Def Leppard UK.com > Past News 8 - April-June 2004


25/29-Jan -- Riverdogs Tour/New Song

As reported back in January. Vivian regrouped with the other 3 members of the original Riverdogs line-up to work on new material. The band have recorded 3 new songs (World Gone Mad/Big Steel Town/Best Day Of My Life) that were mixed in late May by band members Rob Lamothe (vocals/guitar) and Nick Brophy (bass). The band are completed by Marc Danzeisen (drums) and Viv on guitar/vocals.

They will be playing 4 live shows in August in California.

The band's debut album "Riverdogs" is re-released as a 2CD set with the official promo CD "On Air" featuring Rob/Viv playing live acoustic songs both from 1990. Out on Mon 28th in the UK as an Import via Bad Reputation (£12.99).

Riverdogs will release one of their new tracks on the second Melodicrock.com Compilation CD set for release on Aug 1st via that site. The band are working on new songs which judging by the coming activity might be released later this year. The band are signed with Pure Music.

19-Jan -- Lep In Lit Video

US group Lit's new video "Looks Like They Were Right" features a couple of their influences showing through. One of which is a scene featuring a shot of Lep from the Pyro days in Union Jack gear.
The camera then moves back to show Lit's shirts (as they do throughout the video) change into sleeveless Union Jacks. The video is set in a garage type room with the band playing while their clothes change. The band have always stated Lep as a big influence along with early Van Halen and Motley Crue.

The song is from their fourth album which is self-titled. One of the best US band's around I highly recommend buying their second album "A Place In The Sun". They once gave an autographed copy of that CD to Joe after appearing on a UK TV show with him in 1999 with a msg that the song "Wasted" had started it all for them. Various band members also appeared in the VH-1 Pyro special.

06-Jan -- Rick Does Lunch

Rick Allen attended the recent 50th Anniversary Luncheon of the public relations firm Solters and Digney. The event took place at the Beverly Hills Hilton in California, USA on Wed 19th May. Rick is pictured with Gill Cross of the hotel and publicist Lee Solters. His attendance is probably linked to the Raven Drum Foundation.

Rick will be attending a drum circle in Thousand Oaks at the Chumash Interpretive Center on June 13th - More Here

In addition he'll be in New York for 2 Raven Drum events on July 9 & 11th.

04-Jan -- Def Aid

Another piece of news revealed by the source below is Joe's participation in Let's Talk Music's Children of AIDS CD campaign. Quote: from Steve Lange (who maybe Mutt's ex-wife who sang on WL&HC)

"I wanna thank Joe for his great chat and he has also agreed to sing on Cry for the children for our Aids project"

A project that will benefit charities dedicated to helping young AIDS victims. The CD will contain a dozen or more professionally produced tracks by independent musicians with the help and support of well-known industry professionals (Joe seemingly being one of these).

03-Jan -- Justin Sings on Lep Track

One of the people talking to Joe during his recent Online Chat has revealed themselves to be working on the new Leppard Covers album sessions in London. Stevie, a London-based Producer had this interesting tidbit to say:

"I have been working on Deff Lepard.s new albulm it's really great, Had Justin from The darkness in our studio last night to do some vocals on a Deff track, very exciting for us to have him at our recording Studio."

(Original text intact) - no mention of the studio name but it ties in with what I know from an Ian Hunter fan who spoke to Joe at his recent Leeds gig. That Joe had been in London recording that day (May 25th). This connecton also explains maybe how Joe came to take part in the chat.

[Update on Mutt Lange] Apparently they are not working with him and will record the new album in December.

02-Jan -- Sav's Home

The article mentioned below's main focus was on Sav moving house, from his current Sheffield home, Holmwood House, to another smaller home 5 mins away.

If you'd like to buy the house you can do for the bargain price of....£2.8million! One of the houses 4 garages was made into a small studio where Sav wrote songs and demoed them.

Sav designed the master bedroom himself and the property has a 1-bedroom cottage that his Mum Sally (aged 73) lived in. In the article Sav says they also plan to get a place in Dublin.

You can now read the full interview/article - HERE

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30-May -- Lep Album in Sep

According to a fellow UK fan Rick Savage has been interviewed in the Mail on Sunday newspaper. In it he mentions what most of us already knew that the 70s covers album will be the next Def Leppard release (although not with the tracklisting that has shown up online). It is scheduled for release in September.

Also mentioned is that it will contain covers of David Bowie and Roxy Music songs. Judging by comments before by Joe I have a feeling that "Heroes" will be the Bowie song. "Let's Stick Together" was mentioned already so might be that RM track. (didn't mention this on site before but a contact who spoke to Phil had told me he confirmed the covers album and that the fake tracklist was 99% correct-so these 2 songs "may" be on there).

26-May -- Another Cover

Italian power symphonc metal combo Skylark have covered "When Love & Hate Collide". The song is included on their forthcoming album "Wings".
Which is said to have been 2 years in the making. Although this review quote doesn't speak highly of the CD:

"These guys (and a female singer as well) actually try to play Def Leppard's "When Love And Hate Collide". Oh God, why'd I have to mention that! Def Leppard's one of my all time favorite bands and I consider this to be one of the worst covers for one of their songs ever! And no, I’m not prejudiced about a woman (Kiara) singing Joe Elliot's lyrics but why did it have to be now, in this CD, by SkyLark? And to imagine that this is probably the best song on "Wings"."

Ouch! For more details click - HERE

21-May -- Countrified Lep

US Country Band Malibu Storm have covered Lep's "Photograph" as the first single from the self-titled debut album, released July 13th. The band are twin sisters Dana and Lauren plus brother Michael.
You can watch/listen to the song in their Official site's Video section. The single, with B side "Hammer and Nails", and is out on June 8th via Rounder Records.

18-May -- Viva Rick Vegas

Rick Allen recently attended the Lep Con/Raven Drum Fan Covention. On FRI 14th May, at the Hard Rock Cafe in Las Vegas, he participated in a Meet & Greet in conjunction with Raven Drum who sponsored the event. You can view quality pics of Rick at the event.

Rick will also be at 2 upcoming Raven Drum events in Thousand Oaks (near his home) on June 12/13.

12-May -- Joe Chats

Joe Elliott participated in an online chat with a little known music site called Let's Talk Music on Monday 10th May. Not much word was given beforehand of this event although a quick reading of the trancscript shows that he didn't have much at all to say about Lep and no news was given about their future plans/albums.

Actually one snippet of news from Joe was that Lionel Richie has released a cover of "Long Long Way To Go" - not strictly a Lep cover since the song is owned by Hector/Robson. Probably decided to give it to someone else to make it a hit after it only peaked at 40 for Lep.

01-May -- Achtung! Leppard

You may remember Joe hung out with U2 and R.E.M. at the US bands Dublin show in - 2003

I stumbled upon an interesting article with the band Oranger (support band at that show). Singer Mike Drake writes

"Bono told me he had our record and played it in his car!" continued Drake, recalling a surreal conversation he had backstage at the Marley Park Festival in Ireland. "Then Joe Elliott of Def Leppard and Peter Buck were talking to Bono, and Bono was telling Elliott how important Def Leppard's 'Pour Some Sugar on Me' was to the sound of Achtung Baby."

That album, from 1991, is one of U2's best. Joe has been friends with all the band since the mid 80s when Lep moved to Dublin to record Hysteria.

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24-Apr -- Studio Closure

The world famous Polar Studios in Stockholm, Sweden have been forced to close (the owners can't afford it's rent). Having opened in 1978 the studio was owned and made famous by ABBA.
Def Leppard used the studio to record the X song 'Unbelievable' in 2002 with Andreas Carlsson and Per Alderheim - MORE HERE