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From greatest hits to new covers, Def Leppard is still roaring along
Friday, August 05, 2005
Annie Zaleski
Special to The Plain Dealer

Although the Tribe is still in the hunt for the wild-card playoff spot, the
Indians are not the true "Boys of Summer" this year.

That honor belongs to veteran rockers Def Leppard, who - along with Bryan Adams
- are on a co-headlining tour of minor-league ballparks around the country.

Of course, because the quintet formed in Sheffield, England, the sport is not
its first love - as vocalist Joe Elliott is quick to point out.

 "I don't know anything about baseball," the affable 46-year-old says, calling
from Peoria, Ill. "It's soccer for the English boys."

Still, Elliott observes that playing on the diamond - instead of in arenas or
outdoor amphitheaters - is creating a unique concert experience.

"I'm surprised no one else has really done it," he says. "Last year, [actually,
earlier this year] Willie Nelson and Bob Dylan did it together. We've been,
like, the second crowd through doing a similar thing.

"The fact that nobody's really done [a tour like this] adds an extra dimension
to the show. There's a bit of a curiosity factor [for the crowd], like, 'Wow,
I've never been to one of these gigs.' "

Not everything will be unorthodox when the tour hits Classic Park in Eastlake
tomorrow, though.

Elliott notes Def Leppard is "committed to a greatest-hits set" this summer,
partly because of its recent two-CD hits collection, "Rock of Ages: The
Definitive Collection" - which equals plenty of Bic-flickin' fodder ("Love
Bites") or devil horn-throwing headbangers ("Pour Some Sugar on Me," "Animal").

In fact, the biggest live addition has been a version of David Essex's 1970s hit
"Rock On," which the band is including on an upcoming covers record.

The much-anticipated set, due out late this year or in early 2006, might
surprise some people.

Featuring songs recorded before 1979 -- the year Def Leppard signed its first
record contract -- the album includes a rendition of "Waterloo Sunset" by the
Kinks, flamboyant glam numbers from T. Rex and Sweet, and even a stab at
Blondie's new-wave thrash.

"Those songs that we've covered will show, at last, of where we actually came
from musically," Elliott says. "[Some people] obviously think that we grew up on
Black Sabbath and Led Zeppelin and stuff.

"It's like, No, we like them, we respect them -- but they weren't our main
reason for wanting to do this.' That's why Def Leppard doesn't sound like
Zeppelin or Black Sabbath. We're a pop band, pop-rock band, whatever you want to
put it."

Zaleski is a free-lance writer in St. Louis, Mo.

To reach Annie Zaleski:

music@plaind.com 

© 2005 The Plain Dealer.