Fan Interviews Part 3 Rhapsody

RC: Hello Rhapsody, welcome to the Rock Chronicles. I will be asking you a few questions about you, as a fan of Def Leppard but first tell me a little about yourself. What do you do? What are your interests and where do you come from?”

Rhapsody: I work for Kimberly-Clark going into Wal-Mart and making sure their products are stocked & displays up. I also raise, train & show Miniature Horses. My main interests are horses & music and have been since I wasvery small. I was born in Florida but have lived in several states before ending up in Virginia 3 years ago.

RC: Okay, now I want to ask you some questions. The first time ever you saw Def Leppard whether it be live, on TV, magazines, etc, what did you think? Did you like them at that moment? If not why?

Rhapsody: I had already liked Def Leppard's music before I ever saw them for the first time. When I got the album "On Through the Night" and saw them, I thought they were a good looking bunch!

RC: Who is your favorite band member and why?

Rhapsody: Does Malvin count as a band member? Tho I'm not sure I can give you a real reason why other than he's funny, good looking, a good singer and I'm attracted to him! Band member that actually gets on stage & performs: Sav because he's the bass player and I love the bass.

RC: Let’s start with Def Leppard back in the early 80’s when they first struck it big and everyone you saw copied their hairstyles, dressed like them and had their music playing from every cassette player, turntable to eventually their CD players and now IPODS. How much do you think their music has changed over the years from when they first started to now?

Rhapsody: One of the reasons I still like Def Leppard is because their music hasn't made big changes like other bands I did like. Definitely has a more "pulled together" sound now from the first album but I think any of the, songs on "X" could have just as well been on "Hysteria".

RC: Do you think they’ve stuck to their roots and if so, do you think that’s hurt them at all when it comes to competing in the music industry for popularity and album sales?

Rhapsody: Yes, I think they have stuck to their roots. It probably has hurt them somewhat but musical tastes have a way of coming back around again.

RC: What to you is the best thing about Def Leppard?

Rhapsody: Their live show! I ALWAYS have a good time when I go see them.

RC: In relation to the previous question, what to you is the worst thing about Def Leppard? I don’t mean things like “I don’t like them because Joe likes to talk.” *Sssh, let’s not tell Joe that. Hehe I just mean what do you think they could do that would make them better whether it be make more albums, tour more cities, do more music videos, whatever.

Rhapsody: I would like to see them make more albums but that's always been a problem with them. LOL

RC: Joe has always said they are not heavy metal but for me, albums like Hysteria are too rockish to fit into POP music or easy listening so what category do you think they fall into?

Rhapsody: I am horrible when it comes to categories for music! I tend to lump them in general categories - Rock, Country, Classical, etc. Totally the wrong person to ask this question. But I would say they aren't heavy metal sounding to me (like Metallica).

RC: The new tour is coming up soon, are you planning to attend any shows?

Rhapsody: Hoping to make 3 this year again. Virginia Beach, Raleigh & Charlotte. I've done Bristow the past two tours but I think I'd rather to VA Beach this time.

RC: Once the tour is over, they plan to finish Sparkle Lounge and do a world tour, what do you think will happen with the new album? Do you think not knowing what’s on it yet, just the name of the album will affect its popularity?

Rhapsody: Def Leppard fans will buy it no matter what. I'm planning on buying it. I do think a lot of people are having a problem with the name. It really doesn't sound like a Def Leppard album name but they haven't gotten it recorded yet! I'm thinking "working title" will keep people talking about it and make them curious about what the songs sound like.

RC: What album do you think got the least recognition not counting X? Joe said Slang but do you agree with Joe or do you think another album could have gotten more recognition?

Rhapsody: I definitely agree with Slang. I never heard one song from it on the radio. Tho I do think Adrenalize could have gotten more attention too. At least they play "Promises" on tour, they don't play anything from Slang or X.

RC: I’ve been to several concerts myself and plan to go to more this tour and in light of that, let’s talk about the venues and their policies on cameras. In thinking back to the Irvine show in 2005, the security there was very rude and treated you like a criminal if you wanted to stay after the show and talk to the guys or take pictures at the show. The venues always state that it’s the band that says NO cameras when I know darn well that they don’t care as long as its not a recording device.

Do you think if the venue decides this, that they should change their policies as long as no one is getting hurt and do you think it’s the venue that decides this or the band other than Def Leppard?

Rhapsody: I don't see why anyone is getting hyper about people taking pictures at concerts. Esp. when you can take them with your cell phone now. All the venues I went to last year wouldn't let you stay inside once the concert was over but didn't care if you hung around outside. And Charlotte last year had an announcement saying cameras were okay as long as they weren't professional ones up until the time the gates opened. And then they said no cameras. People got them in anyway (I stuck mine in my pants, Tonya stuck hers in her bra) and nothing was said once you were inside. They wanted to blame it on the band then too. I heard it was Journey that didn't want cameras at that show but they'd been allowing them so it had to be the venue. I just don't see the point in banning cameras, never have.

RC: In the same area of venues, I want to talk to you a bit about the security at the venues. I’ve come across some very RUDE security people at the shows and other’s very nice and most don’t care if you stand by the buses as long as you don’t get in the way of cars going in and out and don’t try sneaking in but others are just plain rude and are nasty, mean and treat the fans badly.

Do you think they are just trying to protect the band and doing their job or do you think they are just doing some sort of power trip and letting their authority do the talking? And do you think the band would be shocked or disappointed in the way fans are sometimes treated by the security?

