DEF LEPPARD To Release DRASTIC SYMPHONIES Album On 19th May/Animal Out Now

Thursday, 16th March 2023

Def Leppard 2023

Def Leppard will release a new album called Drastic Symphonies on 19th May featuring reworked classic songs with an orchestra.

The new album 'Drastic Symphonies' will be released on Friday 19th May.

Joe announced the album live on BBC Radio 2 during the Zoe Ball Breakfast Show in the last hour or so.

Listen to the show at - bbc.co.uk from 8:37am onwards.

The album will feature 16 classic Def Leppard songs reworked and reimagined with the Royal Philharmonic Orchestra at Abbey Road Studios in London.

Joe confirmed the band recorded it at the famous studios with the orchestra.

Vivian Campbell's news leak of a recording session to take place at Abbey Road Studios in London last May has turned out to be the only indication of this album before the announcement with Joe saying it had been recorded under the radar.

The first single 'Animal' was released to digital and streaming services as it was played on Radio 2 and can be heard below.

Also view the full 16 song tracklist and times.

The credits of the 'Animal' single reveal that Steve Clark is credited as a performer and backing vocalist.

Mutt Lange is also credited as producer and backing vocalist and the single features vocals from the original, hence the credits.

It was produced by Def Leppard with Ronan McHugh and Nick Patrick.

Album Formats

The album will be released on clear and standard 2LP, limited edition 2LP picture disc, 1CD/Blu-ray, 1CD and digital.

The first album to be released on 1CD/Blu-Ray audio digipak format which features Atmos sound.

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

Visit the Album News section for more news on new music (based on band member quotes).

Def Leppard 2023.

Def Leppard Drastic Symphonies - Press Release 16th March 2023

Drastic Symphonies

"Rock and classical royalty unite on brand new euphoric album Drastic Symphonies – Def Leppard’s greatest produced tracks dramatically reimagined and sounding larger and more exhilarating than ever before, teamed with London’s iconic The Royal Philharmonic Orchestra."

"Recorded at Abbey Road Studios, and including new vocals and instrumental from the band, Drastic Symphonies is available May 19th on clear and standard 2LP, limited edition 2LP picture disc, 1CD/Blu-ray, 1CD and digital formats."

Def Leppard Drastic Symphonies - News 16th March 2023

"Strap yourselves in for the sonic ride of your life. Rock and classical royalty unite on 'Drastic Symphonies', recorded at Abbey Road Studios in London. Def Leppard have drastically deconstructed and reimagined some of their biggest hits, collaborating with the Royal Philharmonic Orchestra. This bold new approach to the orchestral hits formula sees new vocal and guitar recordings from the band."

"Strap yourselves in for the sonic ride of your life. Rock and classical royalty unite on brand new album Drastic Symphonies. Recorded at Abbey Road Studios in London, Def Leppard have drastically deconstructed and reimagined some of their biggest hits, collaborating with the Royal Philharmonic Orchestra. This bold new approach to the orchestral hits formula sees new vocal and guitar recordings from the band."

"Turn up the volume and listen in Atmos. Available on 1CD/Blu-Ray audio digipak format. Includes Atmos bonus track.

Def Leppard 2023.

New Single - Animal (feat. Royal Philharmonic Orchestra)

01 - Animal - 4:03 - Amazon - (MP3)

Producer - Def Leppard/Ronan McHugh/Nick Patrick
Mixer - Ronan McHugh
Release Date - 16th March 2023

Buy 'Drastic Symphonies' Online

Amazon - 1CD
Amazon - 1CD/Blu-ray
Amazon - 2LP Regular Vinyl
Amazon - MP3

Drastic Symphonies (feat. Royal Philharmonic Orchestra) - Tracklisting

01 - Turn To Dust - (Def Leppard with The Royal Philharmonic Orchestra) - 5:29
02 - Paper Sun - (Def Leppard with The Royal Philharmonic Orchestra) - 5:33
03 - Animal - (Def Leppard with The Royal Philharmonic Orchestra) - 4:03
04 - Pour Some Sugar On Me (Stripped Version) - (Def Leppard with The Royal Philharmonic Orchestra) - 5:26
05 - Hysteria - (Def Leppard with The Royal Philharmonic Orchestra) - 5:56
06 - Love Bites - (Def Leppard with The Royal Philharmonic Orchestra) - 6:41
07 - Goodbye For Good This Time - (Def Leppard with The Royal Philharmonic Orchestra) - 4:26
08 - Love - (Def Leppard with The Royal Philharmonic Orchestra) - 3:55
09 - Gods Of War - (Def Leppard with The Royal Philharmonic Orchestra) - 6:45
10 - Angels (Can't Help You Now) - (Def Leppard with The Royal Philharmonic Orchestra) - 4:58
11 - Bringin' On The Heartbreak - (Def Leppard with The Royal Philharmonic Orchestra) - 4:33
12 - Switch 625 - (Def Leppard with The Royal Philharmonic Orchestra) - 3:04
13 - Have You Ever Needed Someone So Bad - (Def Leppard with The Royal Philharmonic Orchestra) - 4:55 - (Blu-ray/Digital Only)
14 - Too Late For Love - (Def Leppard with The Royal Philharmonic Orchestra) - 5:37
15 - When Love & Hate Collide - (Def Leppard with The Royal Philharmonic Orchestra) - 4:16
16 - Kings Of The World - (Def Leppard with The Royal Philharmonic Orchestra - 6:19

Producer - Def Leppard/Ronan McHugh/Nick Patrick
Mixer - Ronan McHugh
Record Label - Universal Music Recordings/Bludgeon Riffola
Total Time - 82 mins
Release Date - 19th May 2023

Def Leppard 2023

Def Leppard Drastic Symphonies - Press Quotes 16th March 2023

Joe Elliott

"Def Leppard has always enjoyed veering off the expected path - working with the likes of Tim McGraw, Taylor Swift & Alison Krauss for example."

"So, when the offer to revisit some of our back catalogue with the Royal Philharmonic was presented to us, to a man we all jumped at it."

"Although we’re far from the first band to ever do this, working directly with an orchestra at Abbey Road on some of our more orchestrated songs seemed too good of an opportunity to pass up."

Phil Collen

"When the offer of doing an orchestral album with the RPO was suggested we were honoured. But we didn’t just want an orchestra plonked over our previous recordings."

"We decided to create something special where we would have something classic but present it in a brand-new way that would involve making everything work in the context of ‘Drastic Symphonies’."

"Recording new parts, remixing previous sounds, taking some of our instruments out so the orchestra could breathe and literally making a new album."

" It was an amazingly inspirational process culminating in the live recording of the RPO at Abbey Road studios in London. An absolute team effort that took a good part of a year."

"It’s a new Def Leppard album, it’s a greatest hits plus album, with some rarely heard songs, it’s a live RPO album and we think it’s perfect. We’re so proud of how ‘Drastic Symphonies’ turned out and can’t wait to share it to the world."

Animal (feat. Royal Philharmonic Orchestra) - Song Credits