From: "Mike N. Reinemann" Date sent: Tue, 25 Jul 2000 00:21:45 -0400 Subject: Overcoming the spandex-and-big-hair image Overcoming the spandex-and-big-hair image Monday, July 24, 2000 DEF LEPPARD: With The Unband. 7:30 tonight. Jones Beach Amphitheater, Long Island. $29, $39. (516) 221-1000. Also: 7:30 p.m. Tuesday. PNC Bank Arts Center, Garden State Parkway, Holmdel. $30.50, $40.50. (732) 335-0400. By HARRY TERJANIAN Staff Writer It's not easy being an Eighties rock band in the new millennium. Def Leppard's just hoping it's better than the Nineties. "We couldn't get rock played in the Nineties, and it was solely because we were Def Leppard," says guitarist Vivian Campbell. The band, which was so desperate to get airplay it unsuccessfully changed to grunge and techno, has returned to its roots and brings its high energy pop-metal act to Jones Beach tonight and the PNC Bank Arts Center Tuesday. After reaching multi-platinum success with "Hysteria" in 1987, the band suffered its second major tragedy. Guitarist Steve Clark died of a drug and alcohol overdose in 1991 during the recording of the band's next album, " Adrenalize." (Drummer Rick Allen lost his left arm in a 1984 automoblile accident). Despite completing "Adrenalize" in 1992 and replacing Clark, the band members found themselves on the outside looking in. The grunge scene had taken hold and Def Leppard couldn't compete with Nirvana, Stone Temple Pilots, and Pearl Jam. The band even went so far as to send out blank, unlabeled singles to stations. Most program directors liked what they heard, but after finding out it was Def Leppard, the band received no air time. "Being an Eighties band leaves a bad taste in people's mouths," says Campbell. "They all think of spandex and big hair." That prompted their decision to make "Slang" a collaboration that took the band in a new direction. "We thought no matter what we put out, it really wouldn't do too well. So we decided to make a record that was influenced by the music of the time," Campbell says. "Slang" featured grunge, electronica, and techno-style tracks, in addition to several live cuts. For the most part, the album received positive reviews. Financially, however, "Slang" was the band's lowest-selling album. After taking some time off, the five band members decided it was time to go back to being Def Leppard. Their latest album, "Euphoria," returned to the style that led to their previous successes with "Pyromania" and "Hyste ria." Despite the return to its rock roots, Def Leppard still faces challenges. This time, instead of Seattle grunge bands, girl singers and boy groups dominate the scene. They must also contend with bands that have copied their sound, according to Campbell. "I think it's very unfair to lump us in with bands like Warrent and Winger who took the formula and cheapened it," Campbell says. "OK, we may have been guilty of some spandex and bad hair," he adds with a laugh, "but Def Leppard has never been guilty of bad music." Singles from "Euphoria" have received steady play on rock stations, and despite being shunned by Top 40 radio, the group, according to Campbell, is still attracting new followers. "Ultimately once people get beyond 'Oh weren't they big in the Eighties?' I think they'll look at Def Leppard without prejudice and see that there's a lot of talent there." Staff Writer Harry Terjanian's e-mail address is terjanian@bergen.com Copyright © 2000 Bergen Record Corp.