http://www.courierpostonline.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20060623/ENT/606230312/1043

Def Leppard pays homage to '70s rock acts

Friday, June 23, 2006

By CHUCK DARROW
Courier-Post Staff

After 25 years of being one of rock's most successful acts, Def Leppard has 
decided to set the record straight.

"We put out an album and do press every three years, and someone will always 
say, "So, you guys are from the New Wave of British heavy metal.' And I'll say, 
"Who? Not me!' " says Joe Elliot, lead singer of the band whose co-headlining 
tour of North America (with Journey) kicks off tonight at Camden's Tweeter 
Center (there's also a July 1 date at Atlantic City's Borgata Hotel, Casino & 
Spa).

"Yes, we have one foot in metal," he continues, "but we have a wider footprint 
(elsewhere). We figured after 25 years of not being listened to, we'll sing and 
dance it, and see if we're listened to."

Which explains Yeah! (Island/UMe) the unit's recently released collection of 
"covers" from the early- and mid-1970s.

Even though the disc pays homage to some familiar classic-rock names, most of 
its 14 tracks are culled from the "obscure" files. Titles include "10538 
Overture" from the first Electric Light Orchestra album, No Answer, "Drive-in 
Saturday," from David Bowie's Aladdin Sane and "Street Life" off the Roxy Music 
LP Stranded.

Other tunes include David Essex's "Rock On," Mott the Hoople's "Golden Age of 
Rock 'n' Roll," "Waterloo Sunset" by The Kinks and "No Matter What" by 
Badfinger.

According to Elliot, all of the tracks salute the artists and songs who 
inspired him and bandmates Phil Collen and Vivian Campbell (guitar), Rick 
Savage (bass) and Rick Allen (drums).

"What they did influenced what we did," he says.

"An obvious example is the John Kongos song, "He's Gonna Step On You Again.' 
You can hear elements of it in (our music), and I say, "Guilty as charged!' And 
the key line of the bridge of (Def Lep's 1983 smash hit) of "Photograph' is 
stolen from "Stardust' by David Essex."

Elliot suggests the conception of Yeah! was as much a product of serendipity as 
it was a business and artistic decision.

When the group members began kicking around suggestions for material, they 
tended to all invoke the same songs and artists, although the subjects hadn't 
necessarily been broached in the band's almost-30-year existence.

"It made the album very easy to do," he says. "It was the most natural thing to 
do. Those emotions made the project flow. It was like God was playing puppeteer 
and making things go around."

Reach Chuck Darrow at (856) 486-2442 or cdarrow@courierpostonline.com

IF YOU GO
Who: Def Leppard and Journey
When: 8 tonight and July 1
Where: Tonight at the Tweeter Center, 1 Harbour Blvd., Camden, and July 1 at 
Borgata Hotel, Casino & Spa, One Borgata Way, Atlantic City.
How much: Tweeter Center tickets are $85, $55, $27.50 and $20. Borgata 
admission is $135 and $105.
More: Call (856) 338-9000 or go to www.ticketmaster.com.

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