Thursday, 8th February 2018
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PHIL COLLEN Says DEF LEPPARD To Play European Festivals/USA In 2019

Def Leppard 2017. Screenshot

Def Leppard guitarist Phil Collen was interviewed by Florida radio this morning and the full audio is available.

Phil spoke to Jen and Bill for The South Florida Morning Show on 850 WFTL News Talk radio.

Phil talked about being on the G3 Tour, 2018 North American tour/Journey, touring in UK/Japan/Australia, European festivals/US dates in 2019, his family life, playing big arenas/stadiums, new music formats, the band relationships and live backing vocals.

Phil mentioned playing the Hysteria album in the UK, Japan again along with a new mention for Australia which was talked about in 2017 by him and Vivian.

This follows tow recent mentions of Japanese Hysteria dates which along with Australia could be set to happen from mid-October to mid-November in the gap between the American and UK shows. All recent visits to this area have been in October or November (2008, 2011 and 2015).

He also says the band are likely to play European festivals in 2019 along with more US dates (possibly linked to his recent comments on a US Hysteria album tour).

Listen to the full 10 minute interview below.

Visit the Tour News section. For more news on future tour plans.

The South Florida Morning Show - Phil Collen Interview Quotes

2018 North American Tour/One of your biggest tours in years?

"It is indeed you know. We actually toured with them in 2006 and it went so well so we were threatening to do it. And it was just getting the right time. You know there's a lot to kind of get together when there's two bands who have very different kind of careers and stuff going on and everything. So just to nail it down and this worked and so here we are 58 cities, yeah cool."

UK/Japan/Australia/Hysteria Tour/It lasts two years?

"Well it's going, we keep getting, you know, we're doing England at the end of this year. We're got Japan, Australia. I think they want the Hysteria album. So you know all these different places we're playing that in its entirety. On this tour it'll just be a mixture of, you know, all of our great stuff. We just released our whole catalogue on digital. So we'll actually really be promoting that this summer for sure because a lot of people haven't even heard it. They haven't heard all of our albums, the deep cuts and all of that stuff."

2019 European Festivals/US Dates

"So yeah we're out doing that, but yeah we go into next year as well I know there's some talk about European festivals and some American dates. So yeah it's onwards and upwards."

Digital Streaming Deal

"Absolutely instead of just being the T-Shirt that people wear. They'll actually be able to see what the band actually sounds like. You know we see it in all these stores they got the Def Leppard T-Shirt. And it's great, but seriously a lot of people just, you know, they get an Aerosmith or a Nirvana shirt but they don't necessarily know what the stuff sounds like. It's just a cool shirt. So with this we're actually gonna be playing it to everyone. So yeah it's really cool for us."

2018 US Tour/Big Arenas/Stadiums

"We've done a bunch of shed tours and the ticket sales have been phenomenal. They've been blowing out the window and I think we're getting a lot more attention, the band. You know a lot of other artists are quitting, calling it a day, not touring. Unfortunately passing away and there's less bands out there. So I think we're just kind of stepping it it up and I think that with the digital catalogue going, you know, everywhere. We are gonna need to play some bigger places and change it up a little bit. I think with arenas you can control the lighting and everything. The actual show looks better. A lot of the outdoor shows are great and everything, but you can't always theatrically control the show."

"So we're doing Madison Square Garden and the LA Forum and we're doing all of this stuff as well and obviously some arenas down there and I think obviously a stadiums a different event completely anyway but the fact that we're changing it up and able to actually put more emphasis on the show and theatrics of it is, for us, it's very important."


Buy 'Hysteria 30th Anniversary Edition' Online

  • Amazon - (Box Set/Super Deluxe Version)
  • Amazon - (3 CD Deluxe Edition)
  • Amazon - (1 CD Version)
  • Amazon - (Double Vinyl)

Related News - JOE ELLIOTT Talks About DEF LEPPARD's UK Hysteria Tour (Video)

Related News - PHIL COLLEN Says DEF LEPPARD Bringing HYSTERIA Tour To Japan In 2018

Related News - DEF LEPPARD/JOURNEY 2018 North American Tour Tickets Now On Sale

Related News - DEF LEPPARD's LONDON Teenage Cancer Trust Show Now On Sale

Related News - Peter Frampton/The Pretenders To Support DEF LEPPARD/JOURNEY

Related News - JOE ELLIOTT Says DEF LEPPARD/JOURNEY Joint Tour Could Expand


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Phil Collen - Guitar
Phil Collen - Guitar
Phil Collen - Guitar
Phil Collen - Guitar