Joe Elliott is quoted as saying the band is very approachable when it comes to the fans if they want autographs and having personal experience and putting in many, many hours, I can honestly say this is true. One has to have the patience of an elephant and the determination to meet their favorite band member.
One of the more popular ways to meet their favorite Def Leppard guy is to hang out by the buses and this is what I mean by patience and determination. The security will try to scare you, threatening you with arrest or being kicked off the property if you don't leave and telling you the band has already left.
They are paid to lie to you. 99.99% of the time, the band is still there and security must really think the fans are stupid if they believe that but the fan knows better but often give up because even though they know they are still there, they have to get home and the hour is late and the weather might be crappy.
I have done this a lot in my time in seeing Def Leppard and you have to be able to endure a lot of garbage from security and be able to withstand any weather conditions, although the weather may be a factor in whether you get to meet them or not. Joe is not going to come out if it's too cold, although he did in Everett and it was freezing. Joe, I thank you for your time and withstanding the cold in order to meet with your fans and sign autographs. Thanks also goes out to Sav, Rick and Viv for coming out too and Phil.
The real autographs come from the band themselves and are best obtained in person by the buses or if you are lucky enough to win the Raven drum auctions, you get to meet Rick and the band doesn't always come out but on occasion have been known to make an appearance.
However, even if the band comes out and signs your stuff, there is always the danger in the appearance of the autograph hunters. They are fairly easy to spot, they come carrying loads of things for the band to sign, anything from an old Def Leppard LP to CD covers and even drum heads and sometimes pictures.
They are persistent, greedy and if they don't get all the bands signatures, they will sign it themselves after hours of mastering the art of forgery. I have seen this first hand as two of them did it right in front of me at a Velvet Revolver show. They become familiar faces if you attend more than one show at a Def Leppard concert or any of your other favorite bands.
They will appear by the buses but you never really see them inside the shows. Then after the band has gone, they run home with their autographed memorabila and sell it on ebay for a hefty price. To authenticate their prizes, they will take a picture of them signing it and put it up on the ebay auction to prove that they signed and if they can't obtain this at the time they do, they will use and old photo of them signing practically the same item.
Def Leppard is very approachable for an autograph but with the rise in selling autographed items on ebay both real and fake, they are somewhat skeptical about signing but still want to give an autograph to a real fan but sometimes it is a bit hard to tell but usually the real fans will only carry three or four things for them to sign and ask for a picture and or ask them to personalize it by having them write their name and sign their signatures.
The best way to know that the autograph is real is take something you want signed to a show and either wait very patiently by the buses and don't let security frighten you away, for the band to come out and Phil will usually come out first, followed by the others, depending on how much time they have and how tired they are.
Don't get discouraged if your favorite man doesn't come over to you, it usually means he is tired and wants to go on the bus, climb into his pajamas and drift off to dreamland. hehe. Or it means he is busy if you see him talking to someone, respect that and chalk it up to getting to meet him the next time.
I was lucky to have met the entire band, the second time I ever saw them in concert and have met them several times since and others have yet to wait. Don't get your autographs off ebay, you don't know if they are real at the time you win the bid, get them in person. Besides, it's an experience you won't forget and if you get that picture with your favorite Lep, it makes it that much better.
The secret to getting that autograph is
1. Patience
2. Determination
3. Be polite, don't push it
4. Don't overwhelm them with tons of stuff for them to sign, they will question your intentions with having had problems with the ever popular autograph hunters, just bring 2 or 3 things
5. Don't approach them for an autograph if they are eating or in the middle of a conversation with someone, they will consider it rude and it is.
6. If they don't come out to sign and you see them walk by, don't yell out that they are mean and rude, it will only make them less apt to sign next time if they remember you. Trust me, I have witnessed this in person. If it doesn't happen this time, as Joe says "There will be a next time.":
7. Even though security can be downright rude, don't make an enemy of them because they will remember you and you won't get within forty feet of the buses or the band.
8. When they do come out to sign, thank them and respect their space and don't try to invade it by mobbing them for a picture, ask politely and wait your turn.
9. Treat them with respect and approach them not as rockstars but as people and make conversation with Joe or Phil, or whoever your favorite guy is, they won't bite. hehe
10. Most importantly when they are signing, whether it be Phil, Viv, Rick, Joe or Sav, if they are there signing, it's their moment, don't ask them if Joe is coming out or Sav. If they are up to coming out, they will and you have to be patient. It is impolite to ask them while they are signing your stuff if Joe is coming out, kind of makes them feel like chopped liver.
All of them are a great bunch of guys and very approachable so don't be shy but be polite and when you meet them, it will be an experience you won't forget.
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