http://www.washingtontimes.com/news/2009/jul/10/riffs-def-leppard-on-the-road-5th-consecutive-summ/

Def Leppard on the road 5th consecutive summer
By Andrew Leahey

Originally published 04:45 a.m., July 10, 2009, updated 10:14 a.m., July 10, 
2009

Despite an enviable string of chart-topping albums, Def Leppard once was the 
unluckiest band in rock 'n' roll.

Drummer Rick Allen suffered a near-fatal car crash in 1984, resulting in the 
loss of his left arm. Determined to continue performing with Def Leppard, he 
spent the next two years learning to drum with one limb.

Meanwhile, guitarist Steve Clark struggled with alcoholism throughout the 
decade. His condition had considerably worsened by 1990, prompting his band 
mates to grant him a six-month absence from the group. While on leave in 
January 1991, he ingested a fatal mix of alcohol and prescription pills.

Def Leppard was halfway through the recording of "Adrenalize," the band's fifth 
album, when Mr. Clark died. The remaining members doubled their workload and 
finished the record, hiring Irish musician Vivian Campbell shortly thereafter 
to replace their former guitarist in concert. Mr. Campbell soon became a 
permanent member, and Def Leppard gradually shed the unlucky vibes that once 
had plagued the group.

For the past four summers, the band has toured the world in support of a 
hit-studded catalog, often playing alongside heavyweights such as Journey, Styx 
and Foreigner. The musicians are now rock 'n' roll veterans, and they've grown 
quite confident with their live show.

"I don't know why we bother with the rehearsals," Mr. Campbell says from 
Dublin. "We schedule two weeks of rehearsal time before each tour, and after 
the first day, we always say, 'OK, that was easy. What are we going to do for 
the next 13 days?'"

Although Def Leppard continues to release new material, the summer tours 
typically showcase the band's most popular songs, including "Pour Some Sugar on 
Me" and "Photograph." Mr. Campbell, 47, says the process has its balance of 
perks and downsides.

"It would be nice to vary the set list a bit, but you kind of become beholden 
to your past successes," he says. "It's a double-edged sword. We're very 
fortunate to have a whole load of genuine hit songs, and that allows us to go 
out on tour. The downside is that we have to play the same old hit songs over 
and over again.

"I know it's a familiar refrain, but there's no point in force-feeding your 
audience something they don't know."

The band's latest album, "Songs From the Sparkle Lounge," may not be as 
well-known as 1987's "Hysteria," but it still features Def Leppard's sonic 
trademarks. Layers of airy harmonies coat Joe Elliott's lead vocals, and Mr. 
Campbell shares guitar duties with longtime member Phil Collen.

For now, though, the emphasis remains on the band's touring efforts. Poison and 
Cheap Trick will join the group on the road this summer, forming one of 2009's 
most promising package tours.

"It's about bringing value for money," Mr. Campbell says of the 
triple-headliner shows. "We've done this in years past, and it always goes over 
really well. We've been playing for more people now than we have since the 
1980s."

Why are such large audiences still attending the band's shows?

"We do what we do very well," Mr. Campbell says, "and we don't take it too 
seriously. I think that helps. It's really all about enjoyment, entertainment 
and escapism, and the biggest thrill depends on the audience. We've been doing 
this every night, but they're seeing it for the first time. We really feed off 
of them."

* Def Leppard, Poison and Cheap Trick will visit the Nissan Pavilion on Sunday. 
Tickets start at $29.50.

Copyright 2009 The Washington Times