Date sent:      	Wed, 12 May 1999 15:58:56 -0700 (PDT)

http://www.billboard-online.com/feature/def.html

Def Leppard Returns To Uninhibited '80s Sound 

BY LARRY FLICK

NEW YORK -- Def Leppard makes no apologies for revisiting the anthemic, often 
over-the-top pop/metal sound of its '80s heyday on its forthcoming Mercury 
set, "Euphoria."

"Larger-than-life rock'n'roll is our signature, and we're actually quite proud 
of it," says front man Joe Elliott of the sound dominating this collection, due 
in stores June 15. "If anything, our mistake was briefly venturing away from it."

Elliott is referring to 1996's "Slang," the band's valiant attempt at forging 
a more mature, less bombastic style. Despite its impressively executed blend 
of psychedelic music and melancholy lyrics, the set was largely ignored by its 
fans -- who instead continued to support the previous year's best-of collection, 
"Vault," which has sold 1.8 million units, according to SoundScan. In fact,
"Vault" has sold 7,000-8,000 copies a week for the past year.

"The signal could not have been more clear," says guitarist Phil Collen. 
"People have decided what they want from this band, and that's just fine with 
us. We enjoy making records like 'Euphoria.' "

Elliott agrees, but he also believes that Def Leppard was due for a "fall 
from public grace," regardless of the band's creative direction. "It was our 
turn. The tide of the world and the music industry had turned away from bands 
like Def Leppard. We could've made 'Sgt. Pepper' at the time of 'Slang,' and 
it would've failed."

Has the tide turned back in the band's favor? "Absolutely," Elliott says. 
"Look at the charts. People are getting bored to tears with alternative 
whining. They want big-time rock'n'roll stars again. They want excitement."

Thus, the unabashedly bombastic tone of "Euphoria," on which Def Leppard 
reunites with famed producer/songwriter Robert John "Mutt" Lange, who helmed 
the band's '80s-era epics "Pyromania" and "Hysteria." Lange worked on three 
tunes -- including the first single, "Promises," which is due May 24. The 
remaining 10 tracks were produced by the band with Pete Woodroffe.

As with previous Def Leppard recordings, touring will be a primary 
component in marketing "Euphoria." Booked by QBQ, the band will begin what 
is expected to be a yearlong world tour July 16. They'll spend
the summer doing state fairs throughout the U.S. before moving on to
large indoor venues in the fall.

Prior to that, the bandwill temper the standard round of press, radio, 
and television appearances with its first-ever in-store appearances at two 
Wal-Marts on the album's day of release. First, they'll visit the store
in San Antonio, Texas, and then go to Kansas City, Mo. -- home of the
largest Wal-Mart in the U.S. "We're calling it the biggest in-store ever," 
Tortella says.

A satellite press conference will be held at the Kansas City Wal-Mart, 
reaching several hundred radio and television stations around the world. 
The label will also sponsor several radio contests prior to the album's
release, and it will fly the winners to the in-store events.

Shortly after the release of "Euphoria," the band is tentatively due 
to shoot an edition of VH1's "Storytellers."  Meanwhile, the network 
continues periodically to air the Def Leppard episode of "Behind The Music."

All of this activity suits the band, which is managed by Cliff Burnstein 
at Q-Prime. Collen says it's the perfect  complement to the "fun but quiet 
time" they spent in Elliott's home in the U.K cutting "Euphoria." 

"It was a family-like experience," he says. "We'd already done and grown 
tired of the insanely expensive sessions in places like Jamaica. Doing 
the album at Joe's was like hanging with your mates and having a laugh 
while making what we think is a damn good album."