Page 125 - Classic Rock - The Complete Story of Def Leppard 2019

CHANGING

THEIR SPOTS

In 2008, Def Leppard had overcome their mid-career wobble and were embarking on the next

phase of their glittering career. Joe Elliott invited Classic Rock to step inside the Sparkle Lounge…

WORDS: PAUL ELLIOTT PORTRAITS: NEIL ZLOZOWER

ou really couldn’t make it up: the lead
singer of Def Leppard lives near a place
called Leopardstown. Joe Elliott made his
home here, on the outskirts of Dublin, in
Y 1989. His luxurious pile, set in two acres
amid rolling green fields, boasts all the features
expected of a millionaire rock star’s residence: tennis
court, gym, indoor swimming pool, fully stocked
bar, sun deck with hot tub… It even has the world’s
smallest golf course – just one hole. However, Joe, a
keen golfer, prefers the local public 18-hole course; a
bargain, he explains, at only 15 euros per round.
The most important feature o f his home, however,
is the recording studio. Christened Joe’s Garage after
Frank Zappa’s 1979 album, the studio was installed
in the mid-90s. Def Leppard have recorded their
albums here ever since.
“It’s like that movie Field Of Dreams,” Joe says. In
the movie, Kevin Costner plays a farmer who turns
a corn field into a baseball pitch in the hope of
contacting the spirit of his deceased father, a former
baseball star. “He heard a voice,” Joe explains, “that
told him: ‘If you build it, he will come.’ So that’s what GETTY
I did. I built it, and they came!”
It’s a cold spring day. Joe has invited Classic Rock to sign is Leo. There is also a grand piano, on which Joe Whitesnake and newcomers Black Stone Cherry.
his home to hear an exclusive playback of the new plays an instrumental version of Kiss’s Beth before After that there’s a sold-out US tour with Styx and
Def Leppard album Songs From The Sparkle Lounge. pouring drinks and cueing up the first selection from REO Speedwagon. Clearly, as a live draw Leppard are
En route from a Leopardstown hotel to his house, Leppard’s new album. Blasting from four-foot still at the top of their game.
Joe steers his black SUV to his local boozer, an old speakers, it comes at deafening volume. But that, of course, is only half the story. Def
stone-floored place with a name that will appeal to The first three tracks he plays are stunning: Nine Leppard, one of the biggest-selling recording artists
any Thin Lizzy fan: Johnnie Fox’s. Ordering Guinness Lives, an AC/DC-style rocker with guest vocals from of all time, are about to enter a new phase of their
and, with a knowing wink, a carton of hot nuts, he country star Tim McGraw; C’mon C’mon, a throwback career. Songs From The Sparkle Lounge marks the end
chats to a couple of the regulars before recalling the to 70s glitter-rock; and Love, an epic, Queen-inspired of their contract with the Mercury label, and as such
night when he walked in here with his old friend Jon power ballad. By the time we get to the album’s the record’s success will determine where the band
Bon Jovi. “This bird saw Jon, screamed, dropped her closing track, Gotta Let It Go, Joe has sunk two large go from here. As Joe explains: “This is our last album
glass on the floor!” he laughs. vodka and tonics and is up off the enormous, L- for Mercury, unless they make us an offer we can’t
Arriving at his house, Joe conducts a whistle-stop shaped sofa, legs akimbo, playing air guitar with the refuse. Hand on heart, the people at Mercury are
tour that leads to the studio, where producer Ronan windmill action of Pete Townshend. working their butts off on this one. But if it doesn’t
McHugh is busy mixing Hallucinate, the last …Sparkle With the last chord ringing out, Joe suddenly happen on this record, well…” He smiles and begins
Lounge track to be completed. Above him, pinned to becomes calm and offers a surprisingly sober crooning the tune that Leppard tour manager Malvin
the wall, is a silk T. Rex scarf that Joe bought outside assessment of the album: “I’m not gonna do the Mortimer sang on the B-side of the band’s 1988
Sheffield City Hall in the early 70s. The studio walls are corporate thing and say this is the best thing we’ve single Armageddon It: “Please release me, let me go…”
covered in rock memorabilia: platinum discs, framed ever done,” he states. “But it’s the best we can make For their part, Def Leppard believe they’ve kept
gig posters, old Leppard tour passes (including the in 2008, the best we’ve made in many moons.” their end of the bargain with this album. “We’ve
infamous Dik Likker Boiler Pass, featuring a crude Moreover, it’s the album that will shape Def delivered the goods,” Joe says. “I mean, we’ve had hits
depiction of oral sex, issued to groupies on the 1988 Leppard’s future. with worse songs than Nine Lives. Ultimately, if we
Hysteria tour), and a Classic Rock calendar. enjoy the finished article, we’re happy. But, of course,
With McHugh hard at work we repair to the his year is a pivotal one for Def Leppard. knowing that four million other people also enjoy it
lounge. Fifty feet of floor-to-ceiling windows offer In June they play their biggest UK shows would be the icing on the cake.”
spectacular views to mountains and the city. A for more than a decade, on a Classic Rock- Certainly, on a business level Def Leppard are
stuffed lion stands at one end of the room: Joe’s star T sponsored arena tour with co-headliners operating very shrewdly. Recording at Joe’s

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