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The rockin' desire still burns
Def Leppard has longevity

Friday, April 4, 2003

By ROBIN KAVANAGH
SPECIAL TO THE RECORD

WHO: Def Leppard.
WHAT: Hard rock/pop.
WHEN: 8 p.m. Thursday, next Friday, and April 12.
WHERE: Beacon Theatre, 2124 Broadway, Manhattan.
HOW MUCH: Sold out.

Did Def Leppard lead guitarist Phil Collen ever think he would still be
playing to stadiums full of screaming fans after 20-plus years in the
music business?

"I didn't even think I'd be playing guitar," says Collen. "I mean, when I
was like 16, I used to think someone 21 was old. So I just turned 45, and
it's really weird, because I still feel like I'm 16."

Longevity, says Collen, who with Def Leppard is playing three shows at the
Beacon Theatre in Manhattan that sold out within hours, is a matter of how
much work you put into it.

"I do think that one of the reasons we're still able to do this is that
we've never actually gone away," he says. "We've always been putting
albums out. With some bands that have been together a long time, they just
sort of fizzle out, they split up, they don't put records out; they're not
really aware of what's going on around them musically and otherwise -
politically, socially, whatever."

Collen attributes some of the band's success to chemistry and dedication,
not only to one another, but to art and to fans.

"I think that the fact that we travel so much and record, and we're still
doing all that, allows us that luxury of actually being able to gain a bit
of respect from people," he says. "There was a time about eight years ago
when we weren't really getting that, but we'd still be working as hard. I
guess if you persevere, it does come back."

Of the band's first public return to the New York area since their
45-minute teaser performance at Irving Plaza last July - the day before
the release of their 10th album, "X" - Collen says it's sure to please a
Leppard-hungry metro populace.

"We've always really approached [shows] kind of hard-core, you know - if
you've ever seen prime James Brown, or even Prince, or someone who really
puts a lot into it ... We leaned more toward that," Collen says, adding
that the Beacon shows would be a new incarnation of their European tour.

"A lot of people have been telling us that it's the best tour that they've
ever seen us on," Collen says.

"We're doing things from every album ever released; it's just a real,
total mixture."

Copyright © 2003 North Jersey Media Group Inc.