Rhapsody: I think the security guards that act rude & nasty are on a power trip and are doing it because they can. Most of them don't care if you hang out and try to meet the band but those are the ones that think they can get away with being mean because they are security. I don't think the band would be happy about it but there is nothing they can do really.

RC: Another question I asked another fan is what song do you love hearing live every time you see a show and what song do you never want to hear again at a show?

Don’t be shy about answering because the band themselves have said that they get tired of doing the same thing all the time but do it because they know the fans love the songs and they do it for them but even your most favorite song ever can get tiresome if you listen to it a lot.

Rhapsody: If I never heard "Pour Some Sugar on Me" live again, it wouldn't bother me one bit. I do like hearing them do "Promises" and "Rock On" is awesome live, esp. with that bass solo of Sav's.

RC: Def Leppard hasn’t really made any new Promotion videos since Long, Long Way to Go, do you think that music videos increase the bands popularity and promote them or do you think it’s a waste of time on the bands part?

Joe has said it is hard work and I don’t think they like doing them as much anymore but do you think they should do more?

Rhapsody: I don't even watch music videos anymore unless they are on the net. It's too much wading thru all the other stuff on the "music" channels to find the videos. So I don't care if they make anymore or not. They did do one for "Rock On" that was very cool.

RC: Since Def Leppard has been accused of abandoning the UK and knowing the UK doesn’t accept their music as well as the US does, do you think that they should tour there more often and try to increase their fan base there since that is where they are from or do you think they should stick to where they are most popular?

Rhapsody: At this point, I think they are just going to stick where they know they can make the money. I'm sure they'd love to have a broader fan base over there but I don't know if it will ever happen.

RC: Joe has said that Rick is a better drummer now than when he had two arms, what is your opinion, do you think he’s a better drummer now and if so, do you think its because of his determination to come back from a near end to his career or that he’s just evolved into a better musician?

Rhapsody: I think it's a combination of the two. Probably started out from his determination to come back and then he just evolved from there and got better. He can't throw in a lot of the "trashy" stuff that two handed drummers can and that makes for a cleaner sound.

RC: What did you think of Yeah? Do you think it was a wise move for them to do that cover album or do you think they should have left well enough alone?

Rhapsody: Yeah! was a great idea. Esp. since they didn't cover stuff that was really popular here. It was neat hearing their takes on songs I knew and ones I wasn't too familiar with.

RC: If you could think of one thing about Def Leppard that has inspired you whether it be a song because of its meaning or because of an experience you had with the band, what would it be? Has that changed your life in any way?

Rhapsody: I really can't think of an answer to this question.

RC: What has been your best experience and worst experience with Def Leppard?

Rhapsody: Meeting Rick Allen last tour. That was an awesome experience. And Malvin snubbing me was the worst. Both at the same show!

RC: Do you think the decline in the publicity of Def Leppard and selling out the venues will affect any future they have in touring and making albums?

Rhapsody: I thought they have actually been getting more publicity now than in the past few years. Certainly more tv appearances. I don't see them stopping touring soon. They may just cut down on the dates and do the cities where they sell the most tickets. The package tours they have been with the past couple of years seem to do really well in ticket sales.

RC: Def Leppard used to play two hour concerts and even done more than one encore in a night and now they do 90 minutes and one encore and off to the next city, would you like to see them go back to a two hour show and do more encores?

Rhapsody: If they could do shows without other major acts. But I don't think they'll go back to that since these tour packages they have been doing the past few summers have paid off so well. I would love for them to do 2 hours and then maybe they'd pull in some stuff that they don't usually do (I'd love to hear "Demolition Man" live!) but realistically I don't see them doing it.

RC: Out of all the things Def Leppard has done over their careers and I mean things like performing at shows like the Sheffield show Joe and Sav did for Sincerely Sheffield, what do you think is the coolest thing they’ve ever done for charity?

Rhapsody: I really haven't kept up with this but I thought Sav being involved in the duck race for Sheffield Children's Hospital was pretty cool. I know I bought some ducks thru the website after hearing about it!

RC: Joe has said that they can’t really do songs that are not that well known because the audience will look at them like WHAT? Do you think if they did more songs off the albums, it would increase its popularity and they’d be more likely to perform longer shows and perhaps change it up a bit every tour?

Rhapsody: Yeah, like people not knowing "Rock Brigade". And they say they are fans! I wish they would throw in stuff off the albums that not everyone knows and make them go back home & LISTEN to the albums to find out what else they are missing.

RC: In light of that, people have said to me why go to more than one show, isn’t it the same show every time? Do you think that the show is the same every time? Does it become redundant after awhile or does Def Leppard make it different with as little as changing the order of the songs they do from the night before?

Rhapsody: No, the songs may be the same but the shows aren't. They do different things at different venues. And sometimes they will throw in a song they didn't do at a previous show!

RC: The ticket prices for the shows vary from show to show, some high and some lower, do you think the ticket prices affect filling the venues like they used to?

Rhapsody: Ticket prices on top of high gas prices affect filling the venues. But fans of the bands will come anyway. I think that's why they are doing these package tours with other well know bands, more chance of filling the venues even with higher prices.

RC: One more question Rhapsody and then I will let you go. If you could ask Def Leppard one question, what would it be?

Rhapsody: If there was one event in the band's history you could go back and change, what would it be?

RC: I want to thank you for participating in this interview and I hope you will come back later and tell me your experiences about the shows you go see and perhaps let me see some pictures. Take care and thanks again.

Rhapsody: Sure, no problem! Thanks for asking me to do this!