Def Leppard frontman Joe Elliott says the band still believes in the art of the long form, full-album format. Blabbermouth reported that Elliott spoke in depth about the band in the current issue of Rock Candy magazine and explained why creating full-length LP’s still works for the band and its fans: “When we got together in 2014 we noticed a trend of people releasing one song a month. They might bang them all together on an album two years later. Other people were just doing EP’s.”
Elliott went on to explain, “Maybe for a younger generation, an album isn’t important, because they didn’t grow up when it was. But we did. We grew up in the era of (The Rise And Fall Of) Ziggy Stardust (And The Spiders From Mars), (The) Dark Side Of The Moon, Goodbye Yellow Brick Road — the greatest double album of all time, in my humble opinion. That’s where we come from. You can’t unscramble an egg. We invested in laying on the bed and looking at the sleeve, reading every word.”
Joe Elliott, who’s thrilled with the reaction Leppard’s new album Diamond Star Halos has received, remains realistic about presenting new music in concert: “I don’t think many legacy artists perform new music. We do. We play new stuff, but it’s horses for courses. Leppard fans want ‘Photograph.’ They want ‘Pour Some Sugar. . .’ Only a fool goes, ‘I’m gonna play you my entire new album.’ Anyone who goes, ‘Here are 12 songs from my new album’ is going to clear the dance floor. Don’t batter people with the new s***. If it’s good enough, let it become part of the set further down the road.”
- Def Leppard / Motley Crue / Poison / John Jett & The Blackhearts “The Stadium Tour” dates (subject to change):
June 16 – Atlanta, GA – SunTrust Park
June 18 – Miami, FL – Hard Rock Stadium
June 19 – Orlando, FL – Camping World Stadium
June 22 – Washington, D.C. – Nationals Park
June 24 – Flushing, NY – Citi Field
June 25 – Philadelphia, PA – Citizens Bank Park
June 28 – Charlotte, NC – Bank of America Stadium
June 30 – Nashville, TN – Nissan Stadium
July 2 – Jacksonville, FL – TIAA Bank Field
July 5 – St. Louis, MO – Busch Stadium
July 8 – Chicago, IL – Wrigley Field
July 10 – Detroit, MI – Comerica Park
July 12 – Hershey, PA – Hersheypark Stadium
July 14 – Cleveland, OH – FirstEnergy Stadium
July 15 – Cincinnati, OH – Great American Ball Park
July 17 – Milwaukee, WI – Miller Park
July 19 – Kansas City, MO – Kauffman Stadium
July 21 – Denver, CO – Coors Field
August 5, 6 – Boston, MA – Fenway Park
August 8 – Toronto, ON – Rogers Centre
August 10 – Orchard Park, NY – New Era Field
August 12 – Pittsburgh, PA – PNC Park
August 14 – Minneapolis, MN – U.S. Bank Stadium
August 16 – Indianapolis, IN – Lucas Oil Stadium
August 19 – Houston, TX- Minute Maid Park
August 21 – San Antonio, TX – Alamodome
August 22 – Arlington, TX – Globe Life Field
August 25 – Glendale, AZ – State Farm Stadium
August 27 – Los Angeles, CA – SoFi Stadium
August 28 – San Diego, CA – Petco Park
August 31 – Seattle, WA – T-Mobile Park
September 2 – Vancouver, BC – BC Place
September 4 – Edmonton, AB – Commonwealth Stadium
September 7 – San Francisco, CA – Oracle Park
September 9 – Las Vegas, NV – Allegiant Stadium
FAST FACTS
- Def Leppard‘s 12th studio album, Diamond Star Halos, was released on May 27th.
- The new album — which gets its title from T. Rex‘s 1971 classic “Get It On (Bang A Gong)” — marks the band’s first since their 2015 self-titled set.
- Diamond Star Halo features two songs with Americana star Alison Krauss — best known in rock circles for her recent work with Robert Plant. Also contributing is David Bowie‘s frequent pianist Mike Garston.
CHECK IT OUT: Def Leppard’s 2022 track “Fire It Up”: