http://www.greeleytrib.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20030620/WELDWEEK/306200006 Article Published June 20, 2003 Burned out? Def Leppard battles nostalgia with new album, tour Story by Dan England "It's better to burn out than fade away." Yep, that's the famous line, the one that Def Leppard sang on their first big album, "Pyromania," in the song "Rock of Ages." But the thing is, that album came out in 1983. It's now 2003, and Def Leppard is still around. The guys, four of whom were around when that record was made, just released a new album. The band hasn't had a hit album, not by their mega-platinum standards anyway, since "Adrenalize" was released in 1992. It worries Joe Elliott, lead singer of the band. Just a touch. He has the fears of anyone who would sing the line with such gusto back in 1983. Is Def Leppard ignoring its own advice? "I don't think we're going to fade away," Elliott said in a phone interview. "We may not have the popularity we did back in the 1980s, but we haven't lost it entirely, either." He's right. The band hasn't lost it too much, especially in Greeley. The band is headlining the June 28 concert for the Greeley Independence Stampede, and there's a chance it could break last year's record of 14,400 set by Toby Keith. A rock band setting the record at the Stampede is as unlikely as the Dixie Chicks playing a tribute concert for President Bush, yet Def could do it. "Everyone, from all age groups, is fired up for this concert," said Kyle Holman, spokesman for the Stampede. "We've got people who grew up in the era and are older to kids we hired for summer help." Still, Elliott doesn't want Def Leppard to be a nostalgia band like many of the classic rock bands of the 1970s. It's why he's proud of "X." It's not getting the buzz of The White Stripes' record, but critics are praising it nonetheless. "X" leans toward the band's pop side, a side Elliott said was there all along, but a couple of tracks still have that hard-edged Def Leppard sound. "We've done what we did with 'Hysteria,' and that's make a pop record of great songs," he said. Elliott wants "X" to be successful, perhaps even more than he lets on. He wants Def Leppard to be big again. After all, it was a fun time. "Pyromania" sold 7 million copies in America alone. The band quickly went from small shows to playing for 55,000 people in San Diego. Five years later, despite drummer Rick Allen's car crash that severed his arm, the band released "Hysteria." The album sold 16 million copies (12 million in America), and the band's unique "in the round" tour, with a center stage, sold out shows in every city in minutes, once the single "Pour Some Sugar On Me" was released. "It didn't matter what era you're talking about, it was a phenomenal feeling," Elliott said of the "Pyromania" and "Hysteria" stages. "Hysteria" was more satisfying, however, Elliott said, because many thought Def Leppard was through. People said the only way the band could play with a one-armed drummer was to lip-sync during its concerts. Some even accused the band of doing just that. "In the first part of that tour, we sold half our tickets," he said, "but then we'd return in six months, and we'd sell out three nights. We proved a bunch of people wrong." It didn't last, of course. Guitarist Steve Clark died in 1991 because of alcohol problems. The band's last big record, "Adrenalize," was released in 1992 and sold six million copies, an impressive figure. But grunge was taking over. In 1996, "Slang," a failed attempt to capture grunge's gloomy, edgy sound, was ripped by critics and was a commercial disaster. The band came back a bit with "Euphoria," which reached gold status. Yet, in the 1980s, Def Leppard's albums went gold a week after release. "We thought, with 'Adrenalize,' we were recession proof," Elliott said. "It catches up to you after a while." Clark's death, and the band's fall, are things that make Elliott compare his band to Aerosmith, a group that went through its own tragic times before it made perhaps the biggest rock comeback ever. Aerosmith's success, he said, gives him hope. "We haven't lost it as badly as Aerosmith lost it before they came back," he said. "Now look at them. You're only one hit song away from being back." Perhaps no one demonstrated that more than fellow pop metal rockers Bon Jovi. Bon Jovi's albums sold millions for the first time in years with its 2000 release, "Crush," largely because of the hit single "It's My Life." But Def Leppard isn't going to force its success, no matter how much the guys want it. Elliott knows the fans are coming to hear their classic material. When Robert Plant and Jimmy Page go on tour, he said, fans want to hear Led Zeppelin, not their latest stuff. "We're not going to ram 'X' down people's throats," Elliott said. "We're playing three songs a night from that record. Familiarity is the most important ingredient in any live environment, and you shouldn't disappoint your fans." It's what Mark Hedin, a clerk for 13 years at The Finest, 2519 11th Ave., a music store in Greeley, wants to hear. "Pyromania" is his favorite album, and he liked "Hysteria" as well. "I'm a huge fan of those albums," Hedin said. "I thought their later stuff was awful." So maybe Elliott should worry more about fading away. But, then again, he took that line from a T-shirt he saw in Pittsburgh. He later learned Neil Young had it in one of his songs. What soothes those fears a bit is groups like The Rolling Stones and The Who, two bands, Elliott says are the leaders of the pack. The Stones seem to be 750 years old, yet they've maintained their edge. The Who has survived for ages, despite singing "I hope I die before I get old" in "My Generation." It's all a matter of perspective. Elliott doesn't mind if his band plays in arenas that sell 4,000 or 15,000. There's a way to battle age. There's still time to burn out rather than fade away. "If there's people who saw us a long time ago, and they say, 'Wow, they're better than they used to be,' " Elliott said, "then we've achieved our goal." A GUIDE TO DEF LEPPARD: Tragedy, triumph # Rick Allen, the band's drummer, lost his arm in 1984 in a car crash. He learned to drum again in 1985. He uses an innovative drum kit that he plays with his feet and one arm. # Steve Clark, the band's guitarist, died when he mixed pills and alcohol in 1991. Clark had a long history with alcoholism. He was replaced by Campbell before "Adrenalize" was released. · Discography 1980 - "On Through the Night" 1981 - "High 'N' Dry" 1983 - "Pyromania" 1987 - "Hysteria" 1992 - "Adrenalize" 1993 - "Retroactive" 1995 - "Vault" 1996 - "Slang" 1999 - "Euphoria" 2002 - "X" Essential Def: "Hysteria" was the band's biggest album, but many consider "Pyromania" to be its best. The band had a perfect blend of hard rock influenced by AC/DC and pop vocals influenced by Queen. Many rockers thought the band got too poppy, even on "Hysteria," but that's not a problem with "Pyromania." The album is accessible enough for anyone who likes good, old-fashioned rock and roll. · Some hits - No, it's not "Pour Some Shook Up Ramen." It's "Pour Some Sugar On Me," (1987) and it's Def Leppard's most well-known song, or at least its most overplayed one. It was released 15 years ago, and yet it just got its own commercial. - "Bringin' On The Heartbreak" (1981) - The band's first single. - "Foolin' " (1983) - "Photograph" (1983) - This song made Def Leppard famous and helped make Pyromania the huge hit it was. - "Rock of Ages" (1983) - "Hysteria" (1987) - The self-titled song from the album. It's a fiery title but a sappy ballad. The album spawned seven singles, among them: "Animal," "Rocket" and "Love Bites." - "Let's Get Rocked" (1992) - The band's first single from "Adrenalize," followed up by a slew of ballads, including "Have you Ever Needed Someone So Bad." If "Hysteria" started the band down its pop path, this song, and the album, softened them up for good. - "Two Steps Behind" (1995) - The band's last big hit. · The guys - You know how you'll go see your favorite classic rock band, and it turns out the band is really the original bass player backed up by four guys who play worse than your high school garage band? Well, Def Leppard is still the Def Leppard lineup of 1992. Guitarist Vivian Campbell, formerly of Ronnie James Dio, is the newest member, and he's been around since 1992. Four of the five recorded "Pyromania" way back in 1983. · Tragedy and Triumph - Rick Allen, the band's drummer, lost his arm in 1984 in a car crash. He learned to drum again in 1985. He uses an innovative drum kit that he plays with his feet and one arm. - Steve Clark, the band's guitarist, died when he mixes pills and alcohol in 1991. Clark had a long history with alcoholism. He was replaced by Campbell before "Adrenalize" was released. · What's with the name? Lead singer Joe Elliott came up with the name Deaf Leopard in school in 1975. · What to wear The guys wear fly, black outfits in publicity shots for "X," as if they're going to the prom. Given that, you could get away with just about anything. During the band's peak years, Elliott wore sleeveless T-shirts and torn jeans. We recommend jeans and a concert T-shirt showing your love for Def Leppard. · OK, so what do I do? Bring a lighter for Def's many ballads. Hold it in the air. Pump your fist during the rockers and even bang your head a bit. Dance in your seat for the mid-tempo songs like "Sugar." Sing along to "Rock of Ages." And, most importantly, yell like crazy when the band leaves the stage so the guys will come out for an encore. At the show What to wear The guys wear fly, black outfits in publicity shots for "X," as if they're going to the prom. Given that, you could get away with just about anything. During the band's peak years, Elliottt wore sleeveless T-shirts and torn jeans. We recommend jeans and a concert T-shirt showing your love for Def Leppard. What to do? Bring a lighter for Def's many ballads. Hold it in the air. Pump your fist during the rockers and even bang your head a bit. Dance in your seat for the mid-tempo songs like "Sugar." Sing along to "Rock of Ages." And, most importantly, yell like crazy when the band leaves the stage so the guys will come out for an encore. © 1999-2002 Greeley Tribune. All rights reserved.