Page 130 - Classic Rock - The Complete Story of Def Leppard 2019

All the world’s a stage:
(clockwise from here) Joe Elliott,
Rick Allen, Vivian Campbell, Phil
Collen, Rick Savage.

ndeed he is. And while it may feel like nothing’s backstage tonight. There is a meet-and-greet
changed, things certainly have. Def Leppard’s event with fans, but it’s pretty orderly, all
Iascent in the eighties was followed by a slow things considered, and when it’s over they file
grind into irrelevance in the next decade, back to their seats. Classic Rock’s photographer
culminating in their ill-advised 1996 ‘grunge’ actually has to hunt around a bit to find a bottle
album, Slang. Having weathered those storms, they of beer to sip. We weren’t expecting Sodom
were next hit with Vivian Campbell’s battle with and Gomorrah, but we came a long way to
cancer. Luckily, grunge is dead. And Campbell is get here, and it would be nice to witness the
on the mend. And so are Leppard. While they are goddamn perils of rock’n’roll decadence.
unsure exactly why the winds of fortune are I mean, you remember those videos, right?
blowing their way again, they’re happy they are. With all the girls, booze and parties? I issue
“I actually think it’s integrity on our part,” says my gripes to an amused Vivian Campbell.
muscle-bound guitarist Phil Collen. “We’ve stuck “There’s two bottles of whisky right there,
around and we really sing. We’re real. You look out Ken,” he grins.
at music these days and there’s not many bands left I point out that they’re not even open.
that can say that. It’s a like a banner: ‘Come out and “They will be,” he assures me. “We have a
see this, man. It’s the real shit.’” compulsory capful before the show. It started
“This has been one of the best tours we’ve a few years ago. Our then tour manager,
ever done. And that’s saying something,” Sav says, halfway through the show he takes
laughing. “There’s more people coming than we a Jameson’s and gives out a capful to the crew.
ever thought. The interaction between the other Now we do it too, except for Phil. But yeah, it’s not
bands has been great, the vibe backstage has been like we’re gonna be chugging it down tonight.” even around when all those so-called glam bands
great; everybody’s nice and ultra-cool. The fans Jesus fucking Christ, man. A capful? came up. We were in fuckin’ Holland making
have just been coming out in droves.” “People mix us up with the Mötley Crües and Hysteria. While they were out banging chicks
“With all due respect, we never wanted to be the Faster Pussycats, but we had nothing to do or whatever, we were looking at windmills and
Nazareth,” says Elliott. “We never wanted to be with them. The West Coast American glam-metal playing pool on a table without any pockets. We
one of those bands that had their three hits twenty- bands wanted to live up to an image. Like a guy were as far away from LA as any band could be.”
five years ago and then they’re done forever. So like Nikki Sixx, he had to be photographed with “One thing I can say about being in Def Leppard
there’s definitely a resurgence. There’s something a bottle of Jack Daniel’s, had to talk about how is that this band has always had a strong work
in the air. We can all feel it.” much blow he’d done the night before and how ethic,” says Campbell. “We’ve always had fun – and
You can. But what you can’t feel is the terror many chicks he’d banged. Whereas we just have during the Adrenalize tour things got a bit crazy –
and titillation of 80s-style backstage heavy metal a more British sensibility about that kind of stuff,” but there’s always been that sensibility about us.
mayhem. The truth is, there is very little going Campbell explains. “We’re a lot more modest People in that scene thought they needed excess to
on here to suggest anything other than a big about it. And the music really did come first.” get success, whereas I’ve never been that way. I’ve
ol’ rock’n’roll show. If there are groupies in this “I don’t know how anybody could confuse us never done cocaine in my life. I’m fond of a drink,
increasingly tender day and age, they are not with that lot,” Elliott says, laughing. “We weren’t but I’ve always wanted to be a musician more than

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