[ Def Leppard UK - 11th Jul 2008 News ]
| Def Leppard Joe Elliott/Phil Collen Interview |
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Def Leppard singer Joe Elliott and guitarist Phil Collen were recently interviewed by the Liverpool Echo. The conversation took place after the band's show at the Islington Academy in London. Both discuss life in Def Leppard and their attitude to being on the road in a band. Joe shares his opinion of the Islington show.
Leppards Do Change Spots
Looks like we've still got it, What a gig!" he bellows to the cavernous room. "We were so nervous before we went out but that was awesome. I could do it all over again."
Liverpool Show - "I'm excited about that," grins Joe. "I love Liverpool. I love The Beatles, and The Zutons. People think that because I write the sort of music I do that I can't appreciate other things. That's just rubbish. I listen to all sorts, and it's The Beatles I always come back to. Legends."
What did you expect?" laughs Phil, raising an eyebrow. "Steak? Drugs? A thousand brown M and Ms in a brandy glass?
"I hope you're not disappointed in me," he gives a cheeky grin. "But you can't beat a nice bit of toast.
"I shouldn't have it really - I try to keep off wheat - but this is my treat. Help yourself."
"I'm the oldest in the band," he laughs. "I'm 50. But I look the youngest, because I look after myself. I'm a strict vegetarian, I try to eat as much raw food as I can. I look after myself. I live in California; it's nothing unusual there.
"But I come back to England and people expect the cliche," he says, with a world-weary sigh. "They think I'm going to be drinking, smoking, snorting coke out of some blonde's belly button.
"I've had people come up to me and ask why I'm with my partner. She's black, and people have asked why am I not with some blonde half my age. I try to explain that I don't live my life to be a cliche. That I'm an ordinary bloke who does an extraordinary job, and away from work I do my own thing."
"But then I realise how lucky I am to be able to do this, to be here," he waves his arm to indicate the hotel suite.
"I started out as a dispatch rider in London. I worked for a living, weaving in and out of the traffic every day, so I know how lucky I am now to be able to live like this. I'd never have set foot in a place like this if it hadn't been for this band."
"No, we have to do it that way," explains Phil. "Viv (guitarist Vivian Campbell) and I have one. It's all vegetarian and we keep it nice and clean.
"Then Joe and Sav (bass player Rick 'Sav' Savage - so called to avoid confusion with drummer Rick Allen) have another - that's the dirty bus.
"And then Rick has his own bus which he fills with flowers and incense. He burns joss sticks on it and it gets in everyone else's throats, so he's on his own in there."
"We're happier than we've been in years," explains Joe. "I get out of bed every day and I can't wait to see what it brings. Maybe that's the wisdom age brings. Or maybe you just realise that every day is precious.
"Either way, we certainly enjoy ourselves more than we used to. We love every day."
Read the Full Interview - Here | Liverpool Show Page
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