http://www.twinturn.demon.co.uk/interview.htm Def Leppard Return Paul King: Our roving rock reporter the rock don Tommy Vance went to meet the band in their hotel room and only a couple of televisions were thrown out of the window during the interview. The band have had their fair share of tragedy with drummer Rick Allen having to learn to play again with one arm after a car accident and the death of guitarist Steve Clark to drugs and alcohol back in 1991. But their 9th album is called Euphoria. Released in the UK last week, can it live up to the success that the band normally achieve in that home of rock the US of A? Well with a guest guitar cameo from the racing driver Damon Hill, surely the answer has to be 'yes'. PROMISES VIDEO CLIP Tommy Vance: Gentlemen welcome. Joe - nice, it's about time you got off your fat bum and did a bit more work and you too Phil. Joe: Oi less of the fat! Phil: Cheers! Tommy: I mean come on what about this holiday this lengthy holiday you guys have been having? Phil: What you mean the touring, the non-stop touring, the studio ... actually we've been in the studio for the last year basically. Tommy: Yeah, best part of. PROMISES VIDEO CLIP Joe: In the 19 years that we've been signed to, nearly 20 years that we've been signed to what was Polygram is now Universal we got our first ever phone call from a Managing Director. Actually live to the studio 'I've heard the first 7 songs, this is fantastic!'. When you know that there's like still 3 or 4 months left to do the record and they give you that much confidence. 'If you deliver if the rest of the album's that good, you know, this is just exactly what we want. This is brilliant'. LET'S GET ROCKED VIDEO CLIP Phil: Most bands they they write a song, record it. We don't. We write a song and go 'Okay what's wrong with it?' or 'How can it be better?' and some people go 'Oh it's a clinical thing, it's not art' and all that stuff. It actually is, it's actually harder work. It's really easy to sit and write a song and go 'Oh that's done'. It's really hard and it's kind of big to go 'Alright, any weaknesses anyone? Anyone think this is crap or got a section that could be better?' and that's how we work and that gets the song stronger. ANIMAL VIDEO CLIP Joe: Animal took 3 years. It's like buying furniture for a house. You just don't if you don't want a unit that's a certain way then you don't buy something else, you wait until you see the right thing and then you you've got your corner finished. Tommy: Well The Stones are doing it in their 50's. Will you? Phil We are 50! Joe: You didn't know, we were never really teenagers you know! Tommy: I know exactly how old you are, I remember meeting you when you were in your teens! Joe: The great thing about like being in the music business is that it it puts you in arrested development as well which helps keep the enthusiasm I think. You know you don't get old and tight, well we certainly haven't. I mean I can only speak on behalf of the 5 of us but the enthusiasm's never gone away you know so you put kind of middle age on the back burner and just you know you've got to think like a 16 year old. Enthusiasm is half of it you know, if you like what you do you can do what you like. How can you not enjoy it? PROMISES VIDEO CLIP Pip Dann: Well still euphoric after all these years. Paul King: Actually I can relate to Def Leppard in a whole different way now. Pip: What way is that? Paul: Well because I'm actually currently looking for the perfect thing for my bathroom, that corner unit so now I can relate to Def Leppard, I completely understand their albums. I never have before but now I do! Pip: When your bathroom comes together you'll get straight back in the studio and ... Paul: Oh yes and make that Def Leppard record I never made! Pip: It's the Damon Hill connection that I find pretty interesting. Paul: Yeah well he's retiring isn't he and now we know he's going to be the next guitarist. I guess they've kind of got that car relationship with the drummer and Damon Hill, there's a history there. Pip: Oh don't! *laughs*