilkes-Barre Township.

Opening its set with 1983's "Rock Rock (Till You Drop)," the polished British outfit followed with the new "Demolition Man."

"So this is Wilkes-Barre, Pennsylvania?" shouted singer Joe Elliot, drawing an easy roar from the crowd.

"Women," a bombastic-sounding track from 1987's "Hysteria" was another early highlight in the set, as was a powerful performance of "Foolin'."

In addition to the aforementioned qualities, the thing that makes Def Leppard's hard-rock sound so unique -- and ultimately, so good -- is the diversity of their song arrangements. Not simply set in the verse-chorus-verse-chorus-solo-verse-chorus mold, Lep's tunes often break out into more dynamic areas while always remaining cohesive, breezy and fast-moving.



Lead singer Joe Elliot

"Animal" inspired a fun sing-along and "Hysteria" was also met with a roar from the audience. The new "Paper Sun" aptly displayed Lep's conscious decision to return to its early sounds and the bass-fueled "Love Bites" again showed the band's aptitude at combining punch with melody.

"Let's go all the way back .... to the summer of 1999," joked Elliot as he introduced last summer's comeback hit "Promises." An acoustic version of "Two Steps Behind" was preceded by a teasing few notes of Led Zeppelin's "Over The Hills and Far Away" and fiery, consecutive performances of "Photograph," "Rocket," "Pour Some Sugar On Me" and "Rock of Ages" ended the set with a bang.

The band members -- who continuously ran and strutted about the large stage throughout the show -- returned for a series of encores, including performances of "Let's Get Rocked" and the show-ender "Let It Go."

In an added treat, Joan Jett & The Blackhearts opened the show with a tight, fast-paced, punk-style performance that included Jett's hits "Crimson and Clover," "I Love Rock & Roll" and "I Hate Myself for Loving You." Jett -- whose head was completely shaved -- did a good job of warming up the crowd and had the audience on its feet on several occasions.

Still, this was clearly Def Leppard's night. And as one of the few bands that have successfully survived the pop/metal movement of the '80s, they proved why they're still in arenas playing to thousands of loyal fans: They've got some great songs, and they put on a good show.

And that will keep them coming back every time.

ALAN K. STOUT
Times Leader Staff Writer


ROCK 'N ROLL HYSTERIA ... February 3 - 9, 2000

Exclusive Interview with Def Leppard's Guitarist Phil Collen
http--www.catchthecurrent.com-fr_feature.html
Electric City

At a concert last summer in Minneapolis, Hole's Courtney Love ranted her way through a rough set, criticizing the crowd for bad behavior as usual. But the crowd had something to distract them. To the right of trash-talking Courtney stood quiet guitarist Eric Erlandson, looking remarkably cool in a Def Leppard T-shirt. Def Leppard was headlining the festival which included a slew of young alternative bands.

The question must be asked: Is Def Leppard getting cool again? The fact that Erlandson and groups like Buckcherry and Lit are professing Lepp love doesn't mean the 80s rock lords have regained legitimacy. In fact, they seem dangerously close to becoming the token guilty pleasures of the uber-hip. But even if all Def Leppard's getting is a patronizing coddle from people who shunned them five years ago, you've got to admit: it's great to hear great big arena rock again.

Def Leppard doesn't apologize for its bombastic guitar riffs and sugary melodies. The band's new album Euphoria marks an all-out return to the glory days of irresistible pop hooks, after the 1996 pseudo-grunge effort Slang. To an audience who once said, "Here we are now, entertain us," Def Leppard says "Hell yeah!"

Guitarist Phil Collen gave Electric City the inside scoop on the making of Euphoria and the return of Sheffield, England's biggest rock stars.

You're now a full-time resident of Los Angeles. What was it like to come to Dublin to record Euphoria?

We've lived in as many as five different countries at different times, so we're used to having to travel to come together to record an album. Recording in Dublin is totally different than being in LA. I love California - it's my favorite place, but I'm no stranger to Ireland. Joe (Elliot - Def Leppard's lead singer) is a great host and I've stayed at his house millions of times. It took us about 11 months to record Euphoria, but we would get breaks and I'd get to go home and see my family for a few weeks. But being at Joe's was like being at home. It was a very comfortable atmosphere.

You've been touring hard behind this new album. Have their been any recent shows that stand out in your mind?

We played in the Persian Gulf, in the United Arab Emirates, which is like the Las Vegas of the Middle East. It was so incredibly hot. All of the buildings looked very western, but they were just out there in the middle of the desert, making things look oddly like Vegas. About 60 percent of the people who live there are Indian, so there was great food. We all really love Indian food. I've been a vegetarian for the past 17 years, and Rick Allen (Def Leppard's drummer) is one also.

When you look out at your audience, how has it changed?

The audience looks totally different than it did five years ago. It looks more like it did 10 years ago. The mid-90s brought alternative music and bands like Nirvana, which were fantastic. But ironically, while bands like Nirvana were all about breaking the mold, there were all these other bands who just wanted to copy them, and audiences who just wanted to hear one type of music. It was a very confused state. The ultimate "rebel without a cause." Back then, people didn't like us and what we stood for, but people are sick of feeling miserable. Now you see acts like Ricky Martin and Britney Spears becoming popular. What they do is a reflection of what we do. We make entertaining Top-40 music. We enjoy entertaining people. I see young people in our audiences who are obviously new to Def Leppard, because they would have been little kids when we were big before. That's what we want to see... a cross-section in our audience. Not just 17-year- old boys or just older people. We want to create a show where anyone can come without getting hurt, and go away feeling entertained.

What's your take on the chaos that erupted at Woodstock last summer?

I thought it was a real drag and it's obvious that something like that was going to happen. But as far as bands like Limp Bizkit and Korn go, they do stir up certain emotions in young boys. The testosterone just goes all weird and they start freaking out. But a lot of what happened could have been prevented by the promoters. You can't blame rock. In regard to school shootings and tragedies like that, it's easy to blame music, but that's not where the real problem is. If I was in office, the first thing I'd do would be to not let criminals have access to guns.

I noticed that longtime Def Leppard producer and friend, Mutt Lange, actually sings back-up vocals on a few tracks off of Euphoria. Who knew the mega-producer was also a singer?

Mutt is always the best singer in room! He always sings background tracks on the albums he works on. You can hear him on AC/DC and Bryan Adams songs. He always sings with us. We've learned a lot from him. He does it all.

Do you listen to Mutt's wife, Shania Twain?

I'm a big fan of hybrid music styles. Mutt and Shania really brought country to the masses. We've played a lot of places in America where country music is big, but it's amazing to see that people in places like LA, Chicago, and New York now have access to country. Mutt is great at blending styles. That's what he did with us... he molded pop and rock together.

What else are you listening to now?

Macy Gray. She's a huge success in England and I've almost worn out the CD from listening to it so much.

I read that you're a fan of the Artist Formerly Known As Prince. Does he influence Def Leppard's music at all?

"All Night" (off of Euphoria) obviously has a funky, Prince influence. We've always borrowed from different musical genres. "Pour Some Sugar On Me" was heavily influences by rap music from the early and mid-80s, like LL Cool J and Run-DMC. Like I said, I really enjoy bringing two styles of music together. I love TLC. Their producer, Dallas Austin, really brought hip/hip, pop and rap together and brought it to a bigger audience. That's what it's all about - getting your music out to a bigger audience.

What are your favorite songs by the Artist?

"Little Red Corvette." "The Most Beautiful Girl in the World." The list could be endless.

What's Def Leppard's secret for staying together?

The main thing is our friendship. We've grown from boys to kind-of grown- ups. We've experienced life together. It's rare that you ever get to do that with the same group of guys. We've faced births, deaths, horrible accidents. We've always been there for each other. With us, it's a different vibe than many bands because we weren't just thrown together. There's a lot of substance and history. And we have something to prove to each other, like a family.

I read that you still play a Les Paul you bought when you were 17.

Yeah, I've kept all of my guitars! I've only ever given two away, and those were to very good friends.

What's your favorite Def Leppard song at the moment?

I love "Paper Sun" (a song from Euphoria that addresses a bomb explosion in Ireland.) We're not political, we're just stating the facts of what happened. It's like we're saying to the bombers, "Are you happy now?" Whoever they were trying to offend, it didn't work and they just ended killing their own people. We're just stating the facts as we saw them.

How are you handling the Def Leppard renaissance that seems to be happening among young people?

We take it all with a grain of salt. I can remember playing at the MTV Music Awards in the early 90s. People wanted to throw stuff at us because we weren't "alternative." It was really weird. It's all peer pressure. Now that bands like Hole are saying good things about us, it's cool again for people to say that they like us. We've played with bands like Orgy and Everclear, and I even heard Dave Grohl say that he loved our music. Now people feel it's all right to say how they really feel about us. They're more open to admitting what they actually like.

You guys have an awesome Behind the Music special on VH1. What do you think of the series in general?

I find the whole thing to be like watching a car crash. You know you shouldn't, but you do anyway. But in some ways, it does give artists a second chance. It shows the audience that these people are actually human beings. It allows cynical, close-minded people to get a different take on the artists, and that's a good thing. Our greatest hits album, Vault, has been selling like hotcakes, and I think the Behind the Music had something to do with it.

What kind of feedback are you getting from audiences on this tour?

People are going away from our shows exhausted, saying "I haven't seen anything like that in years." We're all healthy and we've got a great show of both old stuff and new stuff. It's very high energy and lots of fun.

PUT ANOTHER DIME IN THE JUKEBOX, BABY

Joan Jett Joins Def Leppard at the First Union Arena

Joan Jett thwarts all In/Out lists. She's the perfect example of how not following the whims of fashion and culture can pay off in a big way. Joan was a punk rock girl in 1985 when Madonna was rolling on the floor in frilly wedding dresses, and she was still a punk rock girl in 1999 when Madonna was wearing kimonos and speaking with a British accent. Joan Jett may only hit one note, but damn, she hits it well.

Jett was resurrected into the world of the officially hip in the mid-90s, as her consistent punk rock style was celebrated by female grunge bands like Bikini Kill. Joan Jett moved from being borderline cheesy to cooler than cool, as she was crowned "Proto-Riot Grrrl" by these young, pierced punk songstresses.

However, Jett's early influences weren't very punk. She was inspired by the glittery sounds of 70s glam rock, including T. Rex, Slade and David Bowie. When she was 16, she met a producer at Hollywood's Starwood Club who quickly made her part of the Runaways, an all-teenage girl rock group.



GOING SOLO

By the late 70s the Runaways had broken up and Jett was trying to get a solo record deal without much success. She even tried acting in a movie based on the Runaways. The movie was never released, but while making it Jett met producer Kenny Laguna. Laguna helped her put a solo debut together which was released independently. Still, the album barely sold any copies.

By 1982 Jett had made a new album with her back-up band, the Blackhearts. The woman who couldn't give her first album away was about to explode into nationwide success. The single "I Love Rock 'n' Roll" had every kid in America dancing in their bedrooms and swooning over Jett's sexy growl. The album spawned two more hits, "Crimson and Clover" and "Do You Wanna Touch Me," cover tunes that Jett injected with her tough girl intensity.

THE GIRL'S GOT STAYING POWER

Jett floundered for a few years, but came back strong with 1988's Up Your Alley, which produced the single, "I Hate Myself for Loving You." Jett stayed strong through the days of hair metal and found a new home in the rising grunge scene of the mid-90s. Pure and Simple gained indie credibility in 1994 with appearances by Kat Bjelland of Babes in Toyland and Donita Sparks from L7, plus songwriting credits from Kathleen Hanna of Bikini Kill.

In a press release Jett explains that she's trying to move into some new territory on Pure and Simple.

"There are songs that are built around relationships," she said, "but there are also some tracks that came out of looking around at the state of the world and wondering if anyone else noticed what was going on."

Luckily for Jett, people have noticed that she's still as punk as ever. Put another dime in the jukebox, baby... Joan's ready to rock.

IF YOU GO

WHAT: Def Leppard with Joan Jett & The Blackhearts

WHEN: Saturday, Feb. 5

WHERE: First Union Arena at Casey Plaza

HOW MUCH: $26

FOR MORE INFO: 888-ETM-TIXS or www.etm.com

"The Def Leppard Satellite Of Love" Email - am383@detroit