Asbury Park Short Phil Interview

Asbury Park Press interviewed Phil Collen. In a short but nice interview, Phil Collen talked about when he joined the band and had known them previously when asked to help them out when having problems with then guitarist Pete Willis and his drinking. Things smoothed out and then he later replaced Pete in 83 and it was only one year later that Rick Allen lost his arm in a car accident and seven years later, Steve Clark passes away from an accidental drug and alcohol overdoese. For more on this interview, go to this link. Asbury Park Press

Joe Elliott turns 48

HAPPY BIRTHDAY wishes go out to Mr. Joe Elliott who celebrates his 48th birthday today. Today he is taking a much deserved rest after the first leg of the tour and Def Leppard will take up the second leg of the tour on August 11th in Mansfield.

Best wishes Joe for a great day and I must say he's still as sexy as ever. Have a wonderful birthday Joe from me and all your fans.

Joe Elliotts Voice *Through the Ages*

Joe Elliott's voice seems to be the favorite topic when it comes to critics reviews of Def Leppard shows, saying anything from his voice not having the range it used to, to sounding off key or a little bit worn. In the beginning, Joe's voice sounded a bit like his voice was changing and perhaps it was a bit and sounded a bit untrained and of course it was because he was just starting out but had a raw talent that would become THE voice for Def Leppard, the most well known vocalist in Rock N Roll and that it has.

The critics need to be aware that singing is hard on the voice but it also didn't help that Joe smoked and drank for some years and that affects the quality of voice as well BUT critics also need to remember that even though his voice doesn't have that range like it used to, his voice continues to be vibrant and can still entertain the fans and in my opinion, sounds just as good now as it did twenty years ago.

There's not a singer around that after thirty years, their voices won't be affected but the critics seem to think this is a key element in their reviews because they can't think of anything wrong with Def Leppard so they nit pick and use Joe's voice as a way to back their negativity in their reviews. Nine times out of ten, the same critics that say Joe can't sing, often cannot carry a tune if their life depended on it.

Simon Cowell of American Idol is one of the most well known critics of unknown talent and also the most brutal, yet the only judge on that panel that has a trained voice is Paula Abdul and makes you wonder how well Simon would do if he were on that stage under the microscope of a judge like himself.

Joe Elliott has been quoted as saying he should be strung up like a Pinata and hates reality shows like American Idol and prefers to see the finished product. Joe's voice has held up remarkably well through the ages and isn't any less talented than he was 30 years ago.

Live Daily Interview with Joe Elliott

Live Daily conducted an interview with Front Man Joe Elliott of Def Leppard. Joe talks about the tour, the new album and touring with Styx and Foreigner. Joe is hoping for an early 2008 release of Songs from the Sparkle Lounge but as he said they'd rather not rush it.

Live Daily

The big difference in Def Leppard maintaining a 30 year career compared to other bands is Def Leppard is more concerned with the quality of their music, rather than quantity. Too many bands of the past and even the present were concerned with how many albums they could crank out and still others were left behind after only one.

Joe is quoted as saying Songs from the Sparkle Lounge is a combination of a couple of their albums saying it sounds a bit like Hysteria and the High and Dry Period. With Def Leppard's well known Uniqueness when it comes to their music, Songs from the Sparkle Lounge holds promises of being very successful and fans hope that the new album will be like nothing they've ever heard yet still be Def Leppard.

One thing about Def Leppard is they will never be accused of sounding just like every other band out there and I truly believe this is one of their keys to their 30 year success and they will be a band that although won't be as successful as the Rolling Stones but will remain in history as being a band that has what it takes to keep the fans interested and coming back for more.

Camera Policy Part 2

I am sadly disappointed but not surprised. Three out of 7 venues e mailed me back and was VAGUE at best but all had one thing in common, that the ARTIST sometimes objects to cameras and maybe that's true BUT Def Leppard doesn't care, that much I know.

I know several other bands that don't also BUT at some venues I go to, they state that the BAND is the one that said it, NOT them. Every venue I attend, they have signs clearly posted that no cameras are allowed. They don't specify "No Professional Cameras" yet if you ask, they sometimes say "Just disposables or digitals are fine but no flash but a lot will evict you from the premises if you so much as take a pic with your camera phone.

Who wins here? What harm are people doing by taking pics of their favorite bands? If any band feels that cameras shouldn't be allowed, what does that tell us? Are bands like Def Leppard afraid what the pics will be used for or afraid profits will be made and they won't get a cut? With Def Leppard, I highly doubt it because Def Leppard is by far the NICEST of all bands I've met.

ALL bands, Def Leppard, Velvet Revolver, anyone is getting free publicity from this. Personal photos make up more than 50% of the photos found on the net. The FANS are the ones that need to worry about how their pics are used because someone might snag it and say "Yes, I took this pic" More and more, pics found on the net are watermarked but sadly, there are ways around that, with the help of photo shop, Paint shop Pro, etc.

Perhaps this is what worries the bands but I ask you What the hell is it to the venue? Are they pouting because they aren't getting a cut or being named as the venue where it was taken? Sometimes they are and if they are, THEY are also getting free publicity.

Or is it a simple power trip by making this stupid rule. I support NO professional cameras unless you are press or recording cameras unless you are making a video for them. There are some rules that are a matter of safety but no cameras is by far the most STUPID and if a fan gets thrown out and treated like a common criminal for simply wanting to take a pic of their favorite band, that security guard needs to lose his job.

If a band has a problem with pics and enforces this particular treatment, then that band will have one less fan and deservedly so. In a disturbing trend of pics being sold on ebay after being autographed or even not, it is understandable for the band to be skeptical but unfortunately one person's screw up, makes us all suffer because it is impossible to find the actual culprit unless they post for the world to see, name, address, phone number and computers IP address.

In conclusion, Def Leppard is one of the few bands I know for certain that doesn't care if you have a camera and don't let ANY venue tell you otherwise. Once more, if you feel you have been mistreated by any member of the security for having a camera and know you were told that you could have one as long as it wasn't professional, report them.

I don't care if they have a uniform and or are the police themselves, no one should be mistreated under any circumstances by security or police, even if the fan themselves are mistreating others, two wrongs don't make a right.

They need to edit their policies and specify NO professional cameras and no recording devices and let the rest be okay, not okay is where it becomes a problem. No one has ever died of having their picture taken but have the right to object and if they object, it should be respected, however, the bands themselves need to make the rules of no cameras, if that is their wish and make it part of their websites, instead of laying the blame at the venues feet and make it a part of the contract.

HOWEVER, if the band like Def Leppard has no problem with it, the venue needs to be told and the venue should not lie and say the band said no, when they never said any such thing. This is all for now

The Camera Policy VS The Band

This is a two part article on the Camera policies at the concerts and I will be using Def Leppard as a subject for my piece. Part one is based on my experiences at different Def Leppard shows and securities enforcement of a no camera policy including what they say about it.

Every venue is different but they all have one thing in common and that is a sign that says “No Cameras or recording devices, no alcohol, etc” and at every show you go to, if you ask the security if cameras are allowed, some will say disposable only, while others will say no professional cameras with changeable lenses. Still others, will say no cameras at all.

My personal favorite is that they always say that it’s like Def Leppard who enforce these rules. For instance, the DTE Energy Music Theatre says they don’t prohibit cameras as long as they are not professional or recording devices, however, many artists do and to contact them the day of the show to see what the artists policy is.

In the case of Def Leppard, I have been to many, many concerts for them and know for a fact that they do not care if you bring a camera as long as its not a recording device or a professional camera. They have never stated that they do not want cameras at their shows.

If you think about it, if they did, they’d have a policy about it on their official website and the fans would know that is legit and even though some would still bring a camera, at least they know it’s the policy of the band and not the venue.

In Moline Illinois I was told by security that Def Leppard was not allowing cameras for this event, like it was all them, not the venue. Of course the fans still had cameras and took pics but at every venue, its completely different and the signs never specify if you can have a disposable, digital, or otherwise.

It simply states no cameras and if they tell you, you can have a camera; they often change their minds when the show begins.

The venues and the artists need to be on the same page and decide what they want because it confuses everyone and fans get upset and sometimes in trouble for something that isn’t hurting anyone. The fans simply want pictures of their favorite band like Def Leppard. It gives them something to remember that night and if they get their pics with the guys, it makes it even more special.

I think the security and the venues are more worried about themselves and think that because they have a uniform, it gives them power and they end up abusing their authority. I have encountered this many times and a lot of those times, it ends up where one security guard is the spoiler, while others don’t really care.

I don’t see why they feel they have to be such an ass because there are the few and far between that are nice and when security is nice, it makes a better time for both the band and the fans and also fans aren’t as likely to become out of hand if they are treated fairly and security doesn’t over step the boundaries of their jobs.

This is the end of part one, part two will contain research done by e mailing different venues where Def Leppard is playing and get their perspective on camera policies. Thank you.

The Battle of the Critics VS Def Leppard

Throughout their careers, Def Leppard has had its share of good and bad reviews. Over the past ten years, they’ve had more than their share of bad reviews, including the most recent from the Columbus Dispatch who Bill Eichenberger says Joe Elliott is mediocre at best to BC Music’s review of Yeah, stating it was pure crap.

The critics seem to agree on one thing and that is Def Leppard is still touring and making albums.

The one thing they can’t agree on is the performance, songs and Joe Elliott’s voice and yes looks.

All of this seems a bit ridiculous when you think of it because they are criticizing them based on superficial bullshit.

Are they all jealous or is Def Leppard simply so good that the only things they can fault them for is Joe’s voice that might be a little tired from weeks of performances on the road or the sound system might be a little off.

Def Leppard seems to let the drops of artificial crap that fall from the sky, narrowly missing their heads and bitter worms bitten from the apple that fell from the rotting tree grown from the tiny seeds of jealous critics to a blooming orchard of snide remarks and wishful thinkers who only wish that they could be Def Leppard fall by the wayside and let it wash away in the rivers of water that go down the drain of the sewers where the rats live.

There are the rare flowers that give Def Leppard the rave reviews they’ve sweated for and earned, such as Lumina Magazine who stated that Def Leppard makes us glad we can hear, perhaps burying the mounds of fertilizer beneath their feet and will thrive on their tiny shreds of barely visible decency when they toss in a couple of left handed comments so as to not come across as a complete jackass.

Def Leppard will just scrape them off their shoes and move on, ignoring the splatters of horse manure that blows backward when the critics are slapped in the face with the rants of Def Leppard’s fans, who strive to defend their honor.

The critics, including myself don’t count when it comes to their careers, what counts is the music and the fans who come to see Def Leppard play. From the first time they see them to the last, Def Leppard gives them an escape from everyday stress and inspires them that tomorrow will be a better day. The critics who give them unfair and prejudiced reviews have their blindfolds on, along with their ear plugs, stuffed in a little too tight. They can’t read between the lines and see and hear the genuine article, the reviews of their fans.

If these critics would bother to take the blindfolds off and take out the ear plugs, they might see that Def Leppard has a style that will never be out of date and their music will continue to provide pleasure for their fans long after they have retired their guitars and put away their mics.

The bad reviews only seem to fuel the men of Def Leppard and they constantly become better, showing the critics that their reviews are in vain. When it comes to the battle of the critics vs Def Leppard, Def Leppard wins hands down, twenty to one. This is all.