Joe and his wife Kristine partied after the Las Vegas show at the Rainbow Bar & Grill on Paradise Road. Joe is pictured with Kristine, Danny Miranda, the bass player for Queen + Paul Rodgers, artist Chris Vranian (& wife Claire), Special effects artists Gary Tunnicliffe, and Melissa Agee. All of whom may have attended the Lep show at The Joint. Pic by Truscello/Wireimage.

In a 9 out of 10 review of The Darkness's second album 'One Way Ticket To Hell...And Back', Scott Rowley of Classic Rock describes it as "Album of the year, no joke" and adds this little reference to Leppard. "...it makes Def Leppard's Hysteria look like a 4-track demo.". You can decide for yourself using the second link below.

In a new article on The Darkness, Justin Hawkins reveals that the band did indeed meet with Mutt Lange to discuss him producing their new album and that after speaking with him, he decided the band should "go more gay". Full article linked below. (Justin Hawkins thanks Joe in the album credits.)

In other news Wilson Leather have added some new Def Leppard related products to their collection including a Rock Of Ages themed leather jacket. I'm sure Phil and Rick have ordered theirs... Apparently as well as being online they are now available in US retail stores. (Thanks to - my brother).

[ More Info ] :: Mutt Article Full Album Stream :: Wilson Leather

The Italian Gods Of Metal Festival are running a vote for the headliners of the 2006 event. Included in the list are Def Leppard. So it looks likely the band will play at least some festivals in Europe next year. People can vote for 2 acts they want to see headline the festival which takes place in June 2006. Bands in the vote are:

Gun's N' Roses (aka Axel Rose band), System Of a Down, Manowar & Orchestra, Def Leppard, Motorhead, Korn, AC/DC.

Lep have been invloved in Bryan Adams charitable efforts for victims of the Asian Tsunami. Along with a star-studded line up of music legends they have signed his white Fender Stratocaster guitar. Bryan will present the guitar at a charity dinner on Nov 16th in Doha called 'Reach Out To Asia' where he is the guest of honour. The guitar was auctioned for the charity earlier in 2005.

List of signatures: Bryan Adams, Def Leppard, Mick Jagger, Keith Richards, Eric Clapton, Brian May, Jimmy Page, David Gilmour, Jeff Beck, Pete Townshend, Mark Knopfler, Ray Davis, Liam Gallagher, Ronnie Wood, Tony Iommi, Angus & Malcolm Young (AC/DC), Paul McCartney, Sting, Ritchie Blackmore.
Bryan is also returning to Asia for concerts in 2006 including Feb 1st in Doha. And BTW stadium shows in the UK in the summer...
(The guitar was revealed to have made $1.6m at the Doha event).

[ More Info ] :: Here

It seems Ross Halfin was all set to take pics of the band during their upcoming LA TV appearances. Exert from his diary:

"(Nov 12) Spent most of Friday evening on and off the phone with Def Leppard management and various band members in LA. One minute I'm going to LA, 30 minutes later I'm not. This goes back and forth like a game of ping pong from 4pm until 2am this morning (I kid you not) when I am told it's all off. I'm not going to go into the reasons, lets just say I'm not very happy, and if you were me you wouldn't be either.

(Nov 11) Get another email - Def Leppard is now on... Have to get on the phone this evening in and sort it all out.

(Nov 10) Wake up to an email - Def Leppard is now off..."

[ Ross Halfin Site ] :: Here

As of 31st October a high quality stream of 'Photograph' has been added to various online media sites. You can now listen to this Lep classic in broadband on Winamp (along with 'No Matter What') and also as part of AOL's Lep audio/video section. This also includes 10 classic videos and like Winamp a stream of 'No Matter What' + the 'Now' video.

[ Audio/Video Links ] :: AOL Winamp

A Danish 'metal' band called Contempt have included a cover of Lep classic "Wasted" on their new album "Death From Below". Like Lep's covers album this one was recorded at the start of 2004 and is just now being released, once the band find a label.

BTW Came across a CD labelled "Gatophobia: A Tribute To Def Leppard" which turns out to be "Leppardmania" from 2000 but repackaged. It's released on 21st November in the UK. Like Leppardmania it has a hideous cover.

[ Band Official Site ] :: Here

The Hard Rock Hotel in Las Vegas is issueing a new "Def Leppard" casino chip to coincide with the upcoming concert on November 13th.
The $5 chip shown here features a union jack design and the new promo photo (probably taken during the recent Yeah! session). The chip will be issued on Friday, November 11th at 10:00 am and the quantity should be 5000 (the normal amount for band chips).
Apparently half of these chips should be available to Lep fans at the show on the 13th. And if you follow the second link it goes to a UK supplier who have added the chip to their site.
(Many thanks to Alicia who sent in this info).

[ Info/Pics ] :: Here UK Supplier

The Digital Music Awards (DMA's) voting closed yesterday for the 2005 People's Choice Awards Top 200 Websites.
My site finished #169 - so many thanks to all who voted. (#305 last year out of 500). BTW The ceremony is on CH4 in the UK tonight at 11:40pm.

[ Top 200 Sites List ] :: Here

It seems Sav took part in a local charity golf tournament in Sheffield, either during or before the current touring this spring/summer.

"Golf Days :: With everyone enjoying the good weather, Help a Hallam Child decided to make the most of it and organised a series of Golf Days. The first was held in April at Sickholme Golf Course and was won by Gary Sinclair Entertainments, and the second held at Lees Hall Golf Club and was won by HSBC. Both days raised over £7,000 combined and golfers including ex Sheffield Wednesday player David Hirst, Def Leppard bass guitarist Rick Savage and ex Sheffield United footballer Simon Tracey all enjoyed the golf in the sun and were delighted to support the Charity. Well they say, the sun only shines on the righteous!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! "
(HallamFm)

[ Charity Link ] :: Help a Hallam Child

Sacramento DJ and huge Lep fan Staci Anderson interviewed Phil on Friday 7th. Phil was driving home (on 101) at the time. In the 18min interview he covers everything from the current tour, the recent compilations as well as Man-Raze and giving an insight into future plans. Writing/recording the next album on the road/Touring Yeah! next March. Not to mention revealing how he comes up with song ideas - whilst 'on the Khazi' - but thankfully not saying which songs... (to Americans: Khazi = Slang term for toilet...)

Staci has posted the interview on her website in 8 parts (mp3). If you look at the top of the page you'll see the video of her Joe interview from Dec 2002, which if you remember is when she asked a question via email from someone from England... (been linked on one of the 'website info' pages for a while). It's a 200+ MB mpeg. Thanks to Jason.

[ Listen/Download Interview ] :: Here

Alongside the recent relief effort for hurricane victims at the Sioux Falls show the band are again getting involved in a very good cause, this time at tonight's Boston show.

According to news reports "concert-goers who bring food to the show will have the opportunity to exchange it for a concert ticket.". This is being done in conjunction with very worthwhile charitable organisations: WHY (World Hunger Year) and Greater Boston Food Bank - both of which have previously been helped out by Aerosmith & Bruce Springsteen. Who have raised over $7 million for WHY's 'Artists Against Hunger and Poverty' program.

[rollingstone] :: "DEF LEPPARD will donate all proceeds from their Tuesday concert at Boston's Agganis Arena to the Greater Boston Food Bank".

[ More Info ] :: Here

VH-1 in the US will be showing some new rock documentaries in 2006. One is set to feature Def Leppard. Details:

"VH-1 executives are aiming to bring back music fan in 2006 with a long series of rock documentaries.
Among these will be a four-part series on the history of heavy metal and hard rock. The "rock-umentary" will focus on the music, culture, and influences of the genre.
Bands highlighted will include Black Sabbath, Van Halen, KISS, Rush, Judas Priest, Iron Maiden, Led Zeppelin, and Def Leppard